VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Meets Business Leaders in Bengaluru

• Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar called for reduced political confrontation and emphasized dialogue, federal cooperation, and democratic discourse as essential to India's national psyche.
• Addressing Bengaluru’s business leaders, he urged corporate investment in the farm sector, stressing synergy between industry and agriculture for inclusive growth.
• Highlighting national development, Dhankhar underscored research, innovation, and technology as critical to Bharat’s rise, asserting that peace stems from strength and strategic readiness.

The Indian Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar stated, "Political parties in the nation will have to reduce the political temperature. Political parties' dialogue cannot be a confrontation the dialogue has to be calming. Democracy is characterized, friends, by discourse and dialogue". He went on to add, India is a vibrant federal society where there must be convergence between the Centre and the States. Dialogue among political parties and leaders is essential there will not be good for our national psyche if there is no dialogue.

Engaging with business leaders and entrepreneurs of Bengaluru in the present day, he said, "Issue of national security, issue related to our nationalism, and issue related to our development have to be looked through a national lens, not through a partisan one. I do not question the political acumen of individuals across the board they are found in all political parties".

Citing the Vedantic concept of free speech, the Vice-President stated, "Democratic values cannot be defined without freedom of expression and debate. If a person attacks, frustrates or controls your right to expression, then there is a lack in democracy".

Describing the industrial trends, he made a pointed remark, "People in industry, in contrast to politics, are contented with balance sheets. But greenfield projects are not coming up at the rate they must. Think, cluster together so that there can be balanced employment and growth".

Requesting the corporate world to give back some of their profits to the farm sector,  Dhankhar stated,"Time has come for corporates to share their profits with the farm sector. Your investment in research or farmland is not charity it is a gainful investment".

Talking about farm-sector integration with industry, Vice-President, having himself originated from a farming background, said, "I belong to a farming community. The farm sector is a very important sector in the growth path of the country. But currently, it is just producing agro-products it is not included in the marketing chain".

Exhorting industry-farm convergence, he further said, "Industry has to think to bring more synergy with the farm sector. The farmer has to be hand-held; agripreneurs have to come, but they will not come without the hand-holding".

On the growth of India in the future, Dhankhar emphasized the importance of research and innovation, "We have to do research of the highest level. Our capability in research will determine Bharat's global positioning. Our technological innovation will determine how safe we are.

Touching on strategic peace, he noted, "Peace is inherent in business and people's harmony. But peace is never negotiated it derives from strength. The greatest peace is achieved when we are always ready for war".

Referring to the development of industry's contribution to national security, he remarked, "There was a time when industry used to produce just armoury. Now, it has to be at the forefront of technology. Research is the backbone of long-term growth".

Asserting that Bharat is on an unstoppable ascent, the Vice-President said, "Bharat is not a nation of potential anymore it is a nation rising. 'Viksit Bharat' is not our dream anymore it is our goal. But we need to make a quantum leap by raising per capita income manifold".

Urging a practical outlook, he added, “We must juxtapose our economic status with our demographic size 1.4 billion people. On empirical estimates, there must be an eightfold increase in per capita income”. Governor of Karnataka,  Thawarchand Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar were also present.