Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed as many as six public meetings launching various schemes and projects at five places during his two-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat, his home state, less than a month after inaugurating the ambitious Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project.
The two-day tour, which concluded on Sunday began with prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Temple in Dwarka on Saturday, following which Modi laid the foundation of a sea-link bridge between the coastal town of Okha and Bet Dwarka Island. Located about a couple of kilometres away from Dwarkadheesh Temple, Bet Dwarka is frequented by thousands of pilgrims coming to this temple town of Lord Krishna.
Bridge between Okha & Bet Dwarka not only connects people but also connects us with our rich history & culture. It will also boost tourism.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2017
Further, in the day, the prime minister recalled the difficulties Gujarat faced when the Congress-led UPA ruled the country while laying the foundation stones for the bridge linking Okha and Bet Dwarka. "Despite my best efforts, I could not make them (UPA government) wake up from their slumber," Modi said. The prime minister stressed that his government had given priority to development.
File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI
Modi further took a swipe at Congress and said that for them, progress only meant installing a hand pump and asking for votes in return.
"The definition of development has changed. Earlier, leaders used to install a hand pump and ask for vote in its name for three elections," Modi said.
The prime minister also spoke about his government's decision to relax the GST rates and allowing small entrepreneurs, businessmen, traders and the exporters to file their returns quarterly instead of every month.
He said that the GST Council made reforms so that the business class can be protected from red-tapism.
Referring to newspaper headlines, the prime minister said he was happy that the changes made by the GST Council which met on Friday had been welcomed all over the country as if Diwali had come early.
"You all must be busy preparing for Diwali, and in Gujarat, Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially among businessmen," Modi said while addressing a public gathering.
On the visit to the Dwarkadheesh Temple, Modi met his longtime friend and RSS pracharak Haribhai Adhunik. Apart from being an RSS worker, Dwarka-resident Adhunik is also a member of the administrative committee of the famous temple. The old friends talked for a while before Modi left.
Next on the prime minister's itinerary was another stone-laying ceremony when he inaugurated Rs 1,400-crore Rajkot International Airport on the outskirts of the biggest city in Saurashtra.
Construction of an airport will boost connectivity to & from Rajkot & Surendranagar. Talked about our commitment to make aviation affordable — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2017
The proposed site for the airport at Hirasar, measuring 2,534 acres, will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,405 crores. The airport will be located near the National Highway (NH-8B) connecting Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
The airport will have a rainwater harvesting system, solar power system and a green belt along its periphery to act as a noise barrier.
Further, Modi then went on to inaugurate the new building of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) near Gandhinagar.
On Sunday, the second leg of the tour began with a visit to Modi's birthplace, Vadnagar. The prime minister held a roadshow in Vadnagar in Mehsana district as he arrived at his birthplace.
A large number of Vadnagar residents queued up along the route to greet Modi who was visiting his birthplace for the first time after becoming the prime minister in 2014.
Acknowledging the overwhelming response, Modi stood on the step of his moving SUV and waved at people all along the route from the helipad on the outskirts of the city to a newly-built medical college.
I go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation: PM @narendramodi to the people of Vadnagar pic.twitter.com/9hWUprRcT3
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 8, 2017
In another instance, PMO India tweeted "Coming back to one's hometown and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar."
Later, the prime minister laid the foundation stone for Rs 3,000-crore Bhadbhut barrage project over river Narmada, as well as a Rs 650-crore Dahej-Ghogha Ro-Ro ferry service near Bharuch in South Gujarat before flying off to New Delhi from Vadodara.
With inputs from agencies
Published Date: Oct 08, 2017 08:46 pm | Updated Date: Oct 08, 2017 08:46 pm
