On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel in a seaplane from Sabarmati river in the city to Dharoi dam in Mehsana district.
His return journey would also be by the same sea-plane.
Tomorrow at 9:30 AM I will travel from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane. After that will offer prayers to Maa Amba at Ambaji. With air, roads & rail connectivity, our Government is making efforts for harnessing waterways. All this is for 125 crore Indians!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2017
"Tomorrow for the first time in the history of the country a sea-plane will land on the Sabarmati river. I will go to Ambaji in the sea-plane after landing in Dharoi dam and come back," Modi announced at a poll rally here.
"Our party had planned my road show tomorrow. However, the administration has not given permission and I had time so I decided to go to Ambaji in the sea-plane," Modi said. "We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these sea-planes," Modi said.
File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AP
The roadshows of both Modi and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi, the last day of the campaigning for Gujarat polls, stood cancelled after the Ahmedabad Police denied permission for the events. The police cited congested roads and communally sensitive areas that fall enroute as the reason. The move comes in the backdrop of inputs gathered by central intelligence agencies that a "lone wolf" may try to target roadshows of "big political leaders" during the campaigning for the upcoming elections.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said this is for the first time in the history of the country that a sea-plane will land on a water body and that will be the Sabarmati river. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel in the plane from here to Dharoi. He will visit Ambaji temple and come back from Dharoi to Sabarmati in the same plane," Rupani said.
With inputs from PTI
Click here for detailed coverage of Gujarat Assembly Election 2017
Published Date: Dec 12, 2017 02:48 pm | Updated Date: Dec 12, 2017 03:12 pm
Highlights
Hardik Patel tweets on PM's seaplane's ride, asks if the aircraft was made in India?
Narendra Modi's comments against Manmohan Singh is unacceptable
Rahul Gandhi says what Narendra Modi has said about Manmohan Singh is unacceptable.
PM Narendra Modi leaves from Dharoi Dam
Meanwhile... PM Modi offered prayers at Ambaji temple in Banaskantha
Are temple visits wrong now, asks Rahul Gandhi
"Why can't I visit temples?" Rahul asked. He dismissed BJP's narrative on the issue, saying it was the saffron party's story that he "visited temples in Gujarat only. But in fact, I visited Kedarnath temple. Is that in Gujarat? It's in Uttarakhand," Rahul said.
Gujarat's development only one-sided
"We have met people from across the state and they tell us that the state's development is only one-sided. Most of the schools and colleges have been privatised. Their model of development is only for a handful of people. We will do balanced development if we come to power. Irrational economic policies of the BJP government has damaged Gujarat. We will abolish contract labour, fixed pay system in Gujarat. We will never take any decision unilaterally in Gujarat," Rahul Gandhi said.
PM's seaplane right a distraction from real issues
"Elections are in Gujarat and that should remain the main agenda. If Modi Ji wants to fly in a seaplane that is not wrong, there is no problem with that but it is a distraction. The real question is what has been done for the people of Gujarat in the last 22 years. Why don't they talk about development any more," says Rahul Gandhi," Rahul said,
MoS Jitendra Singh takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi
Congress has kept its focus on Gujarat's issues of Small & Medium Enterprises, farmers, unemployment
Rahul Gandhi says every year in November Indian Parliament holds Winter Session, but this year it is not the case
BJP is running scared
Whatever decision we will make about Gujarat, it will only be done after talking to the people of Gujarat, says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi addresses the press
Rahul Gandhi said that Modi and Vijay Rupani have pursued one-sided development in Gujarat and many have missed out. He said that the BJP has not been able to maintain its position during the election campaign. He added that Modi either talks about himself or the Congress. He said that the Congress feels that it is going to win.
Modi offers prayers at Ambaji Mandir in Gujarat
Congress' confusion becomes apparent as Narendra Modi swings poll debate to emotive issues
Sanjay Singh breaks down the politics atmosphere in Gujarat for Firstpost: It’s not the case that this time around all Patidars voted against BJP. There has been a clear split in their ranks. In any case, they all did never vote for BJP. A majority of them voted for BJP and according to rough estimates around 20-30 percent voted against BJP. This time that figure against BJP could go up by over 50 percent, in some areas by 60 or even 70 percent.
John Goulet, the pilot of the seaplane calls Narendra Modi "very good passenger"
Narendra Modi's reluctance to talk about development as poll issue shows BJP is apprehensive
Writing for Firstpost, Milind Deora argues that the BJP has moved to the proven trump card — religion. With the help of a few friends in the press, the debate began shifting away from development, putting religion in the spotlight as the foremost electoral issue. This kind of digression and deflection clearly indicates that BJP senses a problem and that they’re apprehensive.
Narendra Modi is taking the game beyond politics and into social reformation
Writing for Firstpost, Ajay Singh argues that if Modi's stature has grown phenomenally in spite of the "perceived anger" over demonetisation and GST, the reason is not far to seek. He is seen more as a social reformer than a conventional politician. This broad support base is what will hold him in good stead on 18 December when the election results are announced. Everything else — religion, caste and real politic — will be the bonus.
Randeep Surjewala attacks Modi's 'excesses'
Modi on his way to Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha
Omar Abdullah questions Modi's security arrangements
Jignesh Mevani takes dig at Narendra Modi
Special jetty was constructed to facilitate the seaplane
Modi boarded the single-engine sea-plane from near Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad West. A special jetty was constructed to facilitate the prime minister's boarding from the river.
The plane took off from the Sardar Bridge-end amid chants of "Modi-Modi" from BJP workers and other city dwellers, who flocked the Sabarmati Riverfront to witness the event.
With inputs from PTI
No politics in using seaplane, says Nitin Gadkari
Details of Modi's seaplane
The seaplane Modi used is a Quest Kodiak which can carry a maximum of 9 people, according to India Today. It has a maximum speed of 322 kmph and a range of 2,000 kilometres.
Modi to travel to Ambaji temple by road
Modi has arrived at the Dharoi dam. He will now travel to Ambaji temple by road before coming back in the afternoon, reported CNN-News18. He will then again take the seaplane back to Sabarmati Riverfront.
Meanwhile, Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi is at the Shree Jagannathji Temple
Modi's seaplane reaches Dharoi Dam
Hardik Patel weighs in on the seaplane spectacle
Seaplane to land on a pond at Dharoi dam
Plane on its way to Dharoi dam where it will land in a pond, reports CNN-News18. The destination is 180 kilometres away from the Sabarmati Riverfront.
Seaplane carrying Modi takes off
Narendra Modi boards seaplane
Modi gets in seaplane, to take off shortly
Video of the seaplane Modi will be travelling in
On Saturday, Nitin Gadkari had witnessed the test landing of a seaplane in Mumbai waters
Visuals of the seaplane at Sabarmati
15:12 (IST)
Hardik Patel tweets on PM's seaplane's ride, asks if the aircraft was made in India?
15:08 (IST)
Narendra Modi's comments against Manmohan Singh is unacceptable
Rahul Gandhi says what Narendra Modi has said about Manmohan Singh is unacceptable.
14:52 (IST)
PM Narendra Modi leaves from Dharoi Dam
14:45 (IST)
Meanwhile... PM Modi offered prayers at Ambaji temple in Banaskantha
14:42 (IST)
Are temple visits wrong now, asks Rahul Gandhi
"Why can't I visit temples?" Rahul asked. He dismissed BJP's narrative on the issue, saying it was the saffron party's story that he "visited temples in Gujarat only. But in fact, I visited Kedarnath temple. Is that in Gujarat? It's in Uttarakhand," Rahul said.
14:28 (IST)
Gujarat's development only one-sided
"We have met people from across the state and they tell us that the state's development is only one-sided. Most of the schools and colleges have been privatised. Their model of development is only for a handful of people. We will do balanced development if we come to power. Irrational economic policies of the BJP government has damaged Gujarat. We will abolish contract labour, fixed pay system in Gujarat. We will never take any decision unilaterally in Gujarat," Rahul Gandhi said.
14:20 (IST)
PM's seaplane right a distraction from real issues
"Elections are in Gujarat and that should remain the main agenda. If Modi Ji wants to fly in a seaplane that is not wrong, there is no problem with that but it is a distraction. The real question is what has been done for the people of Gujarat in the last 22 years. Why don't they talk about development any more," says Rahul Gandhi," Rahul said,
14:12 (IST)
MoS Jitendra Singh takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi
13:48 (IST)
Congress has kept its focus on Gujarat's issues of Small & Medium Enterprises, farmers, unemployment
13:47 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi says every year in November Indian Parliament holds Winter Session, but this year it is not the case
13:46 (IST)
BJP is running scared
13:36 (IST)
Whatever decision we will make about Gujarat, it will only be done after talking to the people of Gujarat, says Rahul Gandhi
13:32 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi addresses the press
Rahul Gandhi said that Modi and Vijay Rupani have pursued one-sided development in Gujarat and many have missed out. He said that the BJP has not been able to maintain its position during the election campaign. He added that Modi either talks about himself or the Congress. He said that the Congress feels that it is going to win.
13:18 (IST)
BJP continues to build up Narendra Modi
13:14 (IST)
Modi offers prayers at Ambaji Mandir in Gujarat
13:06 (IST)
Congress' confusion becomes apparent as Narendra Modi swings poll debate to emotive issues
Sanjay Singh breaks down the politics atmosphere in Gujarat for Firstpost: It’s not the case that this time around all Patidars voted against BJP. There has been a clear split in their ranks. In any case, they all did never vote for BJP. A majority of them voted for BJP and according to rough estimates around 20-30 percent voted against BJP. This time that figure against BJP could go up by over 50 percent, in some areas by 60 or even 70 percent.
13:03 (IST)
John Goulet, the pilot of the seaplane calls Narendra Modi "very good passenger"
13:00 (IST)
Narendra Modi's reluctance to talk about development as poll issue shows BJP is apprehensive
Writing for Firstpost, Milind Deora argues that the BJP has moved to the proven trump card — religion. With the help of a few friends in the press, the debate began shifting away from development, putting religion in the spotlight as the foremost electoral issue. This kind of digression and deflection clearly indicates that BJP senses a problem and that they’re apprehensive.
12:42 (IST)
Narendra Modi is taking the game beyond politics and into social reformation
Writing for Firstpost, Ajay Singh argues that if Modi's stature has grown phenomenally in spite of the "perceived anger" over demonetisation and GST, the reason is not far to seek. He is seen more as a social reformer than a conventional politician. This broad support base is what will hold him in good stead on 18 December when the election results are announced. Everything else — religion, caste and real politic — will be the bonus.
12:37 (IST)
Randeep Surjewala attacks Modi's 'excesses'
12:35 (IST)
Modi on his way to Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha
12:31 (IST)
Omar Abdullah questions Modi's security arrangements
12:26 (IST)
Jignesh Mevani takes dig at Narendra Modi
12:13 (IST)
Special jetty was constructed to facilitate the seaplane
Modi boarded the single-engine sea-plane from near Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad West. A special jetty was constructed to facilitate the prime minister's boarding from the river.
The plane took off from the Sardar Bridge-end amid chants of "Modi-Modi" from BJP workers and other city dwellers, who flocked the Sabarmati Riverfront to witness the event.
With inputs from PTI
12:09 (IST)
RECAP: Narendra Modi greets Rahul Gandhi on party elevation: BJP, Congress show some political civility amid heated poll battle
While Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi have been regularly hitting out at each other in the course of the poll campaign, both the leaders chose political civility over vociferous acrimony on some occasions in the recent past. Modi on Monday congratulated Rahul Gandhi on his election as the Congress president.
12:02 (IST)
No politics in using seaplane, says Nitin Gadkari
11:43 (IST)
Details of Modi's seaplane
The seaplane Modi used is a Quest Kodiak which can carry a maximum of 9 people, according to India Today. It has a maximum speed of 322 kmph and a range of 2,000 kilometres.
11:38 (IST)
Modi to travel to Ambaji temple by road
Modi has arrived at the Dharoi dam. He will now travel to Ambaji temple by road before coming back in the afternoon, reported CNN-News18. He will then again take the seaplane back to Sabarmati Riverfront.
11:36 (IST)
Meanwhile, Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi is at the Shree Jagannathji Temple
11:32 (IST)
Modi's seaplane reaches Dharoi Dam
11:20 (IST)
BJP continues to fire salvos at the Congress in the midst of Gujarat elections
11:18 (IST)
Hardik Patel weighs in on the seaplane spectacle
11:14 (IST)
Seaplane to land on a pond at Dharoi dam
Plane on its way to Dharoi dam where it will land in a pond, reports CNN-News18. The destination is 180 kilometres away from the Sabarmati Riverfront.
11:08 (IST)
Video of the takeoff
11:03 (IST)
Seaplane carrying Modi takes off
10:58 (IST)
Narendra Modi in the seaplane
10:54 (IST)
Narendra Modi boards seaplane
10:52 (IST)
Modi gets in seaplane, to take off shortly
09:38 (IST)
Video of the seaplane Modi will be travelling in
09:35 (IST)
On Saturday, Nitin Gadkari had witnessed the test landing of a seaplane in Mumbai waters
09:31 (IST)
Visuals of the seaplane at Sabarmati
09:05 (IST)