'This Will Be Uttarakhand's Decade': PM Lays Foundation Stones For Development Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several development projects in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh and said this will be Uttarakhand’s decade.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said eight sportspersons from Uttarakhand participated in the Asian Games and congratulated them.

He also said a historic decision was made in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha to give 33 per cent reservation to women. “The work that was on hold for years due to the blessings of all, your son has been able to do it… Today, India is achieving new heights of success and development,” he said.

PM Modi further said Uttarakhand will reach new prospects of development.

“…I have a belief that this will be Uttarakhand’s decade…Uttarakhand will reach new prospects of development and our government is working with that one motive…Foundation stones of several development projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crores were laid today…,” he said.

The Prime Minister said his government has worked for those living in far-flung areas and therefore within five years 13.5 crore people have been uplifted out of poverty.

“These 13.5 crore people are an example that how India can eradicate poverty. Earlier, the ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan was raised but Modi is saying that we will together work to eradicate poverty. We take ownership and responsibility and work relentlessly…,” he said.

Earlier in the day, he performed darshan and puja at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh.

Wearing a traditional tribal outfit with a turban and ‘ranga’ (upper body garment), PM Modi performed an ‘aarti’ and blew the conch shell at the Shiva-Parvati temple situated along the banks of Parvati Kund in Jolingkong.

PM Modi, at the temple, was guided by local priests Virendra Kutiyal and Gopal Singh. He also sat in meditation briefly with folded hands in front of the Adi Kailash peak, also in Jolingkong.

In a post on X ahead of the visit, PM Modi said: “Our government is committed to the welfare of each and every individual of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the state’s rapid development. To impart more speed to it, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Pithoragarh.”

“I will also get the good opportunity of interacting with the people of Gunji village. I also look eagerly forward to a darshan of the spiritually significant Parvati Kund and and a puja at Jageshwar Dham during the tour,” he said.

Cultural troupes from Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region were set to welcome PM Modi at several points of a renovated 6-km road decorated with murals and paintings as he travels from the Naini Saini airport to a public meeting venue.

PM Modi, after the darshan of Adi Kailash peak, headed to Gunji village, where he interacted with locals and security personnel, and attended an exhibition of local products and artefacts. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. They were accorded a warm traditional welcome.

A public meeting in Pithoragarh was also part of PM Modi’s Uttarakhand itinerary.