- Monday, April 29, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (29) kicked off a two-day visit to his home state of Gujarat which will go to polls later this year. On the first day, he laid the foundation stone and dedicated various projects worth over Rs 3,400 crore (£385 million) in Surat. During his visit, Modi will also inaugurate the 36th National Games, which is being held in the western state for the first time.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Gujarat for more than two decades and this year, it might face a challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party, which has fast emerged as an opposition party. The Indian National Congress is the other main opposition in the state.
Modi’s visit to Gujarat takes place just days after Amit Shah, the country’s home minister and also a parliamentarian from the state, visited it for a similar purpose.
The prime minister, who had been the chief minister of Gujarat between 2001 and 2014 when he went to Delhi, was welcomed by a massive crowd in Surat, known as India’s ‘Diamond City’.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the crowd as he arrives in Surat, Gujarat
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate various projects worth more than Rs. 3,400 crores here
(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/59qMKQ5VV8
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022
“After the formation of the double engine government in Gujarat, the construction of houses has also accelerated and other facilities are also being provided to the poor and middle class in Surat. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, about 4 crore poor patients have got free treatment so far in the country,” Modi said.
The BJP leaders, including Modi, often utter the phrase ‘double engine government’ to imply that it helps a state if the same party is in power both at the national level and in the state.
Modi also said that more than four crore (40 million) people received free medical treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme across the country and of them, 32 lakh (3.2 million) are from Gujarat and more specifically, 1.25 lakh (0.12 million) are from Surat.
Modi shared pictures of a drone show in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Twitter ahead of his visit. The night sky of the city was lit up to prepare for the the opening of the National Games that will continue till October 12.
Addressing a rall, Modi said, “It’s my privilege to lay the foundation stone for infrastructure, sports & spiritual destinations in Gujarat during the ongoing celebrations of Navratri. Surat is a great example of ‘Jan Bhagidari’ and unity. People from across India live in Surat. It’s mini-India.”
He also said, “I am delighted to be in the dynamic city of Surat where multiple development works are being dedicated. Surat is a symbol of togetherness.”
Modi is scheduled to visit Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, and Ambaji on Thursday and Friday (30), where he will either lay foundation stones for various development projects or dedicate them to the public.
Hailing the development of Surat, Modi said, “The road connecting Surat to the airport reflects the city’s culture, prosperity and modernity… we got tired of telling the then Delhi govt why Surat needed an airport & what the power of this city is. Today, so many flights depart from here.”
“Surat will be known for electric vehicles. The city is working on promoting electric vehicles. Over 500 charging stations will be installed here. We shall continue this pace of development,” he said, adding that the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) city project will help the city to emerge as the safest and convenient diamond-trading hub across the world.
