by: Nav Jeevan

In the land of Mahatma, villages need to be self-reliant and strong, says PM Modi

  • Modi invoked Mahatma Gandhi, saying his dream of rural development should be fulfilled as India celebrates 75 years of Independence.

NE NEWS SERVICE

GANDHINAGAR, MARCH 11

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Mahatma Gandhi, saying his dream of rural development should be fulfilled as India celebrates 75 years of Independence.

On a visit to his home state a day after BJP stormed back to power in Uttar Pradesh, and also retained Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa, Modi addressed over one lakh representatives from the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state at the Panchayat Mahasammelan.

Villages need to be self-reliant and strong, Modi said, and gave goals to village representatives for the overall development of rural centers.

Modi also sarcastically said that there would be no ‘sarpanch pati’ viz husbands controlling their sarpanch wives in Gujarat.

Gujarat is the land of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) and Sardar Patel. Bapu always talked about rural development, self-reliant villages. Today, as we are marking ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, we must fulfill Bapu’s dream of rural development, he said. A robust Panchayati Raj infrastructure is key to fulfilling the dream of Gram Swaraj. All the panchayat members and sarpanchs are working towards achieving the objective,” he said.

Mahatma Gandhi always spoke of rural development, self-reliance, and strong villages, Modi said.

Poll heat hits Gujarat: People voting for development, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attributed the BJP’s storming back to power in Uttar Pradesh, and also retaining Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa to people voting for development.

“Due to the power of democracy, the BJP retained power in states where governments were hardly elected twice in a row,” he said. “This was possible as people are voting for development,” he added.

Sporting a saffron cap, Modi waved to people standing on both sides of the road as his open car, decorated with floral garlands, traversed the 10 km distance from the airport to Kamalam, the state BJP headquarters.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president C R Paatil flanked Modi as the vehicle passed cheering crowds. Modi flashed the “V for victory” sign as his supporters shouted slogans hailing him as a global leader.

Many BJP workers joined the roadshow wearing saffron turbans. Artistes performed classical and traditional dances on stages erected on the road side. Many posters dotted the roadshow route. There was one congratulating Modi for Operation Ganga, under which Indian students stranded in Ukraine were brought back to the country. People chanted slogans of “Modi, Modi” along the route when the PM’s vehicle passed by.

The roadshow was seen as Modi starting his campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled in December.

“In Gujarat, only BJP will win. There is no scope for Congress or AAP here as this is the home state of Modi,” a BJP worker said. A woman BJP worker congratulated Modi for safely bringing back Indian students from Ukraine.

“A son of India (Modi) safely brought back thousands of sons and daughters of the country from war-zone. He has come back to Gujarat and we are happy to welcome him here,” she said.

Some students who returned from Ukraine were also part of the crowd and hailed Modi and the Central government for their efforts to bring back the students. Screens were put up on the route to enable people to watch the roadshow progress. “We are sure that BJP will emerge victorious in Gujarat also when the elections take place in December,” former chief minister Vijay Rupani said. After reaching Kamalam, Modi held meetings with state BJP leaders on the strategy for Gujarat Assembly elections, a party functionary said.