Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday initiated 10 projects worth Rs 18000 crore including the elevated Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor under its Sabka Vikas, Sabka Saath mission of its double engine government, He invoked its rich spiritual heritage, a rich tradition of bravery of its soldiers and youthful Dhami government, striking an emotional chord with the massive rally crowd at Dehradun, sounding a poll bugle for the opposition in "Devbhumi of Uttarakhand".
Addressing the massive rally at Dehradun on Friday, Prime Minister said he is a Rajneta who can proudly repeat words what he said about Uttarakhand four years ago, where “Pani of mountains and Jawani of state BJP leadership are working together to write a new story of development”, which is true. To score a political point by giving figures, Modi painted a poor picture of the past track record of the opposition Congress in the state, ahead of the assembly elections.
Accompanied by the state Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, BJP leaders Prahlad Joshi, Tirath Singh Rawat, Satpal Maharaj, Bharat Rawat, Nishank Pokhriwal, Vijay Bahuguna and others, Prime Minister queered the political pitch in Dehradun asserting that the "double engine government has started projects worth Rs one lakh crore in five years time and most of which have landed on the ground for execution in the country".
Modi said "Today the projects worth Rs 18000 crore were initiated in Uttarkhand that will give a new push to “Vikas ki Ganga” in the state, Modi said. These included Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor with elevated wildlife project that will provide direct connectivity to Chardham and will cut traveling time to just 2.5 hours, boosting tourism, medicinal herbs trade and home stays, in which Uttarakhand will become a role model. Lambagad landslide mitigation project will make travelling safe and smooth, he said.
He said the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had launched the connectivity in country, but for the last 10 years, the opposition UPA government lost its precious time as it remained mired in scams. "In contrast, we have launched infrastructure Gati Shakti development projects worth Rs 100 lakh crore in the last seven years in the country", Modi said.
He said after the Kedarnath tragedy, the pilgrimage to the Chaardham is safe and hassle free now. The Delhi-Dehradun eco-corridor will be an ecosystem of industrialists, pilgrims, free wildlife movement, providing an all-weather connectivity to Kedarnath-Badrinath, Yamnotri and Gangogtri pilgrimage circuit, Modi said.
He said the record 5, 70,000 tourists had visited Kedarnath earlier, but that number has gone up to 10 lakh now that has provided employment to youth and stakeholders and enhanced their economy. The Ring Road around Haridwar will decongest the city and children city would provide new opportunities for locals, Modi said.
Prime Minister said the mountains are forts of security, but the last government could build road length of 288km spending Rs 600 crore in seven years time. In contrast, his double engine government built 2000 KM national highways in Uttarakhand in seven years spending Rs 12000 crore, Modi said.
Prime Minister said the opposition has always divided the nation on the basis of vote-bank, denying opportunities for self-development. On the other hand BJP government is enhancing basic capability and basic facilities to empower the common man to make them self-dependent for better future of their children.
Modi said the double engine government has improved health infrastructure in Uttarakhand. The state got three medical colleges at Haridwar, AIIMS Rishikesh and 15 new oxygen plants to provide quality health care to people. These projects will open new opportunities for locals besides boosting health care in Uttarakhand, he added.
Prime Minister said the border states of the country are more secure now in terms roads, communication and equipment of soldiers, whereas previous government never took the development of borders with seriousness.
Modi said no one understands it better than a common family in Uttarakhand that how better roads, better medical facility and security with strict anti-terrorist measures have taken place in the border areas changing life of people there. BJP has kept Nation first, Always First, and make it a new mantra of development, he said.
In Uttarakhand, about 1.2 lakh people had tap water five years ago, today 7.5 lakh households have got this facility under Jal Shakti mission that has brought smiles on faces of women in the state, he said.
Modi said this path of development is hard but long lasting as it intends to empower the common man by making each family strong and self-dependent.
He said they distributed free Ration to the needy during the corona pandemic. The farmers have got solar panel in farms who had no electricity and public got LED bulbs that cut down Bijli bills and improve light in the house.
Prime Minister said they have opened the common service centers in remote areas, where villagers can book their railway tickets and get all other services without going to the town.
Modi recited a poem invoking spiritual and cultural heritage and benevolence of lord Shiva and its beauty of nature while concluding his speech and made a fervent appeal to public for his connect with the state seeking Sabka Saath for Sabka Vikas.
(Kuldeep Chauhan is editor, HimbuMail, voice of Himalayan people)
