SHIMLA/MANDI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not keep date with the rain-drenched Yuva Shakti Vijay Sankalp rally crowd at Paddal Maidan in the temple town as the rain god this time did not oblige the double engine government. 

Unfazed Prime Minister turned to the virtual mode and addressed the rally crowd from Delhi  urging the state’s Yuva Shakti to reap harvest of double engine government and repeat what their counterparts in UP and Uttarakhand had done: By bringing BJP government back to power in Himachal Pradesh in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections.

The rally crowds have come mainly  from  Mandi and Kullu and Bilaspour and other parts due to the continuing spells of rains lashing the state for the last 10 days that have crippled life for days.

It would  have been wise enough on the part of the key panners to postpone the rally keeping weather conditions  prevailing in the north in mind, said the irate party workers, who were forced to be on their toes after the fresh spell lashed the Paddal ground. 

But Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his advisors looked other way. Jai Ram Thakur worked extra hours to make the rally historic in his home turf in his bid to regain the ground from Congress, which had won the last Mandi Lok Sabha election last year,  ahead of the Vidhan Sabha polls.

But Weather God including Dev Kamru Nag did not answer their prayers and spoiled the "big show" as PM could not keep date with public. 

The dev bajantris  beating runny tunes on dhols and nagara, most of them from Seraj and Drang set the stage for the rally, but Dev Kamru Nag, who is believed to be in direct communication with the rain god, looked other way round.   

Modi mentioned in his virtual address that  he could not become  a physical part of the rally due to bad weather. But the enthusiasm was unparallel as he could see how they are braving bad weather taking chairs on their head to protect themselves from rains.

Modi  told them that Himachal has moved ahead because of its Yuva Shakti, who contributed to the nation building at all platforms, ranging from sports  to defending the national borders and fighting for freedom of the country.

Himachal’s Pahari Gandhi fought for freedom of the country, its soldiers fought Kargil war and other wars and its Yuva has always been in service of the country- be it sports, wars and party as they served Ma Bharti at all levels due to their leadership qualities.

With his mind focused on the coming state Vidhan Sabha polls, Modi took a trip down the political lane reminding the virtual Rally crowd  of their contributions in the   2014 Lok Sabha elections and later 2019, in which BJP won all the four Lok Sabha seats to perform the repeat of the NDA government.

Modi said there was a time when there were unstable coalition governments. But India has now stable government since 2014 which has been ensuring uniform and stable policies and programmes in the country, he said.

Prime Minister, who presented himself on a BJP platform from Delhi with party symbol, said they did it in UP and Uttarakhand and he hoped they would repeat it in Himachal was well, changing the mindset in state.

Modi did not make any mention of any state leaders including Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, BJP Chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and union minister IB and youth affairs and sports Anurag Singh Thakur, Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Jagat Prakash  Nadda and Anurag Singh Thakur  were conspicuous by their absence on the the rally stage in the rain-soaked Paddal Maidan.  

Modi went ahead cited the Bulk Drug park, medical devices park, startup ecosystem developed by IIT Mandi, Mudra scheme  that would give another push to Himachal making it a global Pharma hub of India.

Modi also mentioned scores of national level institutions like  IIM Sirmaur, AIIMS Bilaspur, IIIT Una, Central university at Dharamshala and Mandi university.

These institutions are  providing logistics and support creating employment opportunities for the youth, he added.   

Prime Minister said Centre has provided Rs 14000 crore fund to maintain national highways which is seven times more than that earlier budget.  

National Highways projects, Vibrant border village scheme, Hill states Ropeways Projects have improved connectivity opening up new opportunities in the tourism and self-employment sector in the hill states, Modi said.

Modi said Himachal has a drone policy which is opening new vistas for the state farmers and entrepreneurs.  Har Ghar ko Jal scheme has benefitted 8-9 lakh families, he added.

The Hatti community of Giri Par region of Sirmaur has been accorded the Scheduled Tribe status in which Yuva will get benefit, he said.

Prime Minister said NDA government has taken various initiatives aimed at empowering our Yuva Shakti ensuring  they become Self-reliant.

In the end Modi cautioned people to take care  while going back home due to bad weather.    

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur  said that it would be a proud moment for the people of the State to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chhoti Kashi Mandi, but due to bad weather the Prime Minister could not come to Mandi personally.

Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Government of India for according, in principle, approval of Bulk Drug Pharma Park to the State.

He said that this Park would prove a game changer for the people of the State. He said that the expected investment in this park was about Rs. 50,000 crore and would provide direct employment to about 30,000 persons.

He said that 90 per cent of the project cost with the maximum limit of Rs. 1000 crore would be provided by the Government of India.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was one of the three States of the country that was selected for Bulk Drug Pharma Park, which shows the benevolence of the Prime Minister towards the State.

He said that Medical Devices Park was also sanctioned by the Prime Minister for the State which would go a long way not only in giving a boost to the economy of the State, but will also provide gainful employment opportunities to thousands of youths of the State.  

MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap also spoke on the occasion and thanked the youths of the State for making this event a mega success.  

National BJYM President Tejasvi Surya said that the youth of the hills have capacity and potential to bring a quality change in the society.  

State Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha President Amit Thakur also spoke on the occasion and thanked the youth for making the rally a grand success.

Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Vice President BJP Saudan Singh, State BJP Incharge Avinash Rai Khanna, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporation were present on the occasion.