PM Modi two days visit to Gujarat
PM Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Smriti Van memorial, which celebrates the resilience shown by people during the devastating 2001 earthquake in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Inaugurating the memorial, PM Modi said Smriti Van is a tribute to the lost lives and the remarkable fighting spirit of the people of Kutch.
The memorial has been built over nearly 470 acres to celebrate the spirit of resilience, following the death of 13,000 people during the 2001 earthquake which had its epicenter in Bhuj. The memorial carries the names of the people, who lost their lives during the earthquake. It also has a state-of-the-art Smriti Van Earthquake Museum.
I remember when the earthquake happened, I reached here on the second day itself. I was not CM back then, just a worker. I didn’t know how many people I would be able to help. But I decided to be there with you all,” PM Modi said.
The museum showcases Gujarat’s topography, rebuilding initiatives, and success stories after the 2001 earthquake, and informs about different kinds of disasters and future readiness for any type of disaster. It also has a block to relive the experience of an earthquake with the help of a 5D simulator and another block for people to pay homage to the lost souls.
He will also inaugurate ‘Veer Balak Memorial’, a memorial built on the outskirts of Anjar town in Kutch district as a tribute to schoolchildren and teachers who died during the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat.
PM Modi arrived in Gujarat on Saturday and met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state BJP chief CR Patil and senior government officials. He is scheduled to address a gathering in the Bhuj town of Kutch district. From the same venue, he will virtually inaugurate or perform ground-breaking ceremonies for nearly 10 projects in the region.
PM’s address to Kutch
PM Modi said on Sunday there had been conspiracies to defame Gujarat and stop investments in his home State when he was the Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014.
However, Gujarat not only ignored the efforts to malign the State but continued to chart a new path of development and progress, which led to all-round development across its regions, Mr. Modi said while addressing a public rally after the inauguration and laying the foundation stone of development works in Kutch district.
Gujarat Assembly elections are slated for December this year.
The Prime Minister also held a roadshow in Bhuj and addressed a rally after inaugurating the Narmada canal that will bring water to parched Kutch from the Narmada Sarovar dam in south Gujarat. During his visit to Kutch, Mr. Modi also inaugurated a memorial in memory of the thousands of victims of the 2001 earthquake that devastated Kutch.
While Gujarat was dealing with the natural calamity, the period of conspiracies started. There were conspiracies to defame Gujarat in the country and the world. Repeated attempts were made to stop investment coming to the State, but the State chose a new path of progress,” he said in his address.
According to Mr. Modi, after the earthquake, the State government had focused on the Kutch district, which was then known as “very backward” but the government’s efforts led to massive industrial development across the district.
“Ignoring all the efforts for defaming Gujarat and defying the conspiracies, Gujarat charted a new industrial path. Kutch was one of the big beneficiaries of that process,” Mr. Modi added.
Counterattack of Congress on PM Modi’s speech
The Congress on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “conspiracies to defame Gujarat” remarks, saying the truth is that the state had emerged as an economic powerhouse long before he became the chief minister.
Congress hits back at PM Narendra Modi over his “defame Gujarat” remark. “The truth is that long before he (Modi) became CM, Gujarat had already emerged as an economic powerhouse due to its spirit of enterprise,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Hitting out at the prime minister, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, “PM claims there’s a plot to defame Gujarat. The truth, which he is incapable of saying, is that long before he became CM, Gujarat had already emerged as an economic powerhouse due to its spirit of enterprise.”
“Public sector investments by INC govt catalyzed the state’s growth,” he tweeted.
In his speech, Modi said he can clearly visualize that in spite of many deficiencies now, India will be a developed nation by 2047. He said Gujarat ignored all efforts to defame it, defied the conspiracies and the state charted a new path of progress.
