Country will never forget the sacrifice of soldiers in Pulwama: Modi

20/02/2019
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VARANASI, Feb 19: "The country will never forget the sacrifice made by the security personnel in Pulwama and will always thank their families for sending their loved ones for protecting the nation," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public rally in Varanasi on Tuesday.
"I wish Baba Vishwanath, Mother Ganga give us the strength to repay the debts of the families of slain soldiers," he added. "Swaraj, Savavalaban and Shaurya are the symbols of Chhatrapati Shivaji MaharajJi's Jayanti. He showed us the way of how we can be a strong nation by having good governance," he added.
The Prime Minister also talked about the initiatives taken by the Centre under Make In India programme and stated, "Today, I got an opportunity to flag-off the first diesel to Electric Converted Locomotive in Varanasi. It is admirable that now engines can too run on lightening. The strength of this engine will much greater than the old diesel based engines."
"Several numbers of steps were taken to change the appearance of Indian Railways in the last 4.5 years. A classic example of this is the first semi-high speed train, Vande-India Expressway which will run from Delhi to Kashi," he added.
"After the completion of roads and railways developmental projects in this region, it will become easier for the farmers and the traders to do business. Avenues for new ventures will now be open in Banaras and East Zone soon," promised Prime Minister Modi in his concluding statement. (ANI)
Today, PM Modi also interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - Ayushman Bharat at Banaras Hindu University. Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Prime Minister also paid obeisance at the Ravidas temple here.
In addition, he also inaugurated the newly constructed Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre of Banaras Hindu University. The hospital aims to provide affordable cancer care to patients in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand and even neighbouring countries like Nepal. He is also scheduled to inaugurate Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Lehartara.
With the inauguration of both cancer hospitals, Varanasi is set to become an important centre for quality treatment and care in Cancer-related ailments.
Modi also invoked poet-saint Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary, urging people to end caste discrimination and identify those who promote it in their "self interest".
Modi addressed two meetings and launched development projects worth Rs 3,000 crore during the visit to Varanasi, the second in a month to his LokSabha constituency ahead of the parliamentary elections.
He hit out indirectly at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for mocking the high-speed Vande Bharat train from Varanasi to Delhi after it developed a snag, saying they had insulted the engineers involved in the project. Laying the foundation stone for the Ravidas Janmasthali area development project here, Modi said caste discrimination is an impediment in achieving social harmony.
"Guruji had said that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste. Till caste discrimination is there, people cannot connect with each other, social harmony is not possible and equality cannot be ensured," Modi said.
"Identify those who in their self-interest, create caste discrimination and promote it," he urged, without taking any names.
The prominent saint from the Bhakti movement of the 15th and the 16th centuries was born in Varanasi. His hymns often addressed caste issues.
"He dreamt of a society where all are taken care of. We have tried to follow this tenet during the past four and a half years with 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' (inclusive development), the prime minister said.
"My government focused on `panchdharma' education, income, medicine, irrigation and addressing public grievances irrespective of caste, creed and other factors," he said. "Unfortunately, caste discrimination has not been removed till now. The New India will witness this change with the help of the youth," he said.
Modi also paid homage to Varanasi's Ramesh Yadav, one of the soldiers killed in the recent terror attack in Kashmir's Pulwama.
"The entire country will be forever indebted to the families of the soldiers who laid down lives for the country," he said. Modi referred to attempts to fight back money and corruption in property deals, and hit out against complacency.
"A `chaltahai' mentality had crept in. My government tried to change it," he said.
"Those who looted public money are being brought to book and honest people are being honoured," he said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called Modi "Kashiputra", or a son of Varanasi.
Hitting out at political rivals for making farm loan waivers an issue before the polls, the prime minister said Rs 7.5 lakh crore will reach the farmers' accounts directly over the next few years under his government's schemes.
He said while emphasising on developing infrastructure, his government was also focusing on making life better for the poor, the farmers and the middle class.
At the Diesel Locomotives Works here, Modi flagged off the first electric locomotive converted from a diesel engine in the country.
Without naming any leaders, he criticised attempts to mock the Vande Bharat Express over a technical snag.
"Some persons are targeting and mocking the semi-high speed train. This is unfortunate. This is an insult to engineers and technicians involved in the project. People should remain alert against such people who are insulting the engineers and the technicians, and mocking the country," he said. He asked the people not to get demoralised by those surrounded by negativity".
"I would like to tell the engineers, the technicians and the workers of the Chennai Rail Coach Factory that the entire country is proud of them, he said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi had suggested a serious rethink of the Make in India campaign after the train episode. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had tweeted, "After the inauguration, fumes were seen in Vande Bharat train, power failure inside coaches, snag developed in the brakes after which the train came to a halt. Vande Bharat is a story of development.
Modi launched or laid the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 3,000 crore around Varanasi. These include a cancer institute, a sewage treatment plant, a drinking water project, and a light-and-sound show at Sarnath.

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