Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Silvassa, the capital of Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, today to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of a number of projects worth over 1400 crore. He laid the foundation stone of Medical College in Sayli to improve the healthcare facilities in Daman, Diu, Dadar and Nagar Haveli. New Industrial policy and new IT policy were also launched to encourage industries.
Addressing a packed crowd of people in Silvassa Modi said that he was feeling nostalgic on visiting the Union Territories. Crediting the work done by his government, Modi said that it was because of the amount of work done over the last 5 years in the two Union Territories, that both the UTs have to be declared Kerosene free and all the houses in the UTs now have the LPG connection, electricity supply and water supply.
PM Modi congratulated the people who were allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY). Attacking the previous Congress government the PM said that the previous government built only 25 lakh houses in 5 years, while this government has constructed over 1.25 crore houses in the last five years. He said that the houses built under the PMAY will be provided with free of cost electricity connections, free of cost LPG connections.
The Prime Minister announced that the Medical College, which will be built at a cost of 200 crores, will have 150 seats initially for medical students which will be increased later on according to requirement. Paramedical and nursing seats have also been announced for the UTs.
Projects are being worked on to develop Silvassa and Diu into smart cities. A seawall is being constructed in Moti Daman to ensure the safety from sea waves and also to reduce soil erosion. Under the Van Dhan Yojana, Centres are being set up across the country for value addition and promotion of forest produce. The MSP margin for the forest products sold by the Adivasis has also been increased to help them get appropriate prices. Steps are also being taken to preserve the cultural and historical monuments of Dadar and Nagar Haveli to utilise the tourism potential of the area which will provide employment opportunities to youth. Under the Blue Revolution scheme, the government is working to increase the income of the fishermen and to provide them with easy market access. Steps are also being taken to covert the traditional boats of fisherman into motorboats. A fund of Rs 7000 crore has been set up to provide loans to fishermen.
Coming down heavily on the Opposition, Modi said the opposition leaders have gathered in Kolkata and are shouting ‘bachao bachao’ crying for help. He said that these people are trying to save their parties while I am working hard to take the country forward. “These people are infuriated by the actions being taken by the government against corruption and corrupt persons. That is why they have come together to form a Gathbandhan”, said Modi.
“A certain party which ran the government for decades in the country looked only for the possibilities for one family in everything. This was the reason that they were more concerned about the name rather than work”, said Modi attacking the Congress Party.
Criticising the regional parties for joining hands with Congress to form the Mahagathbandhan, Modi said, These people who used to curse the Congress Party endlessly have come together with Congress on the same platform. This gathbandhan is only against Modi but against the whole country”.”Their activities can them a place in the newspapers but they will never be able to get a place in the hearts of people”, he added.
Targeting the TMC government in West Bengal Modi said that they are scared of a party with just one MLA (referring to BJP) in the State. He attacked the Mamata government for not allowing the BJP Rath Yatra in the State. Referring to the politically motivated killings of BJP members in the States of West Bengal and Kerala he said, “When people who killed members of rival political parties for filing nominations in Panchayat elections talk about saving democracy all the country wants to say is ‘Kya scene hai‘.”
Modi concluded by saying that the fight is between positive thinking and negative thinking, corruption and development, and the people of the country and the Mahagathbandhan.
