Published Jan 11, 2023 | 6:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 11, 2023 | 6:50 PM
Hubballi-Dharwad, twin city, decked up for the 26th National Youth Festival.
After precisely two months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Karnataka to inaugurate the 26th National Youth Festival -2023 at the railway sports ground in Hubballi on Thursday, 12 January.
With the countdown underway for the 2023 Assembly polls, Modi’s visit to Dharwad has gained cultural and political significance. It will be his first visit to Karnataka in 2023.
The inaugural ceremony of the annual youth festival, organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of social reformer Swami Vivekananda, will be held at the railway sports ground at Hubballi.
The events related to the youth festival are being staged on the campuses of Karnataka University and the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad.
Stating that the prime minister’s visit would inspire the youth of the region, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters: “The participation of PM Modi for the five-day National Youth Festival in Hubballi-Dharwad will give an opportunity and inspiration for the youth of this region (North Karnataka).”
He added: “The prime minister will inaugurate the festival. This national event is being held for the first time in North Karnataka. It will give good exposure to all the youths to explore various fields.”
He further said: “Modi does not consider the population a burden but as an asset. Nearly 46 percent of the country’s population is the youth, and several programmes have been chalked out to indulge them for nation-building.”
Bommai went on to say: “Modi has formulated schemes like the New Education Policy and Atma Nirbhar Bharat. The visit of the prime minister will motivate the youth.”
ಇದೇ ಜನವರಿ 12ರಂದು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಯುವಜನೋತ್ಸವನ್ನು ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ ಪ್ರಧಾನಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ@narendramodi ಜೀ ಯವರು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ವಿವಿಧತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಭಾರತದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಯುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಕಲೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಅನಾವರಣಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ. ಭವಿಷ್ಯದ ಭಾರತದ ಯುವಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಸಮಾಗಮ, ಸಧೃಡ ಭಾರತ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಬುನಾದಿಯಾಗಲಿದೆ. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/D987CZDdLl
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) January 10, 2023
On the prime minister’s itinerary, Bommai said: “Though there will be no roadshow by Modi, the people are allowed to stand on both sides of the road from the airport to the venue.”
Modi will land at the Hubballi airport around noon. He will travel by road to the railway sports ground, which is 7.2 kilometres away.
Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Coals and Mines Pralhad Joshi, who represents Dharwad in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of States for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje, and other Central leaders are expected to participate in the inaugural ceremony.
The 26th National Youth Festival is being organised with the theme “Viksit Yuva-Viksit Bharat”.
“This youth festival is held every year to provide exposure to talented youth at the national stages and galvanise them towards national-building,” a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“This festival will witness the Youth Summit, which will have plenary discussions on five themes stemming from G20 and Y20 events,” it added.
The themes are Future of work; Industry, Innovation and 21st-century skills; Climate change and disaster risk education; Peace-building and Reconciliation; Shared future-youth in democracy and governance; and Health and Well-being.
Thakur said: “The Youth Festival is being celebrated as a green festival using only biodegradable materials. The focus will be on the prime minister’s Mission Life and Green Energy.”
Department of Youth Affairs Secretary Meeta R Lochan said, “More than 30,000 youth will attend the inaugural function, where the prime minister will share his vision with them.”
Over 30,000 youth from across the country and around 7,500 delegates from all the states and Union Territories will take part.
The summit is expected to witness the participation of more than 60 eminent experts from various fields.
Several competitive and non-competitive events will also be held.
Competitive events will include folk dances and songs, and will be held to provide an impetus to local traditional cultures.
Non-competitive events will include Yogathon which aims to mobilise close to 10 lakh people to do Yoga, the statement released by PMO said.
Modi is visiting the state with the assembly polls barely three months away.
In his one-day visit to Dharwad, he will only participate in the inaugural ceremony of the national youth festival and not chair any meetings.
BJP state general secretary and MLC N Ravikumar told South First: “Modi will not hold any meetings with state leaders on the upcoming Assembly polls. This is purely an official visit. He will also not announce any new programmes for the youths.”
