PM Modi was all praises for Karnataka for its contribution to manufacturing but the speech didn't come without jibes at opposition parties.
PM at the flagging off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express, at KSR Railway Station, in Bengaluru on November 11, 2022. (Supplied)
Crediting his government for fulfilling Bengaluru’s long-standing demand for a second terminal at the Kempegowda International Airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP’s “double engine government”.
The Prime Minister is on a two-day tour of southern states, and inaugurated a slew of infrastructure projects in Bengaluru on Friday, 11 November.
Earlier in the day, Modi flagged off South India’s first Vande Bharat Express, plying between Chennai and Mysuru via Bengaluru.
“This isn’t just a new train but new India’s new identity,” said Modi, adding that India wants to run fast today.
He added that more than 400 Vande Bharat trains and Vistadome coaches over the next 10 years would reform Indian Railways and become its identity.
PM Narendra Modi after unveiling ‘Statue of Prosperity’ of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru. (Supplied)
The prime minister also flagged off the Bharat Gaurav Kashi train that connects Karnataka to Uttar Pradesh.
Later in the day, Modi inaugurated the second terminal of the Kempegowda International Airport, after which came the unveiling of the “Statue of Prosperity” — the 108-foot bronze statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, who is credited with founding Bengaluru.
“Just like the country is progressing, the number of people at airports is increasing. Our government is building new airports, Before 2014, there were only some 70 airports in the country, but now there are more than 140 airports. We have doubled it,” Modi claimed, adding that the airports were creating new opportunities.
“The role of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in the making of Bengaluru is unparalleled. He is remembered as a visionary who always put the welfare of people above everything else. Honoured to inaugurate the ‘Statue of Prosperity’ in Bengaluru,” the prime minister said earlier in the day.
The Karnataka BJP government’s grand display of respects to Kempegowda — a Vokkaliga community icon — came even as the Congress in Karnataka claimed credit for honouring the founder of Bengaluru.
@INCKarnataka Party are followers of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda’s values.
In his honor we have named Bangalore Airport as Kempegowda International Airport. Bangalore’s main metro station was also christened after Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station by us.— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 11, 2022
Modi was keen on hailing investments coming to Karnataka.
“The whole world is surprised when they hear of BHIM — the digital payments app developed in India. Was this even possible to imagine this eight years ago? Could one even imagine 5G technology?” Modi said as the crowd cheered.
“Previous governments didn’t even think of it. The previous governments used to think speed was a luxury and scale was a risk. We have changed this mindset. We think speed is India’s aspiration and scale India’s strength,” Modi added.
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