Riding high on the wins of BJP in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, a jubilant Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the spectacular electoral victories of BJP to the power of democracy wherein people were voting for development.
“Due to the power of democracy, the BJP retained power in states where governments were hardly elected twice in a row. This was possible as people are voting for development,” Modi said addressing more than 100,000 representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions in the state at the Panchayat Mahasammelan organized at GMDC grounds in Ahmedabad.
Modi's two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat propelled the state BJP into election mode and charged the party cadres in the state where BJP has been enjoying uninterrupted power for the past 24 years. “It is now firmly entrenched in the minds of people that the task of people who are voted to power is to ensure development and growth takes place. We will continue with this mantra and ensure that every section of society reaps the benefits of development," said Modi who switched his address between Hindi and Gujarati.
Earlier, Modi was accorded a rapturous welcome as celebrations of victory in four states spilled over onto the streets. Thousands of party workers jubilantly greeted the PM on the 10-km route from the airport to the state BJP headquarters. The road show was marked by the PM donning a new BJP saffron cap and waving victory signs with both hands. He was flanked by state CM Bhupendra Patel and BJP president C R Paatil.
The PM also made a massive rural development push while addressing sarpanchs and other panchayat office-bearers. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said, “Rural development was Bapu’s foremost and most important dream. He believed a strong democracy was possible only if our villages were strong. It is the duty of those who believe in democracy to strengthen rural institutions and systems,” Modi said.
Modi said villages need to be self-reliant and gave goals to village representatives for over- all development of rural centres including planting 75 trees in every village, farmers taking up natural farming, celebrating school and village birthdays, switching to LED bulbs and conserving water for local use.
Reviews Somnath temple projects
In the evening, PM Modi presided over a meeting of Shree Somnath Trust in his capacity as the chairman of the body that manages Somnath temple and reviewed the progress of its development projects. Union home minister Amit Shah was also present in the two-hour meeting held at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar. Veteran BJP leader L K Advani joined the discussion via video conference.
Trustee secretary P K Laheri said Several projects for the temple are in the pipeline and a review of the same was held during the meeting.
Presides over RRU convocation
On Saturday PM Modi cautioned those graduating from Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) against the perils of the uniform. He said that while the ‘prabhav’ (impact) of the uniform should be maintained, it’s value increases with ‘manavta’ (humanity). He was speaking at the first convocation of the university and the ceremony to dedicate it to the nation. “Many of you may be thinking that once you get a uniform, the entire world is yours. I urge you friends not to get into this trap,” said PM Modi to the graduating students at RRU. “It’s not an act of increasing the value of the uniform… The uniform’s value increases when there is humanity within, when there is compassion, there’s a sense of justice towards mothers sisters, Dalits, the downtrodden and those without means.”
