PM Modi flags off Mahamana Express, says development solution to all problems

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said development was the solution to all problems and his government was taking all possible steps to ensure development.

He was addressing a gathering at Bada Lalpur here after gifting development projects worth over ₹1,000 crore to Varanasi.

Modi also lashed out at previous governments, saying they seemed to have hated development and the national exchequer was “destroyed” by them to win elections.

“Pehle aisi sarkarein aa ke gayi jinko vikas sey nafrat jaisa mahaul tha. Unke liye sarkari tijori chunao jitney ke karyakramo mein tabah ho jaati thi (governments in the past were such that they seemed to hate development. For them, national exchequer was to be destroyed in the task of winning elections),” he said. The Prime Minister added, “We not only launch, but also complete projects.”

Modi lauded UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for completing development projects that were pending for years in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and taking a number of steps for the well-being of farmers.

He dedicated projects worth ₹595 crore, including the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) and Crafts Museum, which has been named Deendayal Upadhyaya Hastkala Sankul, and laid foundation of the projects worth over ₹400 crore.

Modi said, “Several developmental projects (in Varanasi) were pending for last many years. UP government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has completed the pending projects and opened doors for new opportunities and development in the region.”

“I compliment the state government for completing the projects in time and taking numerous steps to boost development in eastern UP,” Modi said, adding that he wanted to ensure all-round development in eastern UP and the whole of eastern India. He also dedicated two bridges — Baluaa Ghat and Samane Ghat. Foundation for both the bridges was laid by the then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2005.

Flagging off the Mahamana Express between Vadodara and Varanasi, Modi said the train connected Vadodara, the city of knowledge and culture, with the capital of Sarv Vidya, Varanasi, via textile hub Surat. He said the government was committed to bringing positive transformations in the lives of poor.

He also said his government was committed to the welfare of the weaver community and farmers.