PM Modi's visit to Odisha and Kerala today come as Lok Sabha elections are nearing (FILE)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Odisha and Kerala today as Lok Sabha elections are nearing. He arrived in Odisha's Balangir earlier today. "There is something special about Odisha, that draws me to the state so often!" he said on the micro-blogging site Twitter on Monday. This was PM Modi's third visit to Odisha in three weeks. PM Modi launched a slew of infrastructure projects in Balangir worth Rs 1,550 crore. Odisha goes to state polls this year along with the general elections due in May. PM Modi will also visit Kerala's Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram today. In Kollam, PM Modi will inaugurate the Kollam bypass on NH-66. PM Modi will visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. This will be the third official visit of the Prime Minister to Kollam.
Here are the LIVE UPDATES of PM Modi's visit to Odisha and Kerala:
Kerala government's conduct on Sabarimala will go down in history as one of the shameful behaviours: PM Modi
- For a few months, the entire nation has been talking about Sabarimala. The conduct of Kerala's LDF Government on the Sabarimala issue will go down in history as one of the most shameful behaviours by any party and government.
- We knew that the Communist don't respect Indian history, culture and spirituality, but nobody imagined they would have such hatred.
NDA govt at the Centre is working day and night for the people of Kerala. But, it pains me no end that the Kerala of spirituality and tranquility, the Kerala of harmony and happiness has become hostage to corruption & communalism of two alliances - LDF & UDF: PM Modi in Kerala.
"Transition from being fragile 5 nations to fastest growing economy": PM Modi
- In 4 years, We have made the transition from being one of the fragile five nations to the fastest growing large economy.
- 4 years back, did anyone even think of improving Ease of Doing Business rankings? In 4 years, we have moved up from rank 142 to rank 77, one of the fastest improvements in the world.
- 4 years back, did anyone even think that India could attract more FDI than China? In 4 years, India has surpassed China in attracting FDI.
- 4 years back, did anyone think that India could become a mobile manufacturing hub? In 4 years, the number of mobile manufacturing units has gone up from 2 to over 120. 4 years back, did anyone think that India could be a global leader in start-ups?
- In 4 years, India is home to one of the biggest start-up eco-systems in the world. 4 years back, did anyone think that India could have the world's largest health insurance program?
"Both shakti and bhakti" in Kerala - PM Modi
- Kerala has shown that when people work hard, nothing is impossible. There is both Shakti and Bhakti here.
- Few days back I had a great interaction with BJP workers via NaMo app. The centre stood shoulder to shoulder with the state at the time of flood.
- Kollam Bypass will reduce travel time and decongest traffic in Kollam town. This project is part of our focus to ensure next-generation infrastructure. It will boost ease of living for people of Kerala.
- India is growing rapidly. This is powered by the hard-work and talent of the people of our nation. From economy to ease of doing business and from start-ups to satellites, we are achieving great progress in each sector.
Addressing the crowd, PM Modi says:
- We have often seen that infrastructure projects get stalled for various reasons. Public money is wasted due to cost & time over-runs.
- We decided that this culture of wastage of public money cannot continue. Through PRAGATI, we are accelerating projects & overcoming problems.
- I was surprised to see that some projects are delayed by 20 to 30 years. Till now, I have reviewed more than 250 projects worth approximately 12 lakh crore rupees under PRAGATI
- From national highways to rural roads, pace of construction has almost doubled as compared to the previous government.
- When we construct roads and bridges, we do not only connect towns and villages. We also connect aspirations with achievements, optimism with opportunities and hope with happiness
- Today, I will inaugurate a project at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. I will also seek blessings from Lord Padmanabhaswamy for the welfare of people of Kerala and other parts of the country.
- Once in Kollam, one never misses home. I share the same feeling. I thank people of Kollam and Kerala for their love and affection.
- The 13 km Kollam bypass project was delayed for 43 years.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates the Kollam bypass project, to ease the traffic volume.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan felicitates Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kollam.
PM Modi in Balangir dedicated to the nation electrification of Jharsuguda- Vizianagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines spanning 813 km completed at a cost of Rs. 1,085 crore.
PM Modi met the parents of Doordarshan cameraman Achutyanand Sahu in Odisha's Balangir today. The journalist was killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada last October.
PM Modi's visit to Kollam today will come a day after the annual ''Makaravilakku'' festival at Sabarimala temple, which has kept Kerala in the national news after the Supreme Court allowed the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 to the hill shrine in September. PM Modi's party, the BJP, along with the Congress, has supported protests against the top court order, accusing Kerala's Left government of ignoring public sentiment while implementing the top court order.
PM Modi in Balangir said the Centre is striving hard for the development of eastern India, including Odisha. "When a region has good connectivity, it positively impacts all sectors, especially tourism," PM Modi said, as he launched a slew of projects in Odisha today worth Rs 1,550 crore.
Addressing a BJP rally in Balangir, PM Modi claimed that governments ruled like "Sultanate", neglected the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.
Earlier today, PM Modi had made a brief stopover in Chhattisgarh while on his way to Odisha's Balangir. PM Modi was welcomed by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state BJP leaders at the Raipur airport. PM Modi arrived at the Swami Vivekanand Airport and stayed for a couple of minutes before leaving for Balangir. "It was a warm meeting with the PM. He congratulated me," Mr Baghel told reporters later. It is the first time CM Baghel met PM Modi since he led the Congress to a landslide victory in Chhattisgarh in the assembly polls held in November.
PM Modi has also inaugurated renovation and restoration works of the Nilamadhav and Siddheswar temples in Odisha's Boudh district.
PM Modi arrived in Odisha's Bolangir earlier today. This is his third visit to the state in three weeks.
PM Modi today inaugurated the Balangir-Bichhupali railway line in Odisha that has been built at a cost of Rs 115 crore.
In Bolangir, PM Modi today laid the foundation stone for permanent building of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Odisha's Sonepur at an investment of Rs 15.81 crore.
"I look forward to visiting Kerala tomorrow. I would be in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram for various programmes. The Kollam bypass on NH-66 would be inaugurated. This project improve the traffic situation and enhance connectivity," PM Modi said on Twitter. "In Thiruvananthapuram I would visit the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. A series of welfare measures for pilgrims would be inaugurated as well," he added.
"There is something special about Odisha, that draws me to the state so often! Tomorrow I will be in Balangir to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several development works, which will have a transformative impact on Odisha's progress," PM Modi said on Twitter on Monday.