In an apparent bid to blunt the Opposition’s full-fledged campaign against the BJP-led MahaYuti Government and the Centre over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s imposing statue at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg district ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday apologised to Chhatrapati Shivaji whom he described as not just “a revered king or great personality but a deity”.
Speaking at a function after laying the foundation stone for `76,000 crore Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and kick-starting other developments, Modi recalled that the first thing he did after he was nominated by the BJP as the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2013, was to visit Raigad Fort to offers his prayers to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the latter’s Samadhi. He said he was blessed with the same ‘bhakti bhav’ with which he revered his master and embarked on the new journey to serve the nation.
Alluding to the collapse of a 35-tall statue at Malvan in Sindhudurg district, the Prime Minister tendered his humble apology to the legendary Maratha king by saying: “Shivaji Maharaj is not merely a name, a revered king or a great personality but a deity”.
Indirectly hitting out at the leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of the Congress for showing disrespect towards freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, Modi said that his upbringing and his culture made him different from those “who intend to disrespect the great son of the land Veer Savarkar and trample the feeling of nationalism”.
In an unmistakable criticism of Rahul Gandhi ahead of the State Assembly polls, Modi said: “People of Maharashtra should remain wary of those who disrespect Veer Savarkar and feel no remorse for it”
The Prime Minister said that his reverence towards Chhatrapati Shivaji should be seen in the context of the fact that the first thing he did after visiting Maharashtra was to apologise to his deity Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also sought forgiveness from all those who worship Shivaji Maharaj. Averring that his government had taken major steps for the growth of Maharashtra in the last 10 years as “a Viksit Maharashtra is the most crucial element of the resolution of a Viksit Bharat”, Modi said that the state had the potential and resources to grow due to its coastal proximity, holding immense possibilities for the future.
“The Vadhvan Port will be the country’s largest container port and will be counted among the world’s deep water ports. It will become an epicenter of trade and industrial development for Maharashtra and India,” the Prime Minister said.
Being built at a cost of `76,000 crore, Vadhvan Port — located near Dahanu town in Palghar district — is expected to be one of India’s largest deep-water ports and will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, reducing transit times and costs.
Vadhvan Port aims to establish a world-class maritime gateway that will boost the country’s trade and economic growth by catering to large container vessels, offering deeper drafts, and accommodating ultra-large cargo ships. Modi, who also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 218 fisheries projects worth around Rs 1,560 crore and launched Rs 360 crore National Roll Out of Vessel Communication and Support system, said there was a time when Bharat used to be counted among the most strong and prosperous nations due to its maritime capabilities.
“People of Maharashtra are well-versed in this potential. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took India’s maritime capabilities to new heights with his policies and strong decisions for the development of the country,” Modi said, adding that even the entire East India Company could not stand in front of Darya Sarang Kanhoji Yaganti.
Slamming the previous governments at the Centre for failing to pay heed to Bharat’s rich past, Modi said: “This is New India. It learns from history and recognizes its potential and pride. New India is creating new milestones in maritime infrastructure by leaving behind every trace of the shackles of slavery”.
Stating that lakhs of crores of rupees had been invested in modernising ports in the country, the Prime Minister said: “Entire world is looking towards Vadhvan Port today. Very few ports in the world can match Vadhvan Port’s depth of 20 meters. This port would transform the economic landscape of the entire region due to railway and highway connectivity. It will create opportunities for new businesses and warehousing owing to its connectivity to the dedicated Western Freight Corridor and proximity to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway”.
Dwelling upon the launch of the Vessel Communication System, the Prime Minister said: “This system will become a blessing for the fishermen community. Our government plans to install 1 lakh transponders on vessels used by fishermen to establish uninterrupted connectivity with their families, boat owners, fisheries department and coast guards. That will help fishermen communicate in times of emergency, cyclones or any untoward incidents through the help of satellites. “It is the government’s priority to save lives during any emergency”.
Modi said that more than 110 fishing ports and landing centers are being built for the safe return of fishermen’s vessels.
Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and DairyingRajiv Ranjan Singh were present on the occasion.
