Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of underestimating the valour of the armed forces and said its Governments did not carry out development work in border areas, fearing the enemy could exploit the new roads to advance into the country. He was addressing a BJP rally here, soon after a ceremony around a kilometre away to inaugurate the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which he said would accelerate the development of Rajasthan as well. Modi inaugurated the 246-km section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa. The Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot stretch is set to reduce the travel time between the National Capital and Jaipur considerably.
Modi also accused the Congress Government in Rajasthan, where Assembly polls are due this year-end, of lacking vision and hindering the State’s development, and said its plans and announcements remained just on paper.
Modi said Rajasthan would have progressed better if it had the double-engine Government of the BJP, referring to the possibility of his party being in power both at the Centre and in the State.
He alleged previous Congress Governments did not carry out development work in border villages and areas “because they were scared, and they have said in Parliament that what will happen if the enemy comes on the roads made by us.”
“The Congress has always underestimated the valour and bravery of our soldiers. Our forces know how to stop the enemy at the border and give them a befitting reply,” he said.
Modi said his Government has created a network of roads and rail in border areas in the last nine years.
Targeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for reading excerpts from previous year’s Budget while presenting the State’s 2023-24 Budget on Friday, Modi said, “Anybody can make a mistake, but this shows the Congress has neither vision nor gravitas (wajan) and its plans and announcements remained just on paper.”
The PM’s rally in Dausa in the politically significant eastern Rajasthan is being seen as a BJP move to strengthen the party’s prospects in the region dominated by the Meena and Gurjar communities.
The BJP mobilised its supporters and workers from eastern Rajasthan for this rally. State BJP chief Satish Poonia visited Dausa, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur districts before the rally to ensure the event is well-attended.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, most seats in eastern Rajasthan were won by the Congress. The BJP is looking to strengthen its base in the region. Before addressing the rally, Modi inaugurated the 246-km section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa. The Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot stretch is set to reduce the travel time between the National Capital and Jaipur considerably.
Modi pressed the button of a remote to mark the foundation laying/inauguration of a total four projects, including the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, worth more than Rs18,000 crore. "I take great pride in dedicating the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to the nation today. It is one of the largest and most modern expressways in the country. This is another grand picture of developed India. I congratulate the residents of Dausa and the countrymen," Modi said.
On the occasion he said when the Government invests in highway projects, ports, railways, optical fibre, and opens medical colleges, it gives strength to traders, small shopkeepers and industries. "Investment on infrastructure attracts more investment," he said.
Developed at a cost of more than Rs12,150 crore, this first completed section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will provide a major boost to the economic development of the entire region.Modi said the new section will reduce the travel time between Jaipur and Delhi to half. He further said those who travel to Delhi for work can now come back to home in the evening after finishing their task. He said that rural 'haats' are being developed around the expressway where the local artisans can sell their wares.
"For the last nine years, the Central Government is continuously making huge investments in infrastructure. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor are going to become two strong pillars of progress for Rajasthan and the country," he added.
Modi further said the expressway will benefit the Sariska National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore National Park as well as cities such as Jaipur and Ajmer. Rajasthan is already known for its tourism sector and the attraction will increase further with the new infrastructure project, he said.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union MoS VK Singh, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other leaders were present on the stage during the function.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal khattar addressed the programme through a video link. While Gehlot joined the programme from the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur, Khattar addressed the event from a function held in Nuh district.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be India's longest with a length of 1,386 km. It will reduce the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12 per cent, from 1,424 km to 1,242 km, while the travel time will be cut by 50 per cent, from the current 24 hours to 12 hours, it said. The expressway will pass through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat.It will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 ports, eight major airports and as many multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with the new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port.
It will have a catalytic impact in the developmental trajectory of all adjoining regions, thus contributing in a major way in the economic transformation of the country, said a government Press release.