Modi to inaugurate Prerna Sthal in Baramati on November 3

Pune, Oct 3 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Baramati on November 3 to inaugurate the newly developed 'Prerna Sthal', which features a four-tonne statue of Lord Buddha, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar announced on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, Pawar said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Serum Institute’s Cyrus Poonawalla and representatives from Microsoft have been invited to the ceremony at Vidya Pratishthan.

Pawar is the chairman of the educational trust.

He said that the prime minister will arrive at the Baramati airport around 10 am and proceed to Vidya Pratishthan, where he will unveil the Prerna Sthal, featuring a Buddha statue installed at the Nakshatra Garden.

The premises will also feature paintings and photographs of several prominent personalities, including Rajmata Jijau, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Ahilyadevi Holkar, Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr B R Ambedkar, and Pawar's mother, Sharadabai Pawar.

He said Microsoft's chief has accepted the invitation, and the head of Bharat Forge has also been invited.

The veteran politician said the dignitaries will also see a centre focused on artificial intelligence that has been established at Baramati, with 640 students enrolled so far.

The main programme will begin at around 11.45 am, and Fadnavis and PM Modi are scheduled to address the gathering, he said.

Pawar also raised concerns about the drought situation in parts of Maharashtra, and welcomed the state government's approach of helping people without bringing politics into the issue.

"People have demanded arrangements for fodder, water and revenue waivers," he said, adding that the government should extend assistance to farmers to help them tide over the crisis.

Asked about a proposal to increase representation in a committee involving the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pawar said the issue had been discussed, but the state government-appointed panel had said it was not necessary.

On protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Pawar said there was growing resentment among people and the Centre should take note of it.