Ahmedabad, Dec 12: Springing a major surprise - that caught his
detractors unaware - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave a special
push to his 'catalyst for development' - Vikas - image and showcased yet
another development initiative - seaplane - as he traveled from Sabarmati river
here to Dharoi Dam in Mahesana district and paid obeisance to the highly
revered Ambaji temple.
The showcase - well orchestrated for television media hitting maximum eyeball throughout the day - certainly stole the limelight on the last day of high-decibel campaign for two-phase Gujarat polls - and to an extent put Congress on defensive as the opposition party was left almost clueless to counter this glitz.
On defensive, Congress could only organise a press conference for their 'newly elected' president at Ahmedabad but the party leadership hardly had anything new to offer.
The decision to fly Prime Minister in the seaplane was taken by BJP poll campaign managers after Ahmedabad police declined permission for a roadshow of Mr Modi. The city police also refused the roadshow permit for Congress President Rahul Gandhi citing traffic congestion and public inconvenience.
Dharoi Dam is a gravity dam on the Sabarmati river near Dharoi in Mahesana district of northern Gujarat -- which has seven assembly constituencies and has been epicentre of Patidar movement in 2015.
Polling in these constituencies - including in Mahesana - where BJP's Patidar face Nitin Patel (Deputy Chief Minister) is contesting - will take place on December 14.
"I will travel from Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane. After that, will offer prayers to Maa Amba at Ambaji. With air, roads & rail connectivity, our Government is making efforts for harnessing waterways. All this is for 125 crore Indians!"
Mr Modi said in a tweet trying to dismiss the allegation from the opposition camp that all talks about development in Gujarat were only hype.
The BJP leaders here say in fact 'Seaplane' must be seen only as a continued phenomennon of developmental works -- that started with launch of Sabarmati Riverfront during Mr Modi's tenure as Chief Minister. The announcement of Bullet Train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai on September 13 earlier this year was another high point.
The Congress chief Mr Gandhi - when asked to comment on Seaplane flight of the Prime Minister was however less than generous with his words when he said, "If Modiji was keen for a flight in a seaplane, there is nothing wrong in it....the real issue what has BJP done in 22 years".
The seaplane concept is actually being seen as an attempt by the Modi government to boost air connectivity to remote and unconnected destinations.
The Modi government plans to introduce seaplanes as part of major exercise to boost tourism and inland water travel in over 100 river fronts across the country. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has requested Japanese firm Setouchi to manufacture seaplanes in the country and assured it that land and other facilities would be made available to set up manufacturing units.
The government has also indicated that functioning norms for seaplanes are expected to be finalised in three months in consultation with the Civil Aviation ministry.
On Monday, the Prime Minister said, "We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these sea-planes". UNI
The showcase - well orchestrated for television media hitting maximum eyeball throughout the day - certainly stole the limelight on the last day of high-decibel campaign for two-phase Gujarat polls - and to an extent put Congress on defensive as the opposition party was left almost clueless to counter this glitz.
On defensive, Congress could only organise a press conference for their 'newly elected' president at Ahmedabad but the party leadership hardly had anything new to offer.
The decision to fly Prime Minister in the seaplane was taken by BJP poll campaign managers after Ahmedabad police declined permission for a roadshow of Mr Modi. The city police also refused the roadshow permit for Congress President Rahul Gandhi citing traffic congestion and public inconvenience.
Dharoi Dam is a gravity dam on the Sabarmati river near Dharoi in Mahesana district of northern Gujarat -- which has seven assembly constituencies and has been epicentre of Patidar movement in 2015.
Polling in these constituencies - including in Mahesana - where BJP's Patidar face Nitin Patel (Deputy Chief Minister) is contesting - will take place on December 14.
"I will travel from Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane. After that, will offer prayers to Maa Amba at Ambaji. With air, roads & rail connectivity, our Government is making efforts for harnessing waterways. All this is for 125 crore Indians!"
Mr Modi said in a tweet trying to dismiss the allegation from the opposition camp that all talks about development in Gujarat were only hype.
The BJP leaders here say in fact 'Seaplane' must be seen only as a continued phenomennon of developmental works -- that started with launch of Sabarmati Riverfront during Mr Modi's tenure as Chief Minister. The announcement of Bullet Train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai on September 13 earlier this year was another high point.
The Congress chief Mr Gandhi - when asked to comment on Seaplane flight of the Prime Minister was however less than generous with his words when he said, "If Modiji was keen for a flight in a seaplane, there is nothing wrong in it....the real issue what has BJP done in 22 years".
The seaplane concept is actually being seen as an attempt by the Modi government to boost air connectivity to remote and unconnected destinations.
The Modi government plans to introduce seaplanes as part of major exercise to boost tourism and inland water travel in over 100 river fronts across the country. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has requested Japanese firm Setouchi to manufacture seaplanes in the country and assured it that land and other facilities would be made available to set up manufacturing units.
The government has also indicated that functioning norms for seaplanes are expected to be finalised in three months in consultation with the Civil Aviation ministry.
On Monday, the Prime Minister said, "We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these sea-planes". UNI
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours