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PM launches railway revamp, slams Oppn
Inspired by Quit India Movement, the entire country is calling for corruption, dynasty, and appeasement to quit India, Modi added, in an apparent play on the opposition’s name for their alliance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition, accusing it of playing “negative politics,” and said that the entire country is now rooting for corruption, dynasty and appeasement to “quit India”.
The PM’s attack, at a time when his government is locked in a bitter tussle with rival parties — who formed a coalition under the banner INDIA — over Parliament agenda and the crisis in Manipur, was at an event where he virtually laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railways stations across the country.
“A section of the Opposition is still working with an attitude of neither working themselves nor allowing us to work,” he said, citing their reservations about the new Parliament building, the development of Kartavya Path in Delhi, and criticising the construction of the War Memorial for martyrs.
“The modern Parliament building was made keeping in mind the future and its needs. The Parliament is the symbol of the country’s democracy, in which all the parties and the opposition are represented. But, a section of the opposition also opposed the new building of the Parliament. When we developed the Kartavya Path, it was also opposed.
“These people did not even build a war memorial for the country’s brave martyrs for 70 years. When we built the National War Memorial, he was not ashamed to criticise it publicly,” he said.
Talking about the Statue of Unity built in Kevadia, Gujarat, Modi said that all Indians were proud of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is the biggest statue in the world. He alleged that some opposition parties only remember Patel when elections are at stake and that none of their leaders have visited the statue or paid their respects.
However, he said, “Rising above negative politics, we are moving on the path of positive politics in mission mode, giving priority to development.”
Inspired by the Quit India Movement, the entire country is calling for corruption, dynasty, and appeasement to quit India, Modi added, in an apparent play on the opposition’s name for their alliance.
In a long post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit back at Modi, saying it was him who had “only done negative politics”. In four points, Kharge said:
“You have not been able to control Manipur violence since last 3 months. Your divisive politics has pitted communities against each other, leading to civil war-like situations…
“The whole country is watching what is happening in Haryana. Where there have been no riots for decades, your government and your Sangh Parivar people are making brother fight with brother…
“You have given this country only unemployment, inflation, economic inequality, poverty, women insecurity, Dalit oppression and social injustice in the last 10 years… Instead of solving problems, the Prime Minister finds a new inauguration program for himself everyday…
“Your political forefathers pitted Indians against Indians, supported British rule, did whistleblowers in and strongly opposed Quit India. [They] had a suspected role in the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi…” he said.
At the event, Modi announced that 1,309 prime railway stations will now be modernised as ‘Amrit Bharat Stations’. Of them, the foundation stone for 508 stations was laid on Sunday.
These 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 55 each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana and 13 in Karnataka. The redevelopment is expected to cost ₹24,470 crore.
Modi said the modernisation of so many stations will create a new atmosphere for development in the country since they will create a good first impression among the tourists and visitors. Upgraded stations will not only increase tourism but will also give a push to economic activities in nearby areas, he added.
“India, which is heading towards the goal of being developed, is at the beginning of Amrit Kaal,” he said, adding that the today the focus of the entire world is on India. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party refers to the time till August 15, 2047 as Amrit Kaal, since India will that year complete 100 years of independence.
“There is new energy, new inspiration and new resolutions and in this spirit, a new chapter is beginning in the history of Indian Railways,” he also said.
Claiming that railways has provided jobs to more than 150,000 young people alone, Modi said employment was also being created by investing lakhs of crores on infrastructure. He mentioned the central government’s campaign to provide jobs to 100,000 youth through Rozgar Melas.
“This is the picture of a changing India where development is giving way to new opportunities for the youth, and the youth are giving new wings to the development of the country,” he added.
