Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during his visit to Gujarat, at Kevadia in Narmada district on Tuesday.... Read More

VADODARA/KEVADIA COLONY: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh had to face discrimination for 70 years. He added that the entire country had to face its ill-effects in the form of violence and separatism as well as incomplete hopes and aspirations.

Modi said that an important decision had been taken for the country with the inspiration of Sardar Patel. He added that a decision to take a new path for the solution of a decades-old problem had been taken, he said, while referring to the abrogation of article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir . The PM was speaking at the Namami Devi Narmade Mahotsav at Kevadia Colony to mark the historical event of the Sardar Sarovar dam being filled at its highest level.

Modi expressed confidence that with the contribution of lakhs of partners from Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Kargil, development and confidence would flow in the area.

Modi called the Sardar Sarovar project an example of the confluence of development, nature, environment and tourism. Modi said that the occasion was an emotional one as it marked the fulfilment of Sardar Patel’s dream completely.

“This is taking place in front of the eyes of his magnanimous statue,” said Modi. The day also marked Modi’s birthday.

Recalling the progress of the work on the dam, Modi said that at one stage, reaching a height of 122 meters was also seen as a major achievement. “Reaching a height of 138 meters is wonderful. Lakhs of people have contributed to this including the common man. Today, I bow to all of them,” he said.

Modi said that today areas like Kutch and Saurashtra were also receiving Narmada’s blessings. “There was a time when these areas did not get water for days. Women here had to walk five or even 10 kilometres to fetch water,” Modi said. He recalled how a water train had to bring water to the region during drought.

Speaking about the Statue of Unity, Modi said that within 11 months of its inauguration the site was seeing 8,500 visitors a day on an average. He said that the Statue of Liberty was visited by an average of 10,000 persons a day despite being 133 years old. He said that the statue had put Kevadia and Gujarat on the world’s tourism map.

