Country’s unity is the main source of development: Narendra Modi

PRIME Minister of India Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Telangana was the talk of the nation. The prime minister officially launched Mission Bhagiratha by launching the pylon and turning the tap. Mission Bhagiratha is the brain child of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to provide safe drinking water through a pipeline at Komatibanda, Gajwel in Medak district. With this, about 67,000 households of the Gajwel Assembly constituency will get safe drinking water through a pipeline. The prime minister dedicated the 1200 MW Singareni Thermal power plant to the nation besides laying a foundation stone for the NTPC 1600 MW power plant and revival of the Ramagundam fertilizer plant on the occasion. The objective of Mission Bhagiratha, according to the official website, “is to provide 100 liters of clean drinking water per person in rural households and 150 liters per person in urban households. This project aims to provide water to about 25,000 rural habitations and 67 urban habitations.” Reports say that the deadline for water to reach these households is March 2018. Modi saw the photo exhibition based on the water grid and KCR explained some of the photos to the prime minister. Central Ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya, TS Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and Mission Bhagiratha Vice Chairman Prasanth Reddy shared the dais. The prime minister later addressed a massive public gathering at the village. He started off his speech saying “Andariki Vandanalu” in Telugu and said that whenever CM KCR met him he used to share his concerns for the irrigation and drinking water of people of the state. Modi said that KCR met him several times after he took power and added that every time he met, he only spoke about developmental programs. About Mission Bhagiratha, Prime Minister Modi said that this is a good precedent and one that every politician should follow. He stated that Telangana is the youngest state but is a role model in terms of progress and welfare. Irrigation Minister Harish Rao acted as interpreter for Modi’s speech. On the other hand, KCR, after beginning his speech in Telugu, continued his speech in Hindi and drenched Modi in praise. KCR hailed Modi’s two-year-old government as “corruption free”. Explaining the issues that have been plaguing Telangana, KCR said, “Modi Ji, we want your love, not special packages like others”. KCR went on to request Modi to grant an All India Institute of Medical Sciences and a national project to Telangana apart from solving the pending issues being faced by the state. Later on Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a huge gathering in LB stadium of Hyderabad which was conducted by the State BJP unit. Making an emotional appeal, he asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected by society. “I would like to tell these people that if you have any problem, if you have to attack, then attack me. Stop attacking my Dalit brethren. If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers. This game should stop.” The prime minister said if the country has to progress it cannot ignore key mantras of peace, unity and harmony. “The country’s unity is the main source of the country’s development,” he said. A large number of BJP workers were present in this public meeting. His comments came at a time when the National Democratic Alliance government is facing flak over incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Modi said at times some incidents come to notice which give us “unbearable pain”. “It should be our responsibility to save and respect them (Dalits),” he said without referring to any particular incident. On the other hand, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi speaking to national media said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must show in action what he said in words on cow vigilantism. Questioning the prime minister over the delay in speaking out on the issue, Owaisi said mere words will not be enough and Modi will have to remove the sense of insecurity among Dalits and Muslims. Alleging that all ‘gau raksha samiti’ involved in the incidents were linked to the Sangh Parivar, the Hyderabad MP said the prime minister should act. “When Akhlaq was killed, the PM did not say anything. He was also silent when two Muslims were killed in Jharkhand. The PM did not say anything when a truck driver of Jammu was killed,” said Owaisi. The Muslim political face of the country, Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi said that as the video of the incident in Una in Gujarat reached every house in the country, Dalit society and secular-minded people started protesting, and the prime minister was forced to speak. M. Asif Ali The author is the special correspondent for Yahind.com and founder and Head of News and Current Affairs at Ruby Channel, Hyderabad, Telangana, India