Shivamogga (Karnataka): After inaugurating a new airport in Shivamogga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Air India was known for corruption and loss-making business during the Congress rule, but it is today scaling new heights during his rule.
“During the Congress rule, Air India was known for scams, as a loss-making business model, but today it is taking a new flight, a new height in the world as a new capability of India,” he said.
Modi said small towns should also be connected with air connectivity, Congress never had such a thought. “Today many small cities of the country have modern airports. You can imagine the speed at which the BJP government is working,” he said.
“Today, the sting of India’s aviation sector is ringing all over the world. The day is not far when the citizens of India will fly in Made in India aircraft,” he added.
Modi said BJP’s double-engine government has brought one more change in Karnataka, and that is to take up development beyond big cities.
“Earlier, development was centred and confined to big cities only. However, now, we are trying to spread development to villages and tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Be it a vehicle or the government. If a double-engine is fitted, its speed increases manifold,” he said.
The PM said there are going to be new possibilities in the aviation sector, and the expansion of air travel today is due to the policies and decisions of the BJP government. “In 2014, the country only had 74 airports. In the last 9 years, 74 new airports have been built,” he added.
Modi said Shivamogga got its own airport, and was a long-standing demand which has now been fulfilled.
“The airport is grand and beautiful. It shows a unique combination of Karnataka’s tradition and technology,” he said. This is not just an airport, but a campaign for the new flight of dreams of the jawans of this region, he added.
PM Modi said the new airport will open a new door of development for Shivamogga, and promote tourism in the area with the influx of tourists, besides generating employment.
“Infrastructure with good connectivity is going to create new employment opportunities in this entire region. Today, a big campaign is going on to make life easier for the mothers and sisters of Shivamogga and this region,” he said.
He added: “This region (Shivamogga) is one of the most fertile places in India. We can find different kinds of crops here. It establishes this place as an agriculture hub.”
Modi said the BJP government is the government of the villages, the poor and the farmers, and it is a government that works for the welfare of the poor.
“The BJP government is a government that follows the path of self-respect of mothers and sisters, opportunities for mothers and sisters and empowerment of mothers and sisters,” he said.
Modi said the BJP government works for the welfare of the poor and empowerment of the women, and hence it tried to help them in every aspect.
“This Amrit Kaal is the time to make India a developed country. Investors from all over the world want to invest in India. The investment will help Karnataka and its youth,” he said.
PM Modi also wished former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on his birthday and prayed for his long life. “He (Yediyurappa) committed his life for the welfare of the poor and the farmers,” he lauded.
