Bhopal: If someone is working for the “kalyan (welfare) of the world”, it is Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Thursday, heaping praise on the Prime Minister “for living for the people of India” and boosting India’s global stature.
Chouhan was speaking at a function in Bina in the poll-bound state’s Sagar district, where Modi arrived Thursday to lay the foundation stone of a petrochemical complex at a Bharat Petroleum Corporation refinery and to inaugurate development projects.
“Everyone lives for themselves. What is the life which is lived for yourself? Even insects, birds and animals live for themselves. But people who live for others, live the true life. Our Prime Minister lives for the people of this country and his every moment is committed to the people of the country. Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Narendra Modi zindabad (long live Narendra Modi),” said Chouhan, extending wishes to Modi for his birthday on 17 September.
He further thanked Modi and the scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and said India was now going for the Sun.
“Arrey, bachpan mein hum kehtey the, Russia bhej raha hai, America bhej raha hai, lekin vaigyanikon ko pranaam aur Modi ji ka nandan aur abhinandan, Chandrama pe Bharat ka Chandrayaan pohunch gaya hai. Ab suraj ki taraf bhi badh rahe hain, aur Mangalyaan pe bhi jaa rahe hain,” said Chauhan.
(As children, we used to talk about Russia and America reaching the Moon but today India is on the Moon. Salute to scientists and felicitations to Modi ji. Chandrayaan reached the Moon and we are now headed to the Sun and Mars)
Lavishing praise on Modi, he added: “If there is someone working not just for Bharat but for the prosperity of the world, that person is our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Puri duniya mein Bharat ki jai jai ho rahi hai, Modi mantra goonj raha hai, hum sab ka, deshwasiyon ka samman PM Narendra Modi ne duniya me badhaya hai”.
(The whole world today is cheering for India and praising Narendra Modi. Our Prime Minister has increased our respect before the world)
Chouhan has been on a sticky wicket ahead of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP returned to power in 2020 following the rebellion of Congress MLAs led by Jyotiraditya Scindia that led to the collapse of the Kamal Nath government.
The party high command has so far refused to declare Chouhan its CM face for the polls, instead maintaining that the election will be fought under collective leadership.
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Slew of projects
Speaking at the gathering, Chouhan explained that the petrochemical complex would benefit not just Bina and Sagar, but also the cities of Vidisha, Ashok Nagar, Guna and the entire Bundelkhand region, which he claimed was left underdeveloped by the Congress.
“This petrochemical complex has direct investment of Rs 50,000 crore, which will change the entire region and the destiny of those living here. Today, several businessmen have come to set up axillary units. Once the petrochemical complex is completed, it will create employment for 40,000 other units,” said Chouhan.
He added that Modi would also inaugurate a renewable energy corridor in Narmadapuram worth Rs 3,300 crore, two IT Parks in Indore worth Rs 5,500 crore, a mega industrial park worth Rs 65,400 crore, and six industrial corridors in Shajapur, Guna, Mauganj, Agar Malwa and Narmadapuram worth Rs 16,500 crore.
Alleging that lack of development in Bundelkhand under the Congress is why the region is prone to droughts, he said: “A project linking Ken and Betwa rivers has been approved and all necessary paperwork is done. It will lead to irrigation of 20 lakh acres of land and change Bundelkhand. Bina river complex is another irrigation project worth Rs 3,300 crore.”
“I am proud to say that the Congress along with kings and nawabs only made arrangement for 7.7 lakh hectare of land to be irrigated but that has now been increased to 47 lakh hectare and, with PM’s blessings, will be further increased to 65 lakh hectare,” he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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