Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Heartiest greetings to all the people of Karnataka!

Present on the dais Pujya Swami ji, Karnataka Governor Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot ji, popular Chief Minister Shri Basavaraj Bommai ji, former Chief Minister Shri Yediyurappa ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Ministers in the State Government, MPs, legislators, all other dignitaries and my dear brothers and sisters who have come in large numbers.

I am privileged that I have got the opportunity to come to Bengaluru on a very special day. Today is the birth anniversary of two great sons of Karnataka. Sant Kanaka Dasa ji guided our society, whereas Onake Obavva ji contributed for the protection of our pride and culture. I bow once again to these two personalities.

Friends,

While honoring these great personalities, we are empowering both the development and heritage of Bengaluru and Karnataka. Today Karnataka got the first Made in India Vande Bharat train. This train connects Chennai, the country's start-up capital Bengaluru and the heritage city of Mysuru. The Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan train taking the people of Karnataka to Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Kashi has also started today. Today the second terminal of Kempegowda International Airport has also been inaugurated. I had posted some pictures of the airport's new terminal on social media. But during my visit, I found that the new terminal, which looked very beautiful in the pictures, is even more grand and modern. This was a very old demand of the people of Bengaluru which has now been fulfilled by our government.

Friends,

I also got the opportunity to unveil the 108 feet statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji and perform his ‘jalabhishek’. This gigantic statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda will inspire us to work relentlessly and dedicatedly for the future of Bengaluru and India.

Brothers and sisters,

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Pujya Swami ji for his blessings and the way he expressed his feelings.

Friends,

Today India is recognized for start-ups all over the world. And Bengaluru has a huge role in strengthening this identity of India. Start-ups are not mere companies. Start-up is a passion to try something new, the passion to think something out of the ordinary. A start-up is a belief, a solution to every challenge being faced by the country. Hence, Bengaluru represents a start-up spirit. This start-up spirit puts India in a different league in the world today.

Brothers and sisters,

Today’s program is also a reflection of this youthful spirit of Bengaluru. Vande Bharat Express started today is also not just a new train, but it is a new identity of New India. This is a glimpse of how India's railways will be in the 21st century. Vande Bharat Express is a symbol of the fact that India has now left the days of stagnation behind. India now wants to run fast and is doing everything possible for it.

Friends,

We are aiming to transform Indian Railways in the next 8-10 years. More than 400 new Vande Bharat trains and Vista Dome coaches will become the new identity of Indian Railways. Dedicated freight corridors will speed up transportation and save time. The rapid broad gauge conversion is bringing new regions on the railway map. And in the midst of all this, today the country is also modernizing its railway stations. Today, when you go to Sir M Visvesvaraya ji railway station in Bengaluru, then you experience a different world. Our aim is to modernize the major railway stations of the country like this. Keeping this in mind, Bengaluru Cantonment and Yesvantpur railway stations are also being transformed in Karnataka.

Friends,

Connectivity between our cities will also play a big role in building a developed India. The need of the hour is that there should be maximum expansion of airports and air connectivity in the country. The new terminal of Bengaluru Airport will provide new facilities to the passengers. Today India is one of the fastest growing markets for air travel in the world. As the country is progressing, the number of passengers at airports is also increasing. Therefore, our government is also building new airports in the country. There were around 70 airports in the country before 2014. Now this number has increased to more than 140 i.e., double. These new airports are increasing the business potential of our cities and also creating new opportunities for the youth.

Friends,

Today, Karnataka is also benefiting from the unprecedented trust that has been created for investment in India from across the world. About 4 lakh crore rupees were invested in Karnataka in the last three years when the entire world was battling Covid. Karnataka has led the country in attracting FDI in the last year. And the investment is not limited to the IT sector alone. Rather, every sector from biotechnology to defence manufacturing is expanding here. Karnataka has 25 percent share in the aircraft and spacecraft industry in the country. About 70 percent of the aircraft and helicopters for the country's army are made here. Karnataka is also ahead in electric vehicle manufacturing in the country. Today more than 400 companies out of Fortune 500 companies are operating in Karnataka. And this list is continuously growing. All this is happening because today Karnataka is running on the double engine power.

Brothers and sisters,

Today, India is working on a different level whether it is about governance or building physical and digital infrastructure. Today the whole world is surprised about India's digital payment BHIM UPI. Was it even possible to imagine this eight years ago? Could one think of Made in India 5G technology? The youth and professionals of Bengaluru have an important role in all these initiatives. These things were beyond imagination in pre-2014 India, the reason being the old-fashioned approach of the previous governments.  The previous governments considered speed a luxury and scale as a risk. We have changed this perception. We consider speed as India's aspiration and scale as India's strength. Therefore, today India is developing infrastructure in the country under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. We all have witnessed how in the past coordination was the biggest problem in building infrastructure. More the departments and agencies, the more the delay in construction! Therefore, we decided to bring everyone on one platform. Today, data in more than 1500 layers is being made directly available to various agencies under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. Today, dozens of ministries and departments of the central and state governments have joined this platform. Today, the country is targeting an investment of about Rs 110 lakh crore on infra under the National Infrastructure Pipeline. The country is putting its energy on multimodal infrastructure so that every means of transport is connected and supports each other in the country. Some time back, the country also launched the National Logistics Policy. This policy will help in reducing the cost of transportation and making transportation innovative in the country.

Friends,

It is equally necessary to strengthen the social infrastructure of the country along with the physical infrastructure to make India developed. I am happy that the double engine government of Karnataka is paying equal attention to social infra. About 3.5 crore houses have been built for the poor in the country in the last eight years. More than eight lakh pucca houses have been approved for the poor in Karnataka also. Piped water facilities have been provided to more than seven crore households in the country in just three years under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’. Piped water has reached more than 30 lakh rural households in Karnataka for the first time. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, four crore poor people of the country have got free treatment in the hospitals. More than 30 lakh poor patients of Karnataka have also taken benefit of this scheme. I am happy that our mothers, sisters and daughters are the biggest beneficiaries of these facilities.

Brothers and sisters,

Today, crores of small farmers, small traders, fishermen and street vendors are joining the mainstream of development of the country for the first time. About 2.25 lakh crore rupees have been transferred to the bank accounts of more than 10 crore farmers of the country under the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi'. More than 55 lakh small farmers of Karnataka have also received about Rs 11,000 crore. More than 40 lakh street vendors of the country have received financial help under the PM SVANidhi scheme. This has also benefited more than two lakh street vendors of Karnataka.

Friends,

I talked about taking pride in the heritage of our country during my address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15^th August this year. Our heritage is cultural as well as spiritual. Today Bharat Gaurav Rail is connecting the places of faith and spirituality of the country as well as strengthening the spirit of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. So far, this train has undertaken nine such journeys to different parts of the country this year. The passengers had a very pleasant experience whether it is Shirdi Temple Yatra, Shri Ramayana Yatra or Divya Kashi Yatra. Today the ‘Yatra’ from Karnataka to Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj has also started. This will help the people of Karnataka to visit Kashi Ayodhya.

Brothers and sisters,

We also get inspiration from Sant Kanaka Dasa ji about how society can be connected with Bhagwat-bhakti and social-power. On one hand, he chose the path of ‘Krishna-bhakti’, and on the other, he gave the message of ending caste discrimination by stressing ‘Kula Kula Kulavendu Hodedadadiri’. Today, there is a discussion all over the world about the importance of millets i.e. coarse grains. Sant Kanaka Dasa ji had underlined the importance of millets during that period itself. His composition was – ‘Ram Dhanya Charite’. He gave the message of social equality, citing the example of the most preferred millet in Karnataka.

Brothers and sisters,

Today we are endeavoring to develop Bengaluru city as envisioned by Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji. The city owes a lot to Kempegowda ji. The details that he took care while establishing this city is amazing, unparalleled. He had prepared a plan for commerce, culture and convenience for the people of Bengaluru centuries ago. The people of Bengaluru are still getting the benefit of his vision. Today the form of trade and business may have changed, but 'Pete' still remains the commercial lifeline of Bengaluru. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji has an important contribution in enriching the culture of Bengaluru as well. Be it the famous Gavi-Gangadhareshwara temple or the temples of Basavanagudi, Kempegowda ji made the cultural consciousness of Bengaluru alive forever. The people of Bengaluru city will always be grateful to Kempegowda ji for such an unmatched settlement of this city.

Friends,

Bengaluru is an international city. We have to enrich it with modern infrastructure, while preserving our heritage. All this is possible only with ‘Sabka Prayas’ (collective efforts). Once again, I congratulate all of you very much for the new projects. I express my gratitude to the revered saints who came and gave their blessings. I also express my gratitude to the enthusiastic youth, mothers, sisters and farmers of Karnataka who have come in such a large number to bless us.

Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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DS/VK/AK