Month-long programmes planned to mark PM Modi’s birthday: LG Sinha
Srinagar, Sep 17: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the Government of India has planned a month-long programme to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, with various events scheduled across the country.
Speaking at a programme organized with sick children at Government Medical College, Bemina, Sinha highlighted what he described as the achievements of the Modi government in economic growth, infrastructure development and welfare schemes.
“Across the country, the Prime Minister’s birthday is being celebrated from today. The government has issued a detailed month-long programme,” Sinha said, adding that a programme had also been organized at Bemina with sick children to mark the occasion.
He said India had moved from being known as a “fragile five economy” to a “top five economy” over the past 12 years.
“It is a matter of pride for the country that a country which was once known as a fragile five economy has, over the past 12 years, through the efforts of the Prime Minister, become a top five economy,” Sinha said.
“If we look at the economic growth rate, broadly speaking, our current economic growth rate is 7.8%, which is the best in the world,” he said.
Sinha credited Modi with the country’s progress across sectors, particularly infrastructure and welfare.
“The progress the country has made in every sector over the past 12 years certainly deserves credit to the Honorable Prime Minister,” he said.
Referring specifically to Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said the Union Territory had witnessed major changes in infrastructure and social security schemes.
“If I talk about Jammu and Kashmir, whether it is infrastructure here or social security schemes, or ending the discriminatory system, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed quite revolutionary changes in six years,” he said.
Sinha said more than ₹1.5 lakh crore worth of work was underway in Jammu and Kashmir in road infrastructure and tunnels.
“If we talk about road infrastructure and tunnels, roughly more than ₹1.5 lakh crore worth of work is underway here,” he said.
He also referred to the completion of the railway connection to Kashmir, describing it as the fulfillment of a long-standing dream.
“There had been a long-standing dream of connecting Kashmir by railway, and that dream has been fulfilled,” Sinha said.
Highlighting welfare measures, he said 25 crore people had moved out of poverty, while 80 crore people were being provided free rations.
“Broadly speaking, today 25 crore people have been able to come out of poverty in six years. The Government of India is providing free rations to 80 crore people. Eleven crore people have received gas, and four crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have benefited people in Jammu and Kashmir as well,” he said.
Sinha appealed to people in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the month-long programmes being organized to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday.
“I would certainly appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to participate enthusiastically in the month-long programme,” he said.
In his earlier remarks, Sinha had also urged J&K residents to take part in the celebrations.
“I would appeal to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to increase their participation in the programmes being held throughout the month and to celebrate them with enthusiasm,” he said.
