‘Made in Amethi AK-203 Rifles’: Modi Takes on Rahul in His Bastion
Modi will address a public meeting in Kauhar area of Amethi and inaugurate a Kalashnikov factory on 3 March.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 3 March, addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and inaugurated a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles, an India-Russia joint venture.
The Congress president has been alleging that his constituency was receiving step-motherly treatment from the Centre with various projects being stalled since the BJP-led government came to power.
The prime minister, who announced development projects worth Rs 538 crore for the constituency, said Amethi will get a new identity now and be known by the new venture of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles which will be made at the Korba ordnance factory.
- Modi is addressing a public meeting in Kauhar area of Gauriganj
- Modi also launched a Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility – Munshiganj Ordnance Factory in Kauhar
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Modi to Unveil Development Projects, Kalashnikov Factory in Amethi
During his visit, the PM will unveil several other development projects for Amethi and the region, a statement from his office said. At Kauhar in Amethi, the PM will dedicate the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited to the nation.
The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India's Ordnance factory and a Russian firm. It will produce the last series of Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa Ordnance Factory.
The PM will unveil several development projects in power generation, education, health and manufacturing sectors. These projects will directly benefit the Amethi region, the statement said.
Amethi Gives Saffron Hue Ahead of Modi's Visit, Congress Miffed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting and lay the foundation stone of an ordnance factory unit in Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
The constituency of Amethi is being given a saffron hue ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, on Sunday, 3 March. In this visit, the prime minister will launch several projects in the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family for long.
Meanwhile, Congress workers have objected to the white-washing of the wall paintings of their leader, Rahul Gandhi, near the meeting venue.
Gandhi's representative, Chandrakant Dubey, said white-washing the paintings of the local MP was "very sad and unfortunate" and only shows the intolerance of BJP leaders and workers.
Modi previously visited Amethi on 5 May 2014 and the BJP, which had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against Gandhi in 2014 general election, had managed three lakh votes.
Irani has been nurturing the constituency since and is expected to contest again in the coming poll, expected to be held in April-May.
State BJP general secretary Govind Narain Shukla, who is the convenor of the prime minister's public meeting, said:
In 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP had won four of the five assembly constituencies under Amethi Lok Sabha seat, with the SP winning one.
PM Modi to Address Rally in Bihar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will sound the bugle for for the upcoming LoK Sabha polls in Patna.
The state of Bihar, a politically important state for the BJP, has a total of 40 Parliamentary seats.
PM Modi Lands in Amethi
Prime Minister Modi lands in Amethi to address a rally and inaugurate Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility in Kauhar. He was received at the airport by Union ministers Smriti Irani and Nirmala Sitharaman and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Congress Did Nothing for Amethi: Nirmala Sitharaman at Modi's Rally
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahed of PM Modi’s rally in Amethi said that Congress had done nothing for the region.
“Those who should have been concerned about Amethi did not do anything. With efforts of PM Modi, now AK-203 modern rifles will be made at Korwa, Amethi. This is the fruit of the Prime Minister's efforts since the last one year,” she said.
PM Modi Addresses Rally in Amethi, Launches Ordnance Factory in a Joint Venture With Russia
PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Amethi said that one of the most advanced rifles in world AK-203 will be made in Amethi.
“It will be made by a joint-venture of India and Russia. I express my gratitude to my friend President Vladimir Putin, this venture was made possible in such a short time by his support,” he said.
Attacking the Congress, Modi praised Smriti Irani for her work in the region.
“We might have lost election here but we won your hearts. In last 5 years, Smriti ji has worked so hard for development of this region. She never made you feel whether you made her win or lose, she worked more than the person who won here,” he said.
Putin Hopes AK-203 Rifles Will Help Indian Security Agencies
The new joint venture between India and Russia to manufacture the Kalashnikov assault rifles' 200 series will be able to fulfil Indian security agencies' requirement for small arms, Russian President Vladmir Putin said in a message read out by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
"The new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localisation of production.
"Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfil the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies," Putin said in his message.
"For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality armaments and equipment to Indian friends. Around 170 military and industrial facilities have been set up in India with assistance from our country," Putin said.
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Published: 02 Mar 2019,05:54 PM IST