Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a day's visit to Maharashtra on Saturday, where he lay the foundation stone for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.
Watch: PM Modi’s Address in Pune
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Pune to lay the foundation stone for the Pune metro project. He spoke of the government’s focus on development.
Touching upon demonetisation for the third time in the day, Modi said he would not have had to take such tough measures if the government before him had done its job better.
He said he will not sleep until the black money issue is resolved. “There’s still time, come on the right path,” Modi warned.
- Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the newly-built campus of the National Institute of Securities Management in Raigad district, Maharashtra
- He laid the foundation stone for the mega memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, to be erected in the Arabian Sea
- The project has been facing stiff opposition from fisherfolk and environmentalists, who say that it would affect marine life and ecology
- The PM’s visit assumes political significance as the high-stakes elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation are just a few months away
- Speaking at the MMRDA grounds, he touched upon demonetisation and said honest people will agree to bear inconvenience even after 50 days
Why is Shivaji Still Shaping Politics in Mumbai?
What makes Shivaji, a medieval king, the biggest vote magnet in Maharashtra even today?
“Why can't the government spend money on conserving Shivaji's forts instead of building a new statue of him?” Many have asked this sensible question on social media.
Some have started an online campaign against the extravagant statue. Yet, the Fadnavis government in Maharashtra has decided to ignore all the detractors and go ahead with spending a whopping Rs 3,600 crore on reclaiming land in the Arabian Sea and erecting a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on it.
Read the full story here.
Watch: PM Modi’s Address at Bandra Kurla Complex
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex. He equated Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji with kings and gods from Hindu mythology.
The Shiv Sena in Mumbai, however, appeared unhappy with ally BJP, even as its chief Uddhav Thackeray accompanied the PM for a ‘jal pujan’ ceremony of the Shivaji memorial. The party alleged that the BJP has “hijacked” the occasion to take political benefit.
The BJP should not forget this memorial is a dream of every citizen of Maharashtra. The previous government (of Congress-NCP) also tried to start work on the memorial though it was unsuccessful for reasons best known to them.
PM Modi alluded to demonetisation for the second time in the day and said the corrupt cannot win in this country.
This fight is not an ordinary one. For 70 years, those who have milked our country, they will not win in front of our country of 125 crore.
He said after 50 days of demonetisation, the results will begin to show:
After 50 days, the troubles of honest people will begin to ease and the corrupt will get caught. The people of India have taken the inconvenience in their stride, and I’m sure they will be willing to bear more.