TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated a string of projects here and laid foundation stone for new initiatives, in all worth Rs 20,140 crore.
The Prime Minister hailed Tamil Nadu for its cultural inspiration and by praising DMDK late leader Vijayakanth rooted for nationalism while Chief Minister M K Stalin championed the social justice-led Dravidian model of governance which, among other goals, is also aimed at taking education to all.
Against the background of recent rains, floods and consequent damage and loss of lives in Chennai and southern Tamil Nadu, while PM Modi said the Centre was providing all possible support, Stalin urged him to declare the heavy showers-deluge as ‘severe natural disasters’ and release appropriate funds to the state from National Disaster Relief Fund.
Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation, 20 projects related to air and seaports, railway, highway, petroleum and natural gas, atomic energy and higher education in the state from this central Tamil Nadu district, located about 300 km from state capital Chennai. Earlier, he attended the 38th Convocation of Bharathidasan University here.
The projects, the Prime Minister said will strengthen Tamil Nadu’s progress and boost ease of travel and create thousands of employment opportunities.
Stalin said the state governments, being close to the people, have the duty of providing students access to education, health care amenities and all other necessary assistance to people.
Hence, reiterating a request for Central funding to tackle the aftermath of floods and rains and establishing state rights is only “the demand of the people and not a political rhetoric”, the CM asserted.
Inaugurating the new terminal building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport, the PM said, “our endeavour is to consistently expand the cultural inspiration derived from Tamil Nadu in the development of the country.”
The ‘revered Sengol’ has been installed in the new Parliament building in Delhi. It is an inspiration driven from the model of good governance given by Tamil culture to the whole country.
The ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal’ for the next 25 years will play a crucial role in India becoming a developed nation, which has both economic and cultural dimensions, the PM added.
