Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp dig at the Congress during the NaMo for Viksit Bharat programme in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Tuesday, saying that some people can never be happy with India’s development.
PM Modi received a warm welcome at the event, which featured music and cultural performances. Organisers said all seats for the programme were booked within an hour of online ticket sales opening. The event also featured the Queen band’s popular song “We Will Rock You.”
PM Modi Says India’s Development Journey Must Accelerate
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said his visit was aimed at further accelerating India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.
“I have come among you to further accelerate the journey towards a developed India,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted several development projects whose foundation stones were laid or which were inaugurated during his visit.
He praised residents of Vadodara for participating in a cleanliness campaign organised across the city as part of the development celebrations.
PM Modi congratulated the people of Vadodara for their “spirit of service” and appreciated their efforts to welcome the development initiatives.
PM Modi’s ‘Angry Uncle’ Jibe at Congress
Taking another swipe at the Congress, PM Modi said that some people can never be happy with India’s development, using the phrase “naraz fufaji” or “angry uncle” to mock critics of the government’s development push.
PM Modi contrasted the current government’s infrastructure efforts with those of the previous UPA government. He cited the Dedicated Freight Corridor as an example of infrastructure development that he said had benefited farmers and improved the movement of goods.
He also referred to the movement of a double-stack container freight train from JNPT in Mumbai, saying that a single train could carry goods equivalent to more than 250 trucks.
Taking a sarcastic dig at critics, PM Modi said they might ask what would happen to truck operators. However, he argued that improved rail freight connectivity would help move goods more efficiently from one part of the country to another.
The Prime Minister also said that rail connectivity is now reaching areas that previously did not have such access.
PM Modi Attacks Previous UPA Government
PM Modi further criticised the previous UPA government over its development record.
He said the earlier government had failed to deliver enough infrastructure and contrasted that record with his government’s focus on manufacturing and technology.
“Earlier governments could not build 50,000 toilets in 10 years, while we are building everything from chips to ships,” PM Modi said.
India Needs a Complete Ecosystem to Become an AI Superpower
PM Modi also highlighted India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence (AI) and said the country needs a complete ecosystem to become an AI superpower.
He said efforts are being made to improve access to critical resources, including uranium and rare earth materials, while also strengthening skill development and training for young people.
According to PM Modi, India’s workforce needs to focus not only on academic degrees but also on practical skills.
He stressed that the focus is increasingly shifting towards skills, training and continuous upgradation to prepare young Indians for emerging technologies and future industries.
The Prime Minister’s remarks in Vadodara combined a strong political attack on the Congress with his broader message of infrastructure development, manufacturing, skill development and India’s ambition to become a developed nation and a global leader in AI.
