Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur
Jaipur, Sep 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Banswara on Thursday, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 1.22 lac crore across 21 districts of Rajasthan. Addressing a massive public rally, Modi criticised the Congress for its historical neglect of India’s power sector and contrasted it with the BJP-led government's achievements over the past decade.
He noted that when the BJP came to power in 2014, around 18,000 villages across the country had no electricity poles. "There used to be endless power cuts in both villages and cities. Restoration of electricity used to make headlines — not the outages," he remarked. Modi highlighted that under his government, 2.5 crore households have received free electricity connections, which he described as a symbol of inclusive development and growing national capability.
From the rally venue, Modi launched a series of high-value initiatives, including the foundation stone of the Rs 42,000 crore Mahi-Banswara nuclear power plant. He also kickstarted 15 drinking water projects worth Rs 5,884 crore aimed at ensuring safe and reliable water supply across several districts of Rajasthan. A significant portion of the Rs 1.22 lac crore package — Rs 1.8 lac crore — is directed at Rajasthan, with other projects benefitting neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
To bolster employment, Modi handed over appointment letters to 15,000 newly recruited candidates for various government positions. These included animal attendants, junior assistants, instructors, engineers, teachers, and others, including those hired under compassionate grounds. He reiterated the government's commitment to addressing job creation with speed and scale.
Via video conferencing, Modi flagged off three new trains: the Bikaner–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, and the Udaipur City–Chandigarh Express — a move aimed at enhancing connectivity across northern India.
He also engaged with beneficiaries of the Kusum Yojana, reaffirming the government’s rural empowerment focus and clean energy commitment. Modi said these projects represent a new phase in India’s energy journey and development drive, reflecting a national vision that moves forward at an "electrifying speed."
Throughout his speech, Modi repeatedly took jabs at the Congress, accusing it of rampant corruption and mismanagement in Rajasthan. He claimed that the BJP is now “healing” the damage caused during the Congress rule and committed to reversing the previous government’s failures.
This marks the Prime Minister's 16th visit to Rajasthan since coming to power in 2014, underscoring the strategic importance of the state for the BJP. The rally also evoked the ideals of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, with Modi saying the vision of Antyodaya — the upliftment of the last person in society — continues to guide his government’s mission.