DABHOI, Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today got emotional while remembering how jawans sitting on the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan quench their thirst.
Addressing a public rally on the conclusion of Narmada Utsav, Mr Modi remembered that on one of the Diwali festivals, which he likes to spend with the soldiers sitting on the borders to guard the nation, water was brought on camels.
He said he was very much pained to see how the water was brought for the BSF. Now, the soldiers, sitting 700 km from here, will get the water of Narmada river, he said and remembered the happiness on their faces when they saw the water reaching at their door steps.
Earler, the Prime Minister dedicated the inter-state-, multi purposes historical Sardar Sarovar Narmada Scheme (SSNS) to the nation at Kevadiya colony near Vadodara in Gujarat. The Prime Minister also performed traditional Indian Pooja from the top of 144.50 mt high Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam.
Others who were present on the occasion included Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Nitin Gadkari, Gujarat Governor O P Kohli, Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ramanbhai Vora and former chief minister Anandiben Patel. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, his counterpart in Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje and Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis could not make it and sent their best wishes for the occasion. On his arrival, Mr Modi was welcomed by 101 young-Brahmins with simultaneous singing of Narmadashtak (Narmada Prayer). The Prime Minister was apprised about the latest position of the scheme by Mr S S Rathod, chairman, Sardar Sarovar Namada Nigam Limited (SSNL), on the ‘A-Frame’ of the main-dam.
Amid the chanting of Narmadashtak, the Prime Minister with emotional expressions also performed pooja of Maa Narmada (Goddess Narmada) and offered sreefal-chundaree too. Other dignitaries present on the occasion also performed similar rituals.
(AGENCIES)
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