* A major tragedy was averted as helicopter carrying Union Minister for Road and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh went out of order and couldn’t take off from Battal Ballian Ground for Udhampur helipad after the rally was over around 6 pm.
* The two Ministers then travelled to Udhampur helipad by road where Dr Singh returned to New Delhi in the Prime Minister’s special aircraft while Gadkari left in another plane. The helicopter had earlier ferried the Ministers from Udhampur helipad to Chenani and from Chenani to Battal Ballian Ground, the rally venue. However, it couldn’t take off from Battal Ballian after the rally.
* Independent MLA from Udhampur and former Minister, Pawan Gupta refused to attend the rally despite being extended an invitation as the function was being held in his constituency. He was reportedly anguished with some BJP leaders.
* Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi ji before starting his address. He said he was feeling immense pleasure in the feet of the Goddess. He said he was pleased to inaugurate the tunnel during pious Navratra festival. It may be mentioned here that Modi had visited holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji before starting his campaign for the BJP during 2014 Parliamentary election.
* Modi congratulated Nitin Gadkari and Dr Jitendra Singh for completion of historic engineering marvel-the Chenani Nashri tunnel. Jitendra welcomed the Prime Minister by addressing in Dogri.
* At the start of rally, Modi called upon the crowd to take up their mobile telephones and click the photographs saying this would be a wonderful scenario and real inauguration of Chenani-Nashri tunnel. The crowed followed and large number of people were seen clicking the photographs chanting Modi-Modi slogans.
* Barring Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Works Minister Naeem Akhter, no other PDP Minister or legislators were present in the function.
* Barring one Minister, all other Ministers and BJP leaders present at the dais addressed the gathering before arrival of the Prime Minister.
* Narendra Modi reached the venue of Chenani-Nashri tunnel at 3.40 pm and inaugurated the tunnel at 3.43 pm. He posed for group photograph with Engineers, who were part of construction of the tunnel. The engineers chanted `Modi-Modi’ while being clicked. In fact, this happened twice, first during inauguration of the tunnel and second on his return after inspection of the tunnel.
* After inauguration, Modi travelled through the entire 9.2 kilometers long tunnel from Chenani to Nashri in an open jeep. In the first jeep, Modi was accompanied by Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. It was followed by a second jeep in which Nitin Gadkari, Dr Jitendra Singh and Dr Nirmal Singh travelled.
* Modi stopped inside the tunnel and inspected SOS box for some time. However, he didn’t stop at Nashri and returned to Chenani. Entire journey inside the tunnel lasted about 40 minutes.
* Local artistes performed at the rally venue singing patriotic song before arrival of the Prime Minister.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel