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Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day’s visit to Maharashtra on Saturday, where he will lay foundation stones for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune. Modi will inaugurate the newly-built campus of the National Institute of Securities Management in MIDC Patalganga in neighbouring Raigad district. He will then proceed to the site in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast, where the state government is planning to build a mega memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Prime Minister’s visit assumes political significance as the high-stake elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are just a few months away. [caption id=“attachment_3171750” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently said the ‘Shiv Smarak’ will not only be the tallest memorial in the country, but in the entire world. He had thanked Modi for “making it possible.” Later, Modi will address a public function at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) ground in suburban Bandra, after laying foundation stone for two Metro rail projects, Elevated Rail Corridors Project and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is an ally of ruling BJP, is expected to share the dais with Modi at the MMRDA event. The PM will then leave for Pune, where he will lay the foundation stone of the Pune Metro Rail project. NCP leader Sharad Pawar will share the stage with Modi at this event. The memorial project has been facing stiff opposition from fisherfolk and environmentalists, who have alleged that it would affect marine life and ecology of the Arabian Sea. A rally was flagged off at Chembur on Saturday, where representatives from various districts gathered with collections of sand and soil from Chhatrapati Shivaji’s forts across the state. The rally led by a ‘Shivaji chariot’ will conclude at the Gateway of India, where the Chief Minister will receive the vase carrying water and soil from all districts of the state. This will then be handed over to the Prime Minister and carried to the memorial site. For the MMRDA event, the government has sent out invitation to over 3,000 VVIPs and dignitaries, including members of the royal family and Shivaji historians. Ever since it came to power in Maharashtra in October 2014, BJP has been quietly trying to usurp the near-monopoly that bickering ally Shiv Sena has held over the 17th century Maratha king for the last many years. Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election in 2014, BJP had used the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji for electoral gains, with a famous tagline seeking to evoke Shivaji’s blessings. The government and BJP are trying to make the memorial event a success with hoardings at important places of all districts and also through campaigns in print, TV and social media. Meanwhile, an official said those who would accompany Modi in the hovercraft to the jalpujan and bhumipujan venue off Mumbai coast, will include Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP’s Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale and BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Kolhapur Sambhaji Raje Bhosle. With inputs from PTI
As it happened: PM Modi in Mumbai warns corrupt people to be afraid: 'Time is running out'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day’s visit to Maharashtra on Saturday, where he will lay foundation stones for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.
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Be afraid of the honest: Modi warns the corrupt
If the corrupt people aren’t afraid of Modi or the government, that is fine. But be afraid of the 1.25 crore Indians. They will defeat you with their honesty.
Development is the key: Modi
Who says the country can never change? The country will change, it will improve, it will be at the forefront of the world in under three years, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Shivaji a multifaceted personality: Modi
‘Tourism will drive economy forward’
Trillions of dollars will be spent on tourism in the years to come. If we can make the most of the forts Shivaji Maharaj had built, we would do a great job, the prime minister said
Modi pays tributes to Shivaji Maharaj
His courage was known but there are so many more aspects of Shivaji Maharaj we must know about. Look at his policies on water, finance, says Modi
Modi’s address begins
Glut of infrastructure projects for Mumbai
PM Modi lays the foundation stone for two additional Metro lines, and several other projects
India’s Statue of Liberty
Visuals of PM Modi onboard the boat and performing Jal Pujan for Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in Mumbai
Modi reaches Girgaum Chowpatty to inaugurate Shivaji memorial
Narendra Modi arrives at Raj Bhavan for lunch with governor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the Raj Bhavan for lunch with Maharashtra governor, Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao. Modi wil then travel to South Mumbai to inaugurate the site of the Shivaji memorial.
Modi calls for more vigilance in bond market transactions
Describing his aim to make India a developed country, Modi explained his vision, “Our markets should show that they are able to successfully raise capital for projects benefiting the majority. Our farmers not just avenues for speculation. Those who make money off the markets must pay taxes for various reasons. Sebi had to be extremely vigilant due to illegal activities.”
He added, “Earlier there was a feeling that some investors were getting an unfair deals. Those things have been amended by this government. IT is time to come up with a new design which is simple.”
He ended his speech by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Modi assures govt will make sound economic policies
Modi said, “India has earned a good name for its well regulated securities markets. Govt will continue with sound economic policies to ensure India’s bright future in long run;no decisions for short term political gains.”
PM assures the long-awaited GST will soon be a reality
PM Modi talks on demonetisation PM Modi assures that the government will take sound economic decisions, will not shy away from difficult decisions which are in the interest of the country. He said, “Demonetisation is an example. It gives short term problems but long time gains.” He said, “India is been seen as bright spot. To see how far we’ve travelled we should look back to 2012-13 when the currency was falling sharply.”
PM Modi talks on demonetisation
PM Modi assures that the government will take sound economic decisions, will not shy away from difficult decisions which are in the interest of the country. He said, “Demonetisation is an example. It gives short term problems but long time gains.”
He said, “India is been seen as bright spot. To see how far we’ve travelled we should look back to 2012-13 when the currency was falling sharply.”
PM Modi speaking in NISM, Mumbai
Modi talks at the inauguration of new campus of National Institute of Securities Markets in Raigad.
Modi to perform ‘bhoomipujan’ of Shivaji statue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he felt honoured for getting the opportunity to perform ‘bhoomipujan’ (ground breaking ritual) for a grand statue and memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji during his day-long visit to Maharashtra.
In a tweet, Modi said: “I am honoured to be getting the opportunity to perform the Bhoomipujan of Shiv Smarak.”
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a torchbearer of courage, bravery and good governance. Shiv Smarak is a fitting tribute to him and his greatness,” Modi said.
Modi arrived in Mumbai at 12.30 p.m. and was received by Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao.
He is expected to perform the ‘bhoomipujan’ at 3 p.m.
PM Modi arrives in Mumbai for the inauguration of the Shivaji Maharaj statue
PM Modi arrives in Mumbai for the inauguration of the Shivaji Maharaj statue
Activists criticise BJP for ‘splurging’ Rs 3,600 crores on Shivaji memorial
The government has been criticised by both environmentalists as well as civil society organisations, calling it a political move, designed to woo voters right before the Mumbai municipal polls ( Click here to read the story ). Some social activists have also called it a splurge, saying that the amount allotted to build the statue could easily be used to build hospitals, schools and several other social projects.
In fact, according to reports, Lokhandwala resident Karishma Upadhyay has filed an online petition against the statue. He already has received 20,000 signatures till now.
Prime Minister Narendra to lay foundation for Shivaji Memorial statue
After several delays, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will finally lay the foundation for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial statue in Mumbai on Saturday. The memorial featuers a 630 feet statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on a horse. Around Rs 3,600 crore has been alotted to the project. It will be built on 43 acres reclaimed land in the Arabian Sea.