Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the “mockery” of the Vande Bharat Express by opposition leaders was an “insult” to the engineers and technicians who participated in the project, PTI reported. He said it was unfortunate that some people were “pointing and mocking” the high-speed train.
The fastest train in India had broken down during its first return trip from Varanasi on Saturday, a day after Modi did it in New Delhi. The president of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, was among the leaders who criticized the government after the incident.
“This is an insult to the engineers and technicians involved in the project,” Modi said at a public meeting in Varanasi. “People must remain vigilant against people who insult engineers and technicians and make fun of the country.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various development projects in Varanasi, says, “Sarkarein aati gai, baatein karti rahi. lekin aapki aasha kabhi poori nahi hui. Uska pura karne ki taraf aj ek mangal karya ka aarambh hua hai.” pic.twitter.com/GMWeq0Hkzk
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 19, 2019
Modi asked people not to “demoralize with those who are surrounded by negativity.” “I greet the engineering professionals, who in the future will do a bullet train in India and they will also administer it … I am receiving letters from people who are injured.”
During his speech, Modi also urged people to end caste discrimination and invoked Sant Ravidas, a poet of Bhakti, on his birth anniversary.
“Regardless of caste, creed and other factors, everyone should benefit from the government’s plans,” Modi said after laying the first stone of the Ravidas Janmasthali area development project (birthplace) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi is the electoral district of Modi Lok Sabha. This was Modi’s second visit to his constituency within a month.
“Guruji [Sant Ravidas] had said that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste,” Modi said. “Until caste discrimination is there, people can not connect with each other, social harmony is not possible and equality can not be guaranteed.” Modi said that caste discrimination is an impediment to achieving social harmony.
Modi said the central government has been following the Ravidas principles for the past four years with “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/3oRnApBsim
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 19, 2019
Modi also urged people to identify those who practice caste discrimination and promote it in their own interest. “Unfortunately, caste discrimination could not be eliminated until now,” the prime minister said. “New India will witness this change with the help of young people.”
Modi said his government focused on the panchadharma, five obligations, by working in education, medicine, irrigation, public claims and income. He claimed that his government secured action against the Benami properties and the circulation of black money.
“The mentality of ‘Chalta hai’ [is fine] had slipped into people, my government tried to change it,” he said. Modi also inaugurated several development projects in Varanasi.