Development is answer to all violence: Modi

BHILAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said development is the answer to all forms of violence, and claimed that both Union and state governments of BJP are making all efforts to create an atmosphere of trust through developmental works.

“Kisi bhi tarah ka hinsa ka ..har tarah kee sajish ka ek hi jawaab hai – vikas (the answer to all types of violence and conspiracy is development),” Modi said.

He also dedicated to the nation the modernised and expanded Bhilai steel plant of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

With this, the SAIL completed its around ~72,000 crore modernisation and expansion programme, taking its production capacity to 21 million tonnes per annum from 13 MTPA earlier.

The PM said the Bhilai steel plant will make the foundation of ‘New India’ stronger than steel. “After spending more than ~18,000 crore, this plant has been modernised and expanded with the latest technology,” Modi said.

Bhilai, he said, has not only made steel but also improved the lives of people. Since Independence, from Kutch to Cuttack and from Kargil to Kanyakumari, it is Bhilai plant that has provided tracks to the railways, he said.

The PM was on a day-long visit to Chhattisgarh where he inaugurated various projects worth ~22,000 crore. He visited the steel plant located in Durg district.

Steel minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said four years back the steel industry was going through a tough time and facing challenges but today India is the second largest steel producer.

“India was at the fourth place in steel production (in 2014). But two years ago, we left behind America to become the third largest steel producer, and four months ago, we left behind Japan to become the second largest.”

Bhilai plant, he said, is producing 130-metre single piece rail track, “the longest in the world”.

Addressing a gathering at Jayanti Stadium, Modi also said that Bastar was earlier known for bomb, bandook (guns), pistol and hinsa (violence) but now it will be known for the Jagdalpur airport, after he launched the air service and flagged off the first flight from Jagdalpur to state capital Raipur.