In Pics: Narendra Modi's public meeting in Ranchi and Nagpur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday addressed a public gathering in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). As usual people enjoyed his speech. Modi sent out a special message on conserving electricity. He also challenged to root out corruption from the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a balanced development of all states was required to take India to the “pinnacle of development” and emphasised on stable governments to reach the goal.“If we want to take India to the pinnacle of development, then no part of the country should remain weak,” Modi said, after laying the foundation stone for a slew of developmental projects and inauguration of some others. He also stressed on the need to have a stable government to take significant decisions.“How is this government (Centre) taking important decisions? Because the people voted a majority government. Had it been unstable or coalition government, then I could not have taken so many steps,” Modi said. “I see some economic activities in western India, but not in the eastern part or east-central region where people are waiting for development...poverty has shattered the lives of the poor,” he observed.The 765 kV Ranchi-Dharmjaygarh-Sipat Transmission Line would play a significant role in the development of economic activity in the eastern and western parts of the country with Jharkhand having a key role to play, he pointed out. Recalling his visits to Jharkhand during election campaigns, Modi said that he had spoken about development and the people deserved kudos for choosing the developmental path by supporting it overwhelmingly in the Lok Sabha elections. He said that Jharkhand has the potential to become the best, even many times more than Gujarat. He referred to how former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a dream to see a developed Jharkhand that would shape the fortune of the country as well. “But the state of things in Jharkhand is not acceptable,” he said, adding “a state, having natural resources and hardworking people, was not born to remain backward.” “Together we should work and make the state developed with projects like that done today,” Narendra Modi stressed. He also expressed regret as to how Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone for the North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project in Jharkhand 10 years ago, but work did not progress. “Isn't it injustice to the people of Jharkhand?” Modi asked, saying “I think it has been written in my fate to complete the unfinished work for which Vajpayee laid the foundation. This project will not only give electricity to Jharkhand but also to the other parts of the country and Jharkhand can supply it to the country.”The Prime Minister noted that earlier chief ministers, MPs and MLAs used to come to Delhi to request for projects and get assurances, but 10 years down the line nothing had been done on those assurances.Modi then gave an example of how his Cabinet decided to increase mineral royalty from which Jharkhand would stand to benefit Rs 400 crore every year.“And for this Chief Minister Hemant Soren did not have to come to Delhi. Because we believe in working together for development,” he said in the presence of Soren on the stage. While inaugurating another project, Jasidih Oil Terminal, Modi said that his government's aim was to create a network of gas pipe-lines in the country for utilisation of domestic consumption, transport, energy and industry. Recalling his Independence Day speech in which he had spoken about “Digital India” for advancement of IT in the country, Modi said that the growth of manufacturing would take the country forward and Jharkhand had a role to play. “Time has changed. Now we should enter into ‘Digital India' phase...Mobile technology can bring simplicity to give people governance in their palms and not in Delhi or Ranchi,” the Prime Minister said.Work on setting up IITs and IIITs would begin soon, he also announced.The Prime Minister also inaugurated a transmission line which would connect the east with the west in which, he noted, Jharkhand would have a significant role to play.Modi also addressed a public meeting in Nagpur. He was there to inaugurate Nagpur Metro. Narendra Modi said India's rural areas need adequate electricity supply to increase productivity and in turn prevent farmer suicides."We have to bring a qualitative change in people's lives in rural areas and have to begin with providing them adequate electricity. We must ensure that villages have access to 24-hour electricity," Modi said.The prime minister said it was sad that farmers were forced to commit suicide because of inadequate power supply affecting their productivity."For a nation to develop, the focus must be on infrastructure," he said.Modi reminded the audience that his government has focused on improvising power supply in the country right from the day one.“You must have noticed that since the day my government came to power, my first priority has been electricity. Be it in Jammu and Kashmir or any other state, we need to fully utilize the potential to generate power,” said Modi.Emphasizing the need to save power, Modi said, “It's the government's responsibility to harness electricity. But as citizens, it is our responsibility to save energy. We need to save our pockets from high electricity bill. The amount of money we save on saving electricity is more than the amount we spend on harnessing electricity.”Modi also touched the issue of corruption in his speech and promised to get rid of this menace with the help of the people.“Corruption has plagued the country. I am with you to eradicate it forever. When I talk about corruption, some people are perturbed. But those people must realize that people of India have woken up and want a corruption free nation. With your blessing we will be successful in rooting out this disease,” said Narendra Modi. Modi also recalled the famous lines of the legendary freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Swaraj mera janmsiddha adhikar hai (Self-rule is my birthright) - and said that people of Maharashtra firmly believe in this philosophy.Maharashtra CM Chavan skipped the event as he feared BJP supporters will jeer him the way they did at Solapur last time. Chavan was booed at a public meeting in Solapaur a few days back where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived to inaugurate a power transmission line. Even Haryana Chief Minister B S Hooda had to face a hostile crowd when Modi was in Haryana to lay the foundation stone for a project. Hooda was booed by the crowd who had ears only for their Prime Minister. While Hooda spoke from the dais at a stone- laying ceremony of a highway project at Kaithal on Tuesday, the crowd chanted Modi's name and jeered the Chief Minister. To avoid a repeat of similar embarrassment, Chavan decided to boycott the event all together. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor K Sankaranarayanan and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal.