PM Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Gujarat’s Vadodara to a thunderous welcome, with thousands turning out along the route of his roadshow to greet him.
Among those present are the family members of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who have joined the Sindoor Samman Yatra to pay their respects and stand in solidarity with the tribute.
Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi’s parents, Taj Mohammad and Halima Qureshi, along with her brother Sanjay Qureshi and twin sister Shyna Sunsara, were among the thousands of people who gathered along the road from Harni Airport to see the Prime Minister’s arrival and enjoy the cultural programs held in his honour.
Speaking to reporters after the roadshow, Colonel Qureshi’s sister, Shyna Sunsara, shared her emotions: “We felt good meeting PM Modi. It is a matter of great honour to meet him. When he held the roadshow, it was a moment of pride. He has done a lot for women’s empowerment. It was a different kind of happiness.”
Proudly recalling their bond, she added, “Colonel Sofia Qureshi is my twin sister. She is 15 minutes older than me. When your sister does something for the country, it inspires not only me but others as well. She is no longer just my sister but the country’s sister as well.”
Chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Modi-Modi’, and ‘Vande Mataram’ echoed through the streets, with people waving the national flag.
Several participants donned costumes paying tribute to the Indian Armed Forces.
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to his home state following India’s recent military action targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Members of the African community welcomed the Prime Minister, holding placards with quotes such as ‘Peace was attacked; India roared back with justice’ and ‘India’s courage is the light that ends the evil of terrorism’.
PM Modi in Ahmedabad
Modi’s roadshow in Ahmedabad is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Monday, starting from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport till Indira Bridge.
As per the advisory issued by Ahmedabad Traffic Police, post 4 pm, only vehicles related to the roadshow or airport passengers will be allowed on the route from Dafnala to the airport.
The visit will also see the inauguration and foundation laying of multiple development projects valued at ₹82,000 crore.
PM Modi will reach Dahod later in the day, where he will inaugurate the Loco Manufacturing Shop-Rolling Stock Workshop and address a public gathering in Kharod. He will also lay the foundation for various government and railway projects worth ₹24,000 crore.
Two trains will be flagged off via video conferencing from Dahod. The first, the Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat Express, will run six days a week and connect Sabarmati with Veraval, near the Somnath temple. The second, the Valsad-Dahod Express, will operate daily, covering a 346 km distance with 17 coaches.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate a railway production unit in Dahod, built at a cost of over ₹21,000 crore under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. He will also flag off an electric locomotive from the Dahod manufacturing plant.
The Prime Minister will then travel to Bhuj to launch development projects worth more than ₹53,400 crore. These include initiatives in Kandla Port, solar energy, power transmission, and road infrastructure.
He will also unveil four drinking water supply schemes costing ₹181 crore, designed to benefit 4.62 lakh people across 193 villages and one town in the Mahisagar and Dahod districts.
On the morning of May 27, at 10.30 am, he will hold another roadshow in Gandhinagar, expected to be joined by over 30,000 BJP workers. Following this, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation for projects worth ₹5,536 crore at Mahatma Mandir.
As part of major projects, the Prime Minister will open 22,055 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, costing ₹1,006 crore. He will also launch Phase 3 of the Sabarmati Riverfront project, which is expected to cost ₹1,000 crore.
To support city development, PM Modi will hand out cheques worth ₹3,300 crore to urban local bodies under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana.