Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a massive developmental push centered heavily on Punjab’s transit infrastructure, launching projects worth a combined ₹5,470 crore.
Speaking at a public rally in Jalandhar, Punjab, Prime Minister Modi made a strong symbolic gesture by wearing a traditional green turban, a style heavily associated with regional farmer leaders. The event drew sharp focus with the prominent attendance of several recent high-profile inductees into the BJP from the Aam Aadmi Party, including Vikramjit Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, and Ashok Mittal, while former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh remained absent.
Before addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister flagged off the Seer Govardhanpur Varanasi Express running from Amritsar to Varanasi, facilitating travel for devotees of Guru Ravidas. He also met with Dera Sachhand Ballan chief Sant Niranjan Das onboard the train.
Greeting the audience in Punjabi, the Prime Minister said: “Today I feel deeply honored to come to the land of Punjab, the land of great gurus and saints. How are you, Punjabis? Are you in high spirits?”
He highlighted steps taken to honour iconic regional figures, noting that the Mohali Airport has been named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Detailing the makeover of railway infrastructure in Punjab, including Jalandhar Cantt, Anandpur Sahib, and Muktsar Sahib stations, PM Modi remarked: “When you visit the Jalandhar Cantt station now, you will instantly feel that our country is moving toward becoming a developed nation. These are no longer just transit stops; they are full-fledged city centers with vastly expanded passenger capacities. Since Jalandhar is a sports city, the station will showcase glimpses of this athletic identity. The Anandpur station will reflect the image of Sri Keshgarh Sahib.”
Launching a sharp offensive against the Congress party’s legacy, PM Modi claimed that previous dispensations treated the state’s transport lifelines with total administrative apathy. The Prime Minister noted: “The Indian Railways is the primary ride for the poor and the middle class. But you all know the condition it was left in before 2014. The Congress government used to sit back after making false announcements about trains. They completely abandoned these stations to their own fate, never bothering to improve structures dating back to the British era. The development work taking place today should have happened 30 to 40 years ago.”
Detailing the wider logistical roadmap for Punjab, the Prime Minister noted that projects like the Ludhiana Bypass and the newer sections of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway are moving ahead rapidly. He asserted, “Even though the BJP is not in power in Punjab, the NDA government at the Centre is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the comprehensive development of the state. I congratulate my brothers and sisters of Punjab on this special occasion.”
Prime Minister Modi also commended the Jalandhar public for driving the “Swachhata se Swagat” campaign and paid sincere respects to the brave son of Punjab, Sardar Teja Singh Samundri, on his 100th martyrdom anniversary.
The event witnessed strong statements regarding Punjab’s economic growth. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that under the current administration, Punjab’s railway budget has seen an exponential surge from ₹222 crore to ₹5,500 crore, achieving 100% electrification and adding 12 Vande Bharat trains. Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon presented a portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the Prime Minister and thanked him for explicitly keeping dairy products and food grains out of free trade agreements to protect agrarian interests.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for skipping the event, urging the electorate to bring a “double-engine government” to Punjab to end the gangster and drug menace.
Outside of the core focus on Punjab, the itinerary briefly touched upon neighboring regions. In Chandigarh, PM Modi announced a new medical college and noted that the Adampur Airport has been renamed after Guru Ravidas. He also noted that the Haryana government has actively worked to preserve Sikh heritage following his launch of a hydrogen passenger train from Jind.