On 69th birthday… Patel in backdrop, Modi talks Kashmir

Attributes J&K decision to Patel, says 370 repeal fulfilled his dream

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir certainly looks to be on top of Prime Minister's mind, as he basked in the glory of the recent abrogation of Article 370 ending special powers to State, even on his birthday, while resurrecting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's vision.
Standing in vicinity of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, Modi who turned 69 today, said, "Country is witnessing fulfilment of Sardar Patel's dream of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'."
He lauded the vision of Sardar Patel, adding the BJP-led government's decision last month on Jammu and Kashmir was "an inspiration" from India's former home minister.
"Have a look at the majestic 'Statue of Unity', India's tribute to the great Sardar Patel," he said.
In a direct reference to Kashmir and the abrogation, the Prime Minister said: "India is trying to complete the works that were left incomplete after Independence.
“People of J&K, Ladakh faced discrimination for 70 years and the country had to bear its consequences in form of separatism and violence," he said.
The Union government's decision on Kashmir is inspired by Sardar Patel and is an attempt to find solution to a decades-old problem, Modi, who turned 69 on Tuesday, said at a public rally at Kevadia.
"The country has taken an important decision with the inspiration of Sardar Patel," Modi said.
"We have decided to walk on a new path to get rid of this decades-old problem. And I am confident lakhs of people of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Kargil would successfully walk on that path of development and trust," said Modi.
The PM said his government is committed to unity and progress of the country and exuded confidence the proposed union territories will be able to walk on the path of development with cooperation of their people.
"The entire country endured ill effects (of Article 370) in the form of violence, separatism and unfulfilled aspirations and expectations,” he said.
The government on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Besides addressing the rally, Modi spent his birthday in his home state of Gujarat offering prayers to goddess Narmada at the Sardar Sarovar dam filled to capacity for the first time, visiting the Statue of Unity and sharing a meal with his nonagenarian mother.
BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, top Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati, chief ministers of West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Delhi--Mamata Banerjee, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Naveen Patnaik and Arvind Kejriwal respectively--were among others who greeted Modi on his birthday.
Shah described Modi as a leader with strong willpower and a symbol of decisive leadership and hard work while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the prime minister's "visionary leadership" and said it has helped India scale new heights of glory. On his 68th birthday last year, Modi was in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi and spent time with school children.
A 569-kg ladoo was also unveiled at an event organised in Delhi by Sulabh International, a non-profit organisation, to mark Modi's birthday as 'Swachhta Diwas' (Cleanliness Day).
Modi met his mother Heeraben at her home in Gandhinagar after his public engagements.
TV visuals showed the prime minister greeting his mother with folded hands to seek her blessings.
Modi then sat down to have a birthday lunch with her. The TV images showed the mother and son enjoying what appeared to be a Gujarati thali.
Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Modi offered prayers as part of the state government's 'Namami Devi Narmade Mahotsav' celebrations being held to mark the Sardar Sarovar dam receiving water to its full capacity.
Modi visited the Butterfly Garden in Kevadiya and named the saffron coloured plain 'tiger butterfly' as the state butterfly.
Modi began the day with a visit to the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada.
The Statue of Unity, billed as the tallest in the world, was inaugurated by him on Sardar Patel's birth anniversary on October 31 last year.
He also tweeted a video of the statue taken from his helicopter.
Modi reached Kevadiya in the morning to take part in the 'Namami Narmada' festival being celebrated to mark the filling up of the dam to its full reservoir level of 138.68 metres.
For the first time since the height of the dam was raised in 2017, the water level reached its highest peak at 138.68 metres on Sunday evening.
Modi along with Rupani then performed 'puja' at the dam site to 'welcome' the water of river Narmada, the lifeline of Gujarat.
At separate events in Delhi, BJP leaders cut 69-kg and 370-kg cakes, symbolising his age and scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution.