Politics
PM Modi Takes Swipe at Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' During Vadodara Development Event
By HT News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Vadodara on Tuesday, appeared to take an indirect jab at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, stating that India's youth march forward driven by truth rather than the 'clamour of lies.' The Prime Minister visited the Gujarat city to lay foundation stones for, inaugurate, and dedicate various development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore to the nation.
Addressing the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' event, PM Modi said, "You will find people at every street corner trying to mislead you with the clamour of lies. But the youth of India moves forward driven by the resounding call of truth; they march with that call and strive for it."
While PM Modi did not name Rahul Gandhi directly, his comments were widely seen as targeting the Leader of Opposition's nationwide student outreach initiative, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj,' launched by the Congress party. The campaign has focused on addressing student grievances related to examination irregularities and question paper leaks, including controversies surrounding the NEET exam.
During his address, PM Modi also highlighted progress in renewable energy adoption, noting that 5.5 million families across India have installed rooftop solar plants, with 1.1 million of these households located in Gujarat. He said this shift has turned many families into electricity producers and has generated employment opportunities for young people across various sectors, including production, installation, and servicing, while also creating openings for new vendors.
The Vadodara event drew significant public interest even before it began. In an unprecedented move, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation partnered with ticketing platform BookMyShow to manage free public registration for the program. According to officials cited by PTI news agency on Monday, all available seats were booked within an hour of the registration window opening, reflecting the high level of anticipated attendance.