In his first public address since the Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the victims during a rally in Madhubani, Bihar.
Calling the attack a “cowardly act of terror,” PM Modi began his speech by observing a two-minute silence in memory of the 26 people killed, most of them tourists.
“The entire nation is united in mourning the victims,” PM Modi said, adding that the attackers and their backers will be punished beyond their imagination.
The event, coinciding with National Panchayati Raj Day, saw Prime Minister Modi launch development projects worth over ₹13,480 crore in Bihar, spanning key sectors such as infrastructure, power, railways, and rural governance.
Underscoring the relevance of the day to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of grassroots empowerment, PM Modi said: “Bihar is the land where Bapu began his Satyagraha. His belief was clear — India’s development lies in the development of its villages. This is the essence of Panchayati Raj.”
Reflecting on the government’s efforts in strengthening rural governance, the Prime Minister noted that over 2 lakh Panchayats have been digitally connected over the past decade. This, he said, has enabled villagers to access essential documents like birth and death certificates and property records. He also highlighted the construction of new Panchayat buildings and the allocation of over ₹2 lakh crore for Panchayat development in the last ten years.
The Prime Minister laid particular emphasis on the digitisation of land records, calling it a key step in resolving long-standing land disputes at the village level. He also presented the National Panchayat Awards to high-performing Panchayats from across the country.
Among the major announcements, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of a ₹340 crore LPG bottling plant in Hathua, Gopalganj, aimed at strengthening regional gas distribution. The power sector received a significant boost with the launch of new projects worth ₹1,170 crore and the inauguration of existing projects worth ₹5,030 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.
Rail connectivity in Bihar was another focal point, with the Prime Minister flagging off the Amrit Bharat Express between Saharsa and Mumbai and launching the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail between Jaynagar and Patna. New train services between Pipra-Saharsa and Saharsa-Samastipur were also inaugurated. Additionally, he dedicated the Khagaria-Alauli line, opened the Supaul-Pipra and Hasanpur-Bithan lines, and unveiled two new rail overbridges at Chapra and Bagaha.
(With IANS inputs)
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