‘Your Welfare is My Priority’
“From the soil of Ahmedabad, I want to tell my small entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, farmers, and cattle-rearers — for Modi, your welfare is paramount. My government will never allow any harm to come to you,” the Prime Minister declared. He added that India will not bow to external economic pressure and will only grow stronger when challenged.
Roadshow and Development Push
Before addressing the gathering, Modi held a 2-km-long roadshow from Naroda Haridarshan Chowk to Nikol’s Khodaldham Ground, where he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth ₹5,477 crore. The initiatives include infrastructure development, urban facilities, and industrial upgrades, which the government says will generate new opportunities for Gujarat.
Attack on Congress, Emphasis on Security
Modi used the platform to criticize the Congress, accusing it of making India dependent on imports through “scams” during its decades in power. He contrasted this with his government’s stance on national security, stating, “When terrorists targeted India, the then Congress government did nothing. But today, we do not spare the terrorists and their masters, no matter where they hide.”
Referring to the recent Operation Sindoor, Modi said it demonstrated the courage of India’s armed forces, likening their resolve to Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra — a symbol of justice and protection.
Economic Claims and Promises
The Prime Minister highlighted that around 2.5 crore Indians have moved out of poverty during the BJP’s 11 years in power at the Centre. He noted that global economists are recognizing India’s social and economic transformation. “When people rise above poverty, they add strength to the nation. Our aim is to support both the emerging and existing middle class,” he said.
Modi also reminded citizens of his government’s move to raise the income tax exemption limit to ₹12 lakh, which the opposition had criticized. He announced that upcoming reforms in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would deliver further relief to households and businesses, promising a “Diwali gift” this year. “This Diwali, from traders to ordinary families, everyone will receive a double bonus of happiness,” he said.
Gujarat’s Symbolic Role
Calling Gujarat the “land of two Mohans” — Mahatma Gandhi, the Charkadhari Mohan, and Lord Krishna, the Sudarshanchakradhari Mohan — Modi said India is following their paths of justice, self-reliance, and protection. He asserted that the country is growing stronger under these guiding principles and is ready to counter any economic or strategic challenge.
Upcoming EV Launch
On Tuesday, August 26, Modi will inaugurate Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle production line at its Hansalpur facility near Ahmedabad. The launch of the e-Vitara is being touted as a significant milestone in India’s push for clean mobility and domestic manufacturing.
Balancing Trade Tensions
The Prime Minister’s remarks came a day before US tariffs take effect, in what many see as a veiled response to President Donald Trump’s trade decision. While exporters brace for the immediate impact, New Delhi is actively pursuing parallel trade negotiations with the UK, EU, ASEAN, and other partners to minimize risks. Officials maintain that India’s long-term strategy of economic resilience and diversification will eventually outweigh the short-term tariff pressures.
