The entire world is troubled by the crisis in West Asia: Prime Minister Modi

Noida, 28 March (Agency). Discussing the crisis in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the entire world is troubled at this time. War has been ongoing in West Asia for over a month. This conflict has led to a crisis in several countries regarding essential items such as food, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilizers. Every country is trying to cope with this crisis, and our India is also fighting it with full strength.

Addressing a gathering on Sunday after inaugurating the first phase of the Noida International Airport, the Prime Minister thanked the citizens and confirmed that it is due to their support that India is facing this challenge with full strength. He emphasized that his government is taking every necessary step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families or our farmers. Even amidst this crisis, India has maintained its rapid pace of development.

Prime Minister Modi appealed to the citizens and political parties to come together to combat this crisis. He further said that today, wherever one looks, the enthusiasm of the youth is commendable. The work being initiated today represents a new path to development. So far, Uttar Pradesh has become the state with the most international airports.

I have two reasons to be happy. Firstly, I had the privilege of laying the foundation stone of this airport, and now I have the privilege of inaugurating it. Secondly, this magnificent airport is now associated with the identity of Uttar Pradesh - the state that elected me as its representative and Member of Parliament. Flights from here will not only fly to destinations around the world but also mark the beginning of a new journey of development for Uttar Pradesh itself. I extend special congratulations to the people of Western Uttar Pradesh.

These projects are working as a magnificent example of the 'Double Engine Government' that is working for the development of Uttar Pradesh - from the semiconductor factory and the 'Namo Bharat' train to this Jewar airport, which is now connecting this region to the whole world.

Launching a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP), Modi emphasized that in the past, the SP had merely turned Noida into an 'ATM for loot'. However, today, the same Noida is emerging as a shining model of development. The Atal government had approved this airport in 2003. Many people present here today may not have even been born at that time. Yet, the airport was never built. The Congress and SP governments did not even lay its foundation stone. The project got stuck in the files of bureaucracy.

When our government first came to power, the SP was still in office. However, as soon as the BJP-NDAA governments were established in both Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the foundation stone of the airport was laid, and now it has been inaugurated.

Prime Minister Modi said that before 2014, there were only 74 airports in the country. Today, this number has increased to 160. Now, apart from major metropolitan areas, air connectivity is reaching small towns and cities across the country. He noted that the previous governments believed that air travel was exclusive to a few people. However, the BJP government has made this facility accessible to the common people.

Our government's vision is to ensure that airports are built and airfares remain affordable. Under the UDAN scheme, more than ten million people have benefited from air travel at affordable rates. India's aviation sector is growing rapidly at present.

The event was attended by Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kancherapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, and other dignitaries.