<p>PM Narendra Modi arrived in Gujarat for his 2-day visit on Friday. Soon after his arrival in Ahmedabad, the PM directly went to former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel's residence. Keshubhai Patel passed away a few days ago. The PM gave a floral tribute to the departed leader and spent some time with Patel's kin and consoled the family.</p>

<p>"Modiji recalled his long association with Keshubhai and asked us about his last moments, a family member told reporters after the PM left Patel's residence.</p>

<p>Modi had on Thursday paid rich tributes to Patel, saying he had mentored many BJP workers, including him.</p>

<p>Modi had remembered Patel through a series and tweets and shared some old photographs with the former Gujarat CM.</p>

<p>"Our beloved and respected Keshubhai has passed away. I am deeply pained and saddened. He was an outstanding leader who cared for every section of society.<br />
"His life was devoted towards the progress of Gujarat and the empowerment of every Gujarati," Modi tweeted on Thursday.</p>

<p>After meeting Patel's kin in Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister visited the grieving kin of Gujarati cinema superstar Naresh Kanodia and his music composer-brother Mahesh Kanodia, both of whom died recently, at their residence in the state capital.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-stood-with-france-four-times-in-last-two-days-339024">India stood with France four times in last two days</a></strong></p>

<p>Naresh Kanodia (77) died on October 27 at a hospital while undergoing treatment for coronavirus, just two days after his elder brother Mahesh (83) died due to age-related ailments.</p>

<p>Both brothers were associated with the BJP. While Naresh Kanodia was a former MLA, Mahesh Kanodia had served as a BJP MP.</p>

<p>Modi paid floral tributes to the famous duo and spent some time with their family members, including Naresh Kanodias son Hitu Kanodia, a sitting BJP MLA.</p>

<p>"Modiji fondly remembered my father and uncle. He told us that both the brothers loved each other immensely and now they have became immortal."</p>

<p>"He also regretted not coming earlier to meet them," Hitu Kanodia told reporters.</p>

<p>This is Modi's first visit to his home state after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>Later in the day, PM Modi inaugurated 'Ekta Mall' a special store constructed near the Statue of Unity. In Ekta Mall, tourists can buy handloom and handicraft products from different states under one roof. PM Modi spent considerable amount of time at stall selling traditional items from Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east region.</p>

<p>The mall, developed on the theme of Unity in Handicraft &amp; Handloom Diversity, is spread across 35,000 square feet near the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Gujarat's Narmada district. The imposing monument, dedicated to Sardar Patel, has emerged as a popular tourist site in Gujarat. Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, later visited different emporia in the Mall.</p>

<p>The Mall, a two-storey air-conditioned store, houses 20 different emporia representing the handloom and handicraft traditions of various states, said a government release. The Mall houses emporia of Garvi Gurjari, Purbashree, Kairali, Mrugnayani, Pumpuhar, Gangotri and Kaveri, among others.</p>

<p><strong>(With agency inputs)</strong></p>


PM Narendra Modi arrived in Gujarat for his 2-day visit on Friday. Soon after his arrival in Ahmedabad, the PM directly went to former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel's residence.

PM Narendra Modi arrived in Gujarat for his 2-day visit on Friday. Soon after his arrival in Ahmedabad, the PM directly went to former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel's residence. Keshubhai Patel passed away a few days ago. The PM gave a floral tribute to the departed leader and spent some time with Patel's kin and consoled the family. "Modiji recalled his long association with Keshubhai and asked us about his last moments, a family member told reporters after the PM left Patel's residence. Modi had on Thursday paid rich tributes to Patel, saying he had mentored many BJP workers, including him. Modi had remembered Patel through a series and tweets and shared some old photographs with the former Gujarat CM. "Our beloved and respected Keshubhai has passed away. I am deeply pained and saddened. He was an outstanding leader who cared for every section of society. "His life was devoted towards the progress of Gujarat and the empowerment of every Gujarati," Modi tweeted on Thursday. After meeting Patel's kin in Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister visited the grieving kin of Gujarati cinema superstar Naresh Kanodia and his music composer-brother Mahesh Kanodia, both of whom died recently, at their residence in the state capital. Also Read | India stood with France four times in last two days Naresh Kanodia (77) died on October 27 at a hospital while undergoing treatment for coronavirus, just two days after his elder brother Mahesh (83) died due to age-related ailments. Both brothers were associated with the BJP. While Naresh Kanodia was a former MLA, Mahesh Kanodia had served as a BJP MP. Modi paid floral tributes to the famous duo and spent some time with their family members, including Naresh Kanodias son Hitu Kanodia, a sitting BJP MLA. "Modiji fondly remembered my father and uncle. He told us that both the brothers loved each other immensely and now they have became immortal." "He also regretted not coming earlier to meet them," Hitu Kanodia told reporters. This is Modi's first visit to his home state after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Later in the day, PM Modi inaugurated 'Ekta Mall' a special store constructed near the Statue of Unity. In Ekta Mall, tourists can buy handloom and handicraft products from different states under one roof. PM Modi spent considerable amount of time at stall selling traditional items from Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east region. The mall, developed on the theme of Unity in Handicraft & Handloom Diversity, is spread across 35,000 square feet near the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Gujarat's Narmada district. The imposing monument, dedicated to Sardar Patel, has emerged as a popular tourist site in Gujarat. Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, later visited different emporia in the Mall. The Mall, a two-storey air-conditioned store, houses 20 different emporia representing the handloom and handicraft traditions of various states, said a government release. The Mall houses emporia of Garvi Gurjari, Purbashree, Kairali, Mrugnayani, Pumpuhar, Gangotri and Kaveri, among others. (With agency inputs)

PM Modi pays tribute to Keshubhai Patel, spends time with departed leader's family in Gujarat

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Gujarat today for the third time this month, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for a number of projects in Bhavnagar and Vadodara districts.</p>

<p>Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Rs 615-crore &#39;roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro)&#39; ferry service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar district and Dahej in Bharuch in the Gulf of Khambhat.</p>

<p>The prime minister had called the ferry service, which will reduce the distance between the two towns from 310 kilometres by road to 30 kilometres, his &quot;dream project&quot; while addressing a gathering at Gandhinagar on Monday.</p>

<p>He will address a gathering in Ghogha and undertake a journey to Dahej from Ghogha on the ferry. From Dahej, he will leave for Vadodara, where he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 1,140 crore.</p>

<p>Ajay Bhadoo, Chief Executive Officer of Gujarat Maritime Board which is executing the ro-ro project, said the first phase of the service to be inaugurated by Modi on Sunday is meant for passengers.</p>

<p>In the second phase, which would be ready in two months, cars can also be carried between the two towns.</p>

<p>&quot;It is a complex project which involves complicated marine structure of the Gulf of Khambhat, on which it is built. The service reduces the distance between the two towns from 310 kilometres by road to 30 kilometres which can be covered in one hour,&quot; Bhadoo said.</p>

<p>Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project in January 2012, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.</p>

<p>.In Vadodara, Modi will inaugurate eight different projects worth Rs 1,140 crore.</p>

<p>Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Vinod Rao said Modi will dedicate to people a Rs 100-crore city command and control centre in Badamadi Garden, Rs 125-crore Janmahal city transport hub and multi-level parking (under PPP), a Rs 160 crore multi-modal city transport hub, Rs 267 crore waste-to- energy processing plant.</p>

<p>The other projects are a Rs 166-crore water treatment plant, two flyovers collectively worth Rs 265 crore, a Rs 55- crore deer safari park, and a Rs 6-crore veterinary hospital.</p>

<p>He will also address people at Navlakhi compound in Vadodara.</p>

<p>Modi had last visited Vadodara, a constituency from where he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election and won by a record margin, on October 22 last year to inaugurate a new airport terminal building and distribute assistance devices to the divyang (specially-abled) people. He had also won from Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh which he retained.</p>

<p>The prime minister had visited Gujarat on Monday, when he addressed the BJP workers at a rally in Gandhinagar.</p>

<p>Prior to that, Modi had visited his home town Vadnagar on October 8 and also inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various projects in Rajkot, Vadnagar, Gandhinagar, and Bharuch.<br />
His visits assume significance as Assembly elections are due in Gujarat in December.</p>

<p>Last month, he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here and launched the bullet train project. Modi had also dedicated to the nation the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada at an event coinciding with his 67th birthday.</p>


PM Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for a number of projects in Bhavnagar and Vadodara districts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Gujarat today for the third time this month, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for a number of projects in Bhavnagar and Vadodara districts. Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Rs 615-crore 'roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro)' ferry service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar district and Dahej in Bharuch in the Gulf of Khambhat. The prime minister had called the ferry service, which will reduce the distance between the two towns from 310 kilometres by road to 30 kilometres, his "dream project" while addressing a gathering at Gandhinagar on Monday. He will address a gathering in Ghogha and undertake a journey to Dahej from Ghogha on the ferry. From Dahej, he will leave for Vadodara, where he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 1,140 crore. Ajay Bhadoo, Chief Executive Officer of Gujarat Maritime Board which is executing the ro-ro project, said the first phase of the service to be inaugurated by Modi on Sunday is meant for passengers. In the second phase, which would be ready in two months, cars can also be carried between the two towns. "It is a complex project which involves complicated marine structure of the Gulf of Khambhat, on which it is built. The service reduces the distance between the two towns from 310 kilometres by road to 30 kilometres which can be covered in one hour," Bhadoo said. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project in January 2012, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. .In Vadodara, Modi will inaugurate eight different projects worth Rs 1,140 crore. Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Vinod Rao said Modi will dedicate to people a Rs 100-crore city command and control centre in Badamadi Garden, Rs 125-crore Janmahal city transport hub and multi-level parking (under PPP), a Rs 160 crore multi-modal city transport hub, Rs 267 crore waste-to- energy processing plant. The other projects are a Rs 166-crore water treatment plant, two flyovers collectively worth Rs 265 crore, a Rs 55- crore deer safari park, and a Rs 6-crore veterinary hospital. He will also address people at Navlakhi compound in Vadodara. Modi had last visited Vadodara, a constituency from where he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election and won by a record margin, on October 22 last year to inaugurate a new airport terminal building and distribute assistance devices to the divyang (specially-abled) people. He had also won from Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh which he retained. The prime minister had visited Gujarat on Monday, when he addressed the BJP workers at a rally in Gandhinagar. Prior to that, Modi had visited his home town Vadnagar on October 8 and also inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various projects in Rajkot, Vadnagar, Gandhinagar, and Bharuch. His visits assume significance as Assembly elections are due in Gujarat in December. Last month, he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here and launched the bullet train project. Modi had also dedicated to the nation the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada at an event coinciding with his 67th birthday.

PM Modi to visit poll-bound Gujarat, inaugurate ferry service

<p>A visibly happy Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with chants of &quot;Modi Modi&quot; as he undertook a roadshow in his hometown Vadnagar on the second day of his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-was-like-diwali-yesterday-when-we-made-important-changes-in-gst-pm-modi-in-gujarat-21101">Gujarat visit</a> on Sunday.</p>

<p>PM Modi, who was born in Vadnagar is visiting his hometown for the first time after becoming the prime minister in 2014.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/highlights-of-pm-modis-speech-on-day-2-of-gujarat-visit-21123">While addressing a public meeting in his hometown</a>, PM Modi said, &quot;Whatever I am today is because of the values taught by this land.&quot; &quot;I will go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Immense love showered by people of Vadnagar gives me new energy to serve the nation with more zeal, the PM added.<br />
<br />
He also criticised the Congress-led UPA government&#39;s health policy and said it did not pay attention to increasing the number of seats in medical colleges.</p>

<p>&quot;Till the time Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee&#39;s government was in power 15, 16, 17 years back, our country made its health policy.&nbsp;After that for the next 10 years, a government came that hated development,&quot; PM Modi said.</p>

<p>&quot;Due to the rules formulated by the past governments, very few students were able to secure admission in the medical colleges. Thus, we have taken up the task of opening one medical college for (every) three to four Lok Sabha constituencies across the country,&quot; PM Modi said.<br />
<br />
&quot;Since we also need good professors for such colleges, we have also increased 6,000 seats in PG medical courses in the last one year. Though some people criticised the move, we remained firm because we understand that we will need good professors for producing good doctors,&quot; he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: PM Narendra Modi&#39;s roadshow in his hometown <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vadnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vadnagar</a>, crowd chants &#39;Modi Modi&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> <a href="https://t.co/twwMQ7AfDl">pic.twitter.com/twwMQ7AfDl</a></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The roadshow was followed by a visit to his school, after which the Indian PM offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Temple.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he reached his school in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vadnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vadnagar</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> <a href="https://t.co/hIl6DRgI25">pic.twitter.com/hIl6DRgI25</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/916890464225083392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vadnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vadnagar</a>&#39;s Hatkeshwar Temple. <a href="https://t.co/VMMCtSFK7S">pic.twitter.com/VMMCtSFK7S</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/916891707500781568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He next dedicated Vadnagar&#39;s Rs&nbsp;500 crore multi-speciality GMERS Medical College to the nation and interacted with the medical students in the classroom.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi dedicates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vadnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vadnagar</a>&#39;s GMERS Medical College to the nation; Gujarat CM, Dy CM &amp; Union Min JP Nadda also present. <a href="https://t.co/M9ySQBIcfZ">pic.twitter.com/M9ySQBIcfZ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/916896707270426630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi interacts with students at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vadnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vadnagar</a>&#39;s GMERS Medical College. <a href="https://t.co/JNUF1hWm60">pic.twitter.com/JNUF1hWm60</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/916897592742572032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The railway station where PM Modi helped his father sell tea as a child has been decorated with flowers. A photography exhibition is underway nearby giving an insight into the childhood of the prime minister.</p>

<p>The Prime Minister&#39;s next stop was the city of Bharuch where he laid the foundation stone for the Bhadbhut Barrage to be built over Narmada River and flagged off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna in Surat&nbsp;and Jaynagar, Bihar.</p>

<p>PM Modi called the&nbsp;Antyodaya Express &quot;a commendable initiative by Railways&quot;, and said it would&nbsp;make&nbsp;it easier for people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to go home for the <em>Chhath Puja</em>&nbsp;(festival).</p>

<p>PM Modi also addressing a public meeting in Bharuch before returning to Delhi.</p>

<p>Yesterday, while speaking at a function to dedicate the newly-constructed building of IIT Gandhinagar to the nation, PM Modi took a jibe at the criticism of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train which is being built.</p>

<p>The prime minister recalled that as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had allotted 400 acres in the state capital for its campus in 2011.</p>

<p>He said some people would have gone all out to criticise him had the allocation been announced during elections in the state, &nbsp;&quot;the way they criticise bullet trains these days&quot;.</p>

<p>The prime minister was referring to the Gujarat elections which will be held later this year.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, in Dwarka,&nbsp;&nbsp;PM Modi also addressed the topic of GST and said the central government had made the tax simpler.</p>

<p>&quot;It was like Diwali yesterday when we made some important changes in the Goods and Services Tax. I had already stated earlier that we would look into GST for 3 months and make changes, mend loopholes as per the experience.&nbsp;Centre has tried to make the tax simpler.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The PM the foundation stone for four national highways projects worth Rs 5,825 crore at Dwarka.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also laid the foundation stones for a greenfield airport at Rajkot.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


A visibly happy Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with chants of 'Modi Modi' as he undertook a roadshow in his hometown Vadnagar

A visibly happy Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with chants of "Modi Modi" as he undertook a roadshow in his hometown Vadnagar on the second day of his Gujarat visit on Sunday. PM Modi, who was born in Vadnagar is visiting his hometown for the first time after becoming the prime minister in 2014. While addressing a public meeting in his hometown, PM Modi said, "Whatever I am today is because of the values taught by this land." "I will go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation." "Immense love showered by people of Vadnagar gives me new energy to serve the nation with more zeal, the PM added. He also criticised the Congress-led UPA government's health policy and said it did not pay attention to increasing the number of seats in medical colleges. "Till the time Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee's government was in power 15, 16, 17 years back, our country made its health policy. After that for the next 10 years, a government came that hated development," PM Modi said. "Due to the rules formulated by the past governments, very few students were able to secure admission in the medical colleges. Thus, we have taken up the task of opening one medical college for (every) three to four Lok Sabha constituencies across the country," PM Modi said. "Since we also need good professors for such colleges, we have also increased 6,000 seats in PG medical courses in the last one year. Though some people criticised the move, we remained firm because we understand that we will need good professors for producing good doctors," he said. #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi's roadshow in his hometown #Vadnagar, crowd chants 'Modi Modi' #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/twwMQ7AfDl — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2017 × The roadshow was followed by a visit to his school, after which the Indian PM offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Temple. #WATCH: #Visuals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he reached his school in #Vadnagar, #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/hIl6DRgI25 — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2017 × Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at #Vadnagar's Hatkeshwar Temple. pic.twitter.com/VMMCtSFK7S — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2017 × He next dedicated Vadnagar's Rs 500 crore multi-speciality GMERS Medical College to the nation and interacted with the medical students in the classroom. Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi dedicates #Vadnagar's GMERS Medical College to the nation; Gujarat CM, Dy CM & Union Min JP Nadda also present. pic.twitter.com/M9ySQBIcfZ — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2017 × Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi interacts with students at #Vadnagar's GMERS Medical College. pic.twitter.com/JNUF1hWm60 — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2017 × The railway station where PM Modi helped his father sell tea as a child has been decorated with flowers. A photography exhibition is underway nearby giving an insight into the childhood of the prime minister. The Prime Minister's next stop was the city of Bharuch where he laid the foundation stone for the Bhadbhut Barrage to be built over Narmada River and flagged off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna in Surat and Jaynagar, Bihar. PM Modi called the Antyodaya Express "a commendable initiative by Railways", and said it would make it easier for people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to go home for the Chhath Puja (festival). PM Modi also addressing a public meeting in Bharuch before returning to Delhi. Yesterday, while speaking at a function to dedicate the newly-constructed building of IIT Gandhinagar to the nation, PM Modi took a jibe at the criticism of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train which is being built. The prime minister recalled that as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had allotted 400 acres in the state capital for its campus in 2011. He said some people would have gone all out to criticise him had the allocation been announced during elections in the state, "the way they criticise bullet trains these days". The prime minister was referring to the Gujarat elections which will be held later this year. Yesterday, in Dwarka, PM Modi also addressed the topic of GST and said the central government had made the tax simpler. "It was like Diwali yesterday when we made some important changes in the Goods and Services Tax. I had already stated earlier that we would look into GST for 3 months and make changes, mend loopholes as per the experience. Centre has tried to make the tax simpler. The PM the foundation stone for four national highways projects worth Rs 5,825 crore at Dwarka. He also laid the foundation stones for a greenfield airport at Rajkot.

Vadnagar gives PM Modi a blockbuster homecoming on Day 2 of Gujarat visit