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Kushinagar International Airport is a tribute to the devotion of Buddhist society around the world: PM Modi

Published By : Admin | October 20, 2021 | 10:33 IST
“Kushinagar International Airport is a tribute to the devotion of Buddhist society around the world”
“There is a special focus on the development of the places associated with Lord Buddha through better connectivity, and the creation of facilities for the devotees”
“Under UDAN Scheme more than 900 new routes have been approved, 350 routes already functional. More than 50 new airports or those which were not in service earlier, have been made operational”
“In Uttar Pradesh, 8 airports are already functional before Kushinagar airport. Work is on Jewar International Airport after Lucknow, Varanasi and Kushinagar. Apart from that, airport projects are going on in Ayodhya, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad and Shravasti”
“Decision on Air India will give new energy to the Aviation sector of India”
“Recently launched drone policy is going to bring life-changing transformation in the fields ranging from agriculture to health, to disaster management to the defence”

Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel ji, Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet Shri JyotiradityaScindia ji, Shri Kiren Rijiju ji, Shri G Kishan Reddy ji, General V.K. Singh ji, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal ji, Shri Shripad Naik ji, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi ji, Minister of UP government Shri Nand Gopal Nandi ji, my colleague in Parliament Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey ji, MLA Shri Rajnikant Mani Tripathi ji, ambassadors and diplomats of different countries and other public representatives,

Brothers and sisters!

India is the center of devotion, faith and inspiration to Buddhist society around the world. Today, the inauguration of Kushinagar International Airport is in a way a tribute to their devotion. This region, which is witness to the entire journey from the enlightenment of Lord Buddha to Mahaparinirvana, is getting directly connected to the world today. The landing of a Sri Lankan Airlines flight at Kushinagar is like a tribute to this holy land. Kushinagar welcomes with great pride the revered delegation and other dignitaries who have come from Sri Lanka by this flight today.There is also a happy coincidence that today is the birth anniversary of Maharshi Valmiki. With the inspiration of Lord Maharshi Valmiki ji, the country is marching on the path of Sabka Vikas with the help of SabkaSath and SabkaPrayas.

Friends,

This International Airport of Kushinagar is the result of decades of hopes and expectations. My happiness is two-fold today. There is a sense of mental satisfaction as an inquisitor of the spiritual journey and it is also an occasion of the achievement of a commitmentas a representative of the Purvanchal region. Many congratulations to the people of Kushinagar, UP, Purvanchal- eastern part of India and to the followers of Lord Buddha across the world for the Kushinagar International Airport.

Friends,

India is paying special attention to develop the places associated with Lord Buddha through better connectivity and the creation of facilities for the devotees. The development of Kushinagar is one of the key priorities of the UP government and the central government. Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, is not far from here. Jyotiraditya ji has described it in detail now, but still I want to repeat it so that we can easily understand how this region is the center point of the country. Kapilvastu is also nearby. Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave the first sermon, is also within a radius of 100-250 kilometers. Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, is also a few hours away. Therefore, this region is going to become a great center of faith and attraction not only for the Buddhist followers of India but also for the citizens of many countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, etc.

Brothers and sisters,

Kushinagar International Airport will not only become a medium of air connectivity, but will directly benefit the farmers, cattle ranchers, shopkeepers, workers and entrepreneurs here. A complete ecosystem of business and trading will develop here. Tourism, taxi drivers, small businessmen in hotels and restaurants will reap the maximum benefits. This will also create many new employment opportunities for the youth of this region.

Brothers and sisters,

Modern infrastructure is very important for tourism in all its forms, whether for faith or for leisure.Infrastructure is its pre-condition. Modern infrastructure complete with rail, road, airways, waterways, hotels, hospitals, internet connectivity, hygiene, sewage treatment and renewable energy ensuring a clean environment are interconnected and it is important to work on all these simultaneously. Today's 21st century India is moving ahead with this approach only.Now a new aspect has also been added to tourism and that is India's rapid progress of vaccination.It will create confidence in the foreign tourists that India is widely vaccinated and it is safe to go to India as a tourist or for any work. It can also be reassuring for them. In the past few years, the emphasis has been laid on bringing air connectivity to those regions and people who had never even thought of it.

The UDAN scheme started with this objective is nearing four years of its completion. Under the UDAN scheme, more than 900 new routes have been approved in the last few years, out of which air service has started on more than 350 routes. More than 50 new airports or those previously not in service have been made operational. Plans are afoot to create a network of more than 200 airports, heliports and seaplanes in the country in the next three-four years. You and I are witness to the fact that now the common man of India is becoming more visible at the airports following the increase in these facilities.More and more people from the middle class are now taking advantage of the air service.Under the UDAN scheme, air connectivity is constantly improving in Uttar Pradesh.

Flights have started from eight airports in UP. After Lucknow, Varanasi and Kushinagar, work is going on at a brisk pace at Jewar International Airport. Apart from that, airport projects are going on in Ayodhya, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad and Shravasti. In other words, air connectivity will be strengthened in different areas of UP very soon. I have also been informed that SpiceJet is starting direct flights between Delhi and Kushinagarin the next few weeks. Jyotiraditya ji has mentioned some more destinations and this is going to bring a lot of convenience to the domestic travelers and devotees.

Friends,

Recently, the country has taken an important step related to Air India, so that the country's aviation sector should run professionally and convenience and safety should be prioritized. This step will give new energy to the aviation sector of India. One such major reform is related to the opening up of the defence airspace for civil use. With this decision, the distance of air travel has reduced on many air routes and time has also been reduced. The process of setting up 8 new flying academies in 5 airports of the country has also been started for the youth of India to get better training here. The rules related to the use of airports for training have also been simplified.India's recent drone policy is also going to bring life-changing transformation in the fields ranging from agriculture to health and from disaster management to defence. A complete ecosystem is now being developed in India from manufacturing drones to creating trained manpower. Recently, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has also been launched so that these projects and policies move rapidly and there should not be any kind of obstacle. It will not only improve governance, but also ensure that all modes of transport such as road, rail, air etc should support each other and increase each other's capacity. It is the result of these unrelenting reforms that 1,000 new aircraft have been estimated to be added to the Indian civil aviation sector.

Friends,

India's aviation sector will become a symbol of nation's progress in this virtuous period of independence and the energy of Uttar Pradesh will also be involved in it.With this wish, Icongratulate all of you and the followers of Buddhism around the world for this international airport. From here I will go to seek blessings from Buddhist monks from the country and the worldand then I will also get the privilege of inaugurating many more infrastructure projects of UP.

Many thanks once again!

 

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My greetings to all young friends!

The beginning of the year 2026 is marking the start of new joys in your lives. Along with this, as Vasant Panchami passed just yesterday, a new spring is beginning in your lives as well. This time is also connecting you with your duties towards the Constitution. Coincidentally, the grand festival of the Republic is currently underway in the country. Yesterday, on January 23rd, we celebrated Parakram Diwas on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash, and now tomorrow, January 25th, is National Voters' Day, followed by Republic Day on January 26th. Today is also a special day. It was on this very day that our Constitution adopted ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the National Anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’ as the National Song. On this significant day today, more than sixty-one thousand youngsters are making a new beginning in life.

Today, you all are receiving appointment letters for government services; in a way, this is an Invitation Letter for Nation Building. This is a resolution letter to give momentum to the construction of a Developed India. Many among you will strengthen the security of the country, many will further empower our education and healthcare ecosystem, many friends will strengthen financial services and energy security, while many youth will play an important role in the growth of our government companies. I give many congratulations and best wishes to all of you youth.

​Friends,

​Connecting youth with skills and providing them opportunities for employment and self-employment has been the priority of our government. To ensure that government recruitment is also done in mission mode, the Rozgar Mela was started. In the past years, the Rozgar Mela has become an institution. Through this, lakhs of youth have received appointment letters in different departments of the government. Extending this mission further, today this Rozgar Mela is being held at more than forty locations in the country. I especially welcome the youth present at all these locations.

​Friends,

​Today, India is one of the youngest countries in the world. It is the continuous effort of our government that new opportunities are created for India’s youth power within the country and across the world. Today, the Government of India is signing trade and mobility agreements with many countries. These trade agreements are bringing numerous new opportunities for the youth of India.

​Friends,

​In the past time, India has made unprecedented investments for modern infrastructure. Because of this, employment has increased significantly in every sector related to construction. The scope of India’s start-up ecosystem is also advancing at a fast pace. Today, there are about two lakh registered start-ups in the country. More than twenty-one lakh youth are working in these. Similarly, Digital India has expanded a new economy. In many fields such as animation and digital media, India is becoming a global hub. India’s creator economy is growing at a very fast pace, and in this too, youth are getting new opportunities.

​My young friends,

​The way the world’s trust in India is increasing today is also creating many new possibilities for the youth. India is the only large economy in the world that has doubled its GDP in a decade. Today, more than a hundred countries are investing in India through FDI. Compared to the ten years before 2014, more than two and a half times the FDI has come into India. More foreign investment means countless opportunities for employment for the youth of India.

​Friends,

​Today, India is becoming a big manufacturing power. In many sectors such as electronics, medicines and vaccines, defense, and auto, there is an unprecedented increase in both India’s production and exports. Since 2014, there has been a six-fold increase in India’s electronics manufacturing, six-fold. Today, this is an industry of more than 11 lakh crore rupees. Our electronics export has also crossed four lakh crore rupees. India’s auto industry has also become one of the fastest-growing sectors. In the year 2025, the sale of two-wheelers has reached beyond two crores. This shows that the purchasing power of the people of the country has increased; they have received many benefits from the reduction in Income Tax and GST; there are many such examples which indicate that employment is being created in large numbers in the country.

​Friends,

​In today's event, more than 8 thousand daughters have also received appointment letters. In the past 11 years, there has been nearly a two-fold increase in women's participation in the country's workforce. Our daughters have benefited greatly from the government's schemes like Mudra and Start-up India. There has been an increase of about 15 percent in the rate of women's self-employment. If I talk about start-ups and MSMEs, today there is a very large number of women directors and women founders. In our cooperative sector, and the self-help groups working in villages, women are leading in very large numbers.

​Friends,

​Today the country has set out on the Reform Express. Its objective is to make both life and business easy in the country. Everyone has benefited from the next-generation reforms in GST. Through this, our young entrepreneurs are benefiting, and our MSMEs are benefiting. Recently, the country has implemented historic labor reforms. Through this, laborers, employees, and businesses will all benefit. The new labor codes have further strengthened the scope of social security for laborers and employees.

​Friends,

​Today, when the Reform Express is being discussed everywhere, I want to assign a task to you as well regarding this subject. Recall, in the last five-seven years, when and in what form have you had contact with the government? Whether you had work in some government office, or interacted through some other medium and you faced trouble, felt some deficiency, or felt some irritation - just remember such things. Now you have to decide that those things which troubled you, sometimes troubled your parents, sometimes troubled your friends, and what used to pinch you, feel bad, or make you angry - now you will not let those difficulties happen to other citizens during your own tenure. Being a part of the government, you too will have to carry out small reforms at your level. You have to move forward with this approach so that the maximum number of people are benefited.

The work of strengthening Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business happens as much through policy as it does through the intention of the government employee working at the local level. You must remember one more thing. In this era of rapidly changing technology, the needs and priorities of the country are also changing rapidly. You also have to keep upgrading yourself along with this fast change. You must definitely make good use of platforms like iGOT Karmayogi. I am happy that in such a short time, about one and a half crore government employees are training and empowering themselves anew by joining this iGOT platform.

​Friends,

​Whether it is the Prime Minister or a small servant of the government, we are all servants and we all have one common mantra; in that, no one is above, nor is anyone to the right or left, and for all of us, for me as well as for you, which is that mantra - "Nagrik Devo Bhava" (The Citizen is God). We have to work with the mantra of "Nagrik Devo Bhava"; you also keep doing so. Once again, this new spring that has come into your life, this new era of life is beginning, and it is through you that a developed India is going to be built in 2047. Many best wishes to you from my side. Thank you very much.