My citizen brothers & sisters of Bhavnagar… We have threefold confluence today on the lands of Bhavnagar. The State Government has decided to celebrate ‘The Republic Day’ on the lands of Bhavnagar and it is selected as two great sons of Bhavnagar, who have lead their lives in such a manner that it will inspire many forthcoming generations, there is centenary of the kind king Krishna Kumar Singhji and 150th year of a person with amassing knowledge and adminitration Shri Prabha Shankar Pattaniji, such a unique occasion that can be associated with the Republic Day and could be celebrated and so the State has chosen Bhavnagar.
There was a time when 15th August or 26th January became programmes almost for school children, a mere ritual. It was like we ourselves had lost our vital force. But from last few years, we have made this entire celebrations enliven, meant for the people, an event for awakening of people power and that this valuable Independence is not just a programme to cast vote, it is for the Indian soil to carry the responsibility for the well being of the entire human race and if it is to maintain the responsibility, then it becomes our collective responsibility that we all should come together and try to fulfill the dream of Swami Vivekananda that “I can see my Bharat Mata in splendid condition and placed at the position of Universal Mentor”. To fulfill this dream of Vivekanandji, we need to put combined efforts with complete commitment, we need to become brave. The utmost level of efforts and courage only can fulfill the dream of Swami Vivekanandji. We have tried in the direction of making Bharat Mata grand by joining the power of the people in the development journey through continuous celebration of such occasions for awakening. We have transformed such occasions into the festival of development. Many people say me that Sir, as we clean our houses during Diwali, the same way we clean, burnish the whole Bhavnagar on the occasion of 26th January. You feel happy but I feel sad because you will next ask me when will you bring back the celebration of 15th August or 26th January here again, so that we can have cleaning..! Ladies & Gentlemen, as a citizens it is our duty to keep Bhavnagar clean and tidy. It begins from that sense of responsibility. We remember Gandhiji at every step, but if any true tribute is to be offered to Mahatma Gandhiji, then I would say that there can not be a better tribute for Mahatma Gandhiji then the insistence for cleanliness, to practice cleanliness and to live with cleanliness. How much tons of filth was cleaned… I had not come to dump this rubbish from Gandhinagar, but I have to come to clean it up..! We need to bring this change, change in our nature and if we do this, then in the entire world when India is considered as the country of 21st century, such important matter should not be neglected.
Ladies & Gentlemen, as we have considered this event as a festival, for last one month many developmental works have been initiated, dedicated and planned in Bhavnagar City and District. Generally if work is carried according to the tendency of the Government, then papers keep on moving, files goes on and on… takes at least one-two years, but on this occasion of 26th January, the works have been given shape on the lands of Bhavnagar within 10 to 15 days. The entire developmental work gets faster. And for that purpose, developmental works worth Rs. 140 crore are offered within a month. During the same period, new works of Rs. 155 crore have been launched along with new planning for development programmes worth Rs. 424 crore. You could imagine, on the occasion of 26th January, how the development works can be accelerated, and because of that even citizen partnership also increases. How a single festival can give so much inspiration to the people can be placed as an example in front of the entire nation.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Gujarat is a small State. The whole nation gathers at Delhi to watch the parade on 26th January. And after Delhi, if at all anywhere 26th January is celebrated which attracts attention of the country then it is on the lands of Gujarat, this situation is now established. Freedom lovers, great people who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom must have framed many dreams and handed us the nation. They struggled a lot, they were hanged to death, they rendered their youthful life behind the bars, so that our Bharat Mata may become Independent..! They have handed this independent India to us. It is the responsibility of 120 crore citizens of this country to convert this independence into good governance. Six crore Gujaratis have initiated the exemplary work of taking Gujarat in that direction. Our efforts are to take it further.
Ladies & Gentlemen, today since I have come among you on the occasion of 26th January to celebrate the Republic Day, as we are also celebrating Krishna Kumar Singhji’s centenary, I wish to offer Gohilwad with a reward. And the memento is that from today onwards Bhavnagar University will be known as ‘Krishna Kumar Singhji Bhavnagar University’ and I hope that each and every student studying here will be prepared not just by taking name of the king, but by getting inspiration he may gear up himself to inspire coming new generation. Ladies & Gentlemen, today morning I have laid foundation stone of ‘Ro-Ro Ferry Service’ at Ghogha. I have got the opportunity to fulfill the dream that was left pending from last 3-4 decades. It’s a moment of pleasure for me. I can see how the form of development would be changed. But at the same time, Alang got recognized across the world as a ‘Ship Breaking Yard’, but we did not progress ahead. How long will we do breaking up, it’s enough now..! We have broken many ships and sold scrap… Now I want to take it in a new direction and for that with the investment of Rs. 175 crore, the Government has decided to construct a ‘Marine Ship Building Yard’ here. Manufacturing of ships will be done here, the skills of the youth here will make the means of crossing the ocean. We have thought to work in that direction. In Nava Madhia, a new Industrial Estate will be established by GIDC, the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, in 2300 hectares so that small scale industries, youth may get employment opportunities. Ladies & Gentlemen, there is speedy urbanization in Gujarat. The amount of urbanization in the Gujarat is more than that of India. In near future, 50-55% people of this State will start living in only few cities. Ladies & Gentlemen, as human beings require lungs for its survival, similarly cities also need lungs. If the city is without lung, then the human being residing over there will never lead a healthy life and hence to provide Bhavnagar with sturdy lungs, it is decided to develop ‘Victoria Park’ as a beautiful tourist spot. It is planned to build a modern Gems and Jewellery Park on the land of Bhavnagar’s ‘New Jahangir Mill’. Friends, there is a very big jewellery market in the whole world, but India is still in negligible state in the world market. We want to capture that big world market. We have the skill. Even today if you go to Thailand, you will find the goldsmiths of Bhavnagar showings their talents in Thailand. Today also whenever Gems and Jewellery exhibitions are organized in Dubai, there also creations of artisans of Bhavnagar and Rajkot are sold in the world market. Ability is there, then why don’t we have such opportunities on this land..! Hence, it has been decided to build a Gems and Jewellery Park on this land. Ladies & Gentlemen, I had not announced anything in Bhavnagar during ‘Sadbhavna Mission’, but today on this occasion I announce Rs. 1900 crore for the development of Bhavnagar, nearly Rs. 2000 crores in this coming one year, before the next 26th January. Friends, when this Pratapbhai and others were in the Assembly, the budget of even the entire government was not Rs. 2000 crore..! Today, I am announcing Rs. 1900 crores for the developmental programmes within one year. About Rs. 494 crore will be spent for water supply schemes for Gariadhar and Bhavnagar and we have taken as challenge to permanently solve the drinking water problem of Gariadhar and Bhavnagar. For the works related to Narmada Canal-Branch covering 92 villages including Vallabhipur, Botad, Limbdi and for the irrigation of 65,000 hectares of land, a big amount of approximately Rs. 125 crore is decided to be spent for the farmers. Ladies & Gentlemen, provision of nearly Rs. 225 crore will be made from this for irrigation facility in 8500 hectares of land via pipeline from Narmada Canal Branch linking Botad, Goma, Sukhbhadar Dam, Krishnasagar Lake. Ladies & Gentlemen, along with Rs. 1900 crores, while the Republic Day is being celebrated here, an additional amount of Rs. 1 crore for Bhavnagar city, Rs. 1 crore for Bhavnagar District and Rs. 1 crore for Municipal Corporations of Bhavnagar District, all together a cheque amounting to Rs. 3 crores will be given by me from here itself.
Ladies & Gentlemen, while celebrating the Republic Day, the previous day is celebrated as ‘Voters Awareness Day’ (Matdata Jagruti Divas) in the whole country. In democracy, the importance of citizen is extraordinary, but unfortunately in our country, the meaning of democracy has become very limited. The voting is done every fifth year and it is like giving a contract to someone do something within 5 years… and if he does not do, next time the contract is given to someone else. Such a trend has been established. Ladies & Gentlemen, there should be participation of the people in the journey of development in democracy. It is not over by just pressing a button. People’s partnership is required every moment and so when we are moving ahead by celebrating the festival of people’s participation as festival of development, when the entire country is celebrating today as ‘‘Voters Day”, it is my request to all the citizens that it is the fundamental condition for the success of democracy that every adult citizen should be a voter and every voter should be voting, then only the democracy prospers. We shall celebrate this event today and tomorrow the Republic Day also. The constitution, offered to us by the great personalities like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, has given us a promise to protect our federation, promised to defend our union. Let us take oath for the protection of the federal structure. Tomorrow when we hoist the tricoloured flag, let us resolve in the witness of this tricolour that we will not let even a minor harm to the federal structure of India, we will not allow any sinful activity that may disrupt the unity of the nation. And for the unity and integrity of India, protection of the federal structure in letter and spirit, if we express these feelings then only the State Government and the Central Government can work together for the progress of the country. May the tricolour flag and the architects of the constitution bestow their blessings for the fulfilment of this resolution and with their sentiments let us all move ahead.
Today after the completion of my programme, we will watch a glance of ‘Bhavsabhar Bhavnagar’. Our friends from Youth & Cultural Activities, Shri Bhagyeshbhai Jha and Fakirbhai Vaghela, under whose guidance many traditions have been developed such as to make this national festival, a festival to relive the history also, an occasion to educate the new generation by dramatising the historical events. Shri Vishnubhai Pandya keeps on researching continuously in this matter, he keeps on searching numerous books so as to serve the best to the new generation.
It was the dream of Swami Vivekananda to see Bharat Mata to be splendid and placed on the position of ‘Universal Mentor’. To fulfil these dreams of Swami Vivekananda, as a citizen we all should be committed to work hard and to be mighty. The highest degree of hard works and courage can fulfil the dreams of Swami Vivekananda.
