There is enormous potential for cooperation between India and Turkmenistan: PM
As India deepens its relations with Central Asia, Turkmenistan will play a crucial role in it: PM
India and Turkmenistan agree to combat terrorism and extremism collectively
PM appreciates President and people of Turkmenistan for the support in making #YogaDay a huge global success
His Excellency Mr President,
Members of the media,
It is a great pleasure to visit Turkmenistan. I am also delighted to see Ashgabat. It stands on a once thriving trade route since ancient times. It is now a beautiful 'Ak Shaharim' or the White City. It reflects your great vision and the nation's prosperity.
Mr. President, I am very grateful to you and the people of Turkmenistan for a very warm welcome and generous hospitality.
Our long standing and deep-rooted civilisational and cultural ties are well known. It has created a sense of familiarity and goodwill between our people. It is a strong foundation of close relations between our two countries.
India attaches great importance to this relationship. There is enormous potential for cooperation between India, a nation of 1.25 billion people with a large and rapidly growing economy, and Turkmenistan, a nation rich in resources.
As India deepens its relations with Central Asia, Turkmenistan will play a crucial role in it.
We have shared interests in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and Central Asia. We also have common purpose in combating terrorism and extremism in our region.
Connecting South and Central Asia will open up new economic opportunities in our region and beyond.
I thank Mr. President for sharing this vision and for his strong support to the relationship.
The most significant initiative in our relationship is the TAPI Gas Pipeline. This could transform regional economic cooperation and bring prosperity along the route. We welcomed the agreements between the four countries for the pipeline. We underlined the need to implement the project quickly.
I also proposed to President that we should explore multiple options, including the additional possibility of land-sea route through Iran.
I conveyed our interest in long term investment in the energy sector in Turkmenistan. We welcome the decision by ONGC Videsh Limited to open an office in Ashgabat.
We had a very positive discussion on India's interest in investment in downstream industries, including petrochemicals and fertilizer. The Memorandum of Understanding in the fertilizer sector will enable long term arrangements for supply of fertilizers from here to India.
Connectivity is an area of priority for both countries. If we use the Iran route, Ashgabat is the first capital we would reach in Central Asia.
We are grateful for Turkmenistan’s support to India joining the Ashgabat Agreement on trade and transit. I have also proposed that Turkmenistan becomes a member of the International North South Transport Corridor.
Together with the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail link, and India's proposed investment in Chahbahar Port in Iran, these initiatives will strengthen connectivity between our countries.
Training and human resource development is an important area of cooperation. India will enhance its training scholarship programme. I welcome the upgrading of the Turkmen India Industrial Training Institute in Ashgabat.
The agreements on sports and tourism will deepen the contacts between our people.
Later today, I will have the pleasure of unveiling the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. It will be a reminder of our shared commitment to the cause of a peaceful, inclusive and a just world.
I am looking forward to the inauguration of the Centre of Yoga and Traditional Medicines. It is a tribute to our cultural links. It also gives us opportunities to revive our very old tradition of fruitful cooperation in traditional medicines. I also proposed to him that Ashgabat could be developed as an International Centre for Holistic Healthcare. I offered full support for it.
The defence agreement is a reflection of our shared interest in closer security cooperation, including in combating terrorism.
I am grateful to President and the people of Turkmenistan for the support in making the International Day of Yoga on June 21 a huge global success.
I congratulated the President on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Permanent Neutrality by Turkmenistan. India acknowledges the contributions of this policy to peace and stability in Turkmenistan and the wider region.
Again, Mr. President, this has been a short but very productive visit. I am confident that our relationship will grow in strength in the coming years.
I look forward to receiving you in India, Mr. President, in the near future.
Gujarat’s biggest strength is that it has kept development moving continuously for the past 25 years: PM Modi in Vav-Tharad
March 31, 2026
Share
These projects will improve connectivity and support socio-economic development of the region: PM
Infrastructure projects provide impetus to development, connect villages to markets, farmers to new opportunities and youth to employment: PM
The way solar energy projects are being developed in Gujarat ,the day is not far when Gujarat will emerge as a major center for renewable energy in the world: PM
Today when the world talks about India’s development and growth story, the ‘Gujarat model’ is praised: PM Modi
As long as trust remains from Panchayat to Parliament, the superfast express of development will keep running at this speed: PM
Today when many countries in the world are facing war, unrest and instability, India is moving forward on the path of development: PM
Victory to Mother India
Victory to Mother India
Victory to Mother India
Present in the program, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Bhai, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Bhai, Deputy Chief Minister Bhai Harsh Sanghavi, all ministers of the Gujarat Government, fellow MLAs, and my dear brothers and sisters of Banaskantha, Vav, Tharad, and North Gujarat.
Today, my mothers have come here in such large numbers, these mothers and sisters have come in such large numbers. My special salutations to these mothers and sisters of mine.
Just a few days ago, the holy festival of Navratri concluded. It is Mother Amba Ji's grace that I got the good fortune to come to her feet today. By her grace today, I got the benefit of seeing all of you, my own family members. I bow at the feet of Mother Amba Ji. Our Varaha form Lord Shri Dharnidharji, "Mukhda Krishna", I also pay my respectful obeisance to him today. It is also a pleasant coincidence that today we are also celebrating Lord Mahavir Jayanti. This region of ours is the land of many Jain pilgrimages. I bow to Lord Mahavir, and also congratulate you all on the holy Mahavir Janma Kalyanak day, Mahavir Jayanti.
Friends,
Today my heart is happy for another reason. When I came here, for the first time my plane landed directly at Deesa Airbase. This airbase of Deesa is only 130 kilometers away from the international border. You can understand how important this is for the security of the country too.
But friends,
The thought of this project of Deesa Airport did not start today. When I was the Chief Minister here, since then we acquired land, my farmer brothers and sisters gave land, and we wanted that for national security, for the security of India's western border, this Deesa is an extremely important place, it is very necessary to have an airbase here. But don't know those who ruled in Delhi at that time, don't know what hatred they had towards Gujarat, even this project of national security remained suppressed in files for years. When you sent me to Delhi, I took out those files, and today this is the result that a very big base of the Air Force has now joined our Deesa. And this is not just an airstrip, because of it, a lot of activity is going to happen here, soldiers are going to stay here in very large numbers. This is going to have a very big contribution to the development of this region. But this delay that happened, happened because of the Congress government that was in Delhi at that time, happened because of its attitude, and the country never forgives such indifference towards national security. This is our government, which got the work of Deesa Airport completed on priority and today this airport is becoming a big milestone for development for this region, and is also a very big strategic strength of the country. I again congratulate you all for this airport, for this region.
Friends,
This region of Vav-Tharad, Banaskantha, you all know, how much attachment I have had from here. There wouldn't be any village here that doesn't have my memories. Today when I came, I got the opportunity to see the faces of many old people. And the roadshow was done so grandly, that it gave me a benefit. I got the chance to meet a very large number of old people even from a distance. And when I used to do the organization work, then I traveled here a lot. I used to go around on a scooter. I used to get the chance to meet you all, and when I came to my North Gujarat, the mothers and sisters used to make and feed very good rotis. Bajra roti, ghee, jaggery, garlic chutney, fresh butter. That affection of yours, your immense love, I will never be able to forget. And as much affection as you all have given me, have raised me like a son of the family, and that is why, from wherever I am, I try to repay your affection with interest by doing development. There are many old workers of the organization here, with whom I got the chance to work day and night. Many elders are no more, but I got to learn a lot with them. All such companions, an entire new generation of BJP workers is in front of me today. And if there is such a successful generation, then one feels the satisfaction of having done something in life. I am seeing, today our young workers are carrying forward the works of the organization with the same skill. This program, this rally, its arrangement, your presence here in such large numbers, is proof of this. I went to both corners, I felt like showing my hand at least once far away, but even further than where my sight reaches, people are sitting, many other people are standing outside. Besides Banaskantha, I got the chance to see people from several districts including Patan, Mehsana, I congratulate you all very much for this. Especially I bow to my mothers and sisters once again.
Friends,
25 years ago today you entrusted me with the responsibility of the development of Banaskantha and this region. As long as I remained in Gujarat, I did this work in mission mode, advanced Gujarat as much as possible. All those problems that were happening to you for decades, the neglect of this region that was happening, all those difficulties came to an end. Expectations of development kept getting fulfilled one after another. I am proud, the sequence of development that I got the fortune to start here, that continues uninterruptedly. And since 2014, the strength of the double engine government is also included in it. Even today, projects of the Center and the State worth about 20 thousand crore rupees are starting here, 20 thousand crore rupees. The picture of this entire area will change with these projects. These projects related to energy, road, railway, and housing sectors will give a new momentum to life here. I congratulate Vav-Tharad, Banaskantha, and the whole of Gujarat very much for all these development works.
Friends,
The projects related to road infrastructure whose foundation stone was laid today, will give momentum to the entire North Gujarat. New opportunities will be created here. The construction of a 4-lane highway from Idar to Vadali Bypass, and the work of upgrading the highway from Dholavira to Santalpur, will connect villages to markets, farmers to new opportunities, and youth to employment. Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, this entire corridor has been dedicated to this region today. When such big connectivity is created, along with it, industries also come, and investment also comes. Also, the rail connectivity of this region has been improved. The gauge conversion from Himatnagar to Khedbrahma connects our tribal area of North Gujarat to the National Broad Gauge network. From today, a new train service connecting Khedbrahma, Himatnagar, and Asarwa has also started.
Brothers and sisters,
These projects of better roads and highways, railways, all these are part of the plan for the all-around development of Gujarat. To complete this plan, our entire focus is also on the energy needs here. Because, new industries, new investment, new opportunities, these come only when there is electricity. That is why, today the transmission projects related to Khavda Renewable Energy Park are so important. From here, four and a half gigawatts of electricity will be generated. This electricity will also be useful for new factories, will reach your homes, and will also provide benefit to the farmer's field.
Friends,
Today in solar power, the flag of Gujarat is waving with full glory. Today Gujarat is so far ahead in renewable energy because Gujarat had started it when there was not much attention towards this in India. In the year 2010, i.e., 15-16 years ago today, while being the Chief Minister, I got the work of the country's first solar park started near Ratanpur in Charanka. Those who are 15-16 year old children, they wouldn't have even been born. This is in itself a multi-technology park, which started the movement of solar energy. Today, the way solar energy work happens in Gujarat, the work of generating electricity from solar power is happening, like the projects related to Khavda Renewable Energy Park started today, that day is not far when Gujarat will emerge as a very big center of renewable energy in the world.
Friends,
Today when the development of India is talked about in the world, today when India's growth story is talked about, then 'Gujarat Model' gets praised. And, Gujarat has shown, as necessary as infrastructure projects are for development, so are public welfare schemes. That is, the development of roads, highways, railways should happen. The living standard of the village, poor and common human should also improve. We are seeing this before our eyes today through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Today you consider here, 40 thousand families, 40 thousand families in Gujarat got permanent houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, permanent houses. The facility of permanent houses to thousands of families is a security for them, is an identity of life, and a courage to decorate new dreams gets prepared. And what big changes come in life from this. When those who have got permanent houses in PM Awas, who didn't have a house in life till today, who had spent life on footpaths, had spent life in huts, had spent life by making raw mud houses, when they have got these permanent houses, should blessings be received or not? Should blessings be received or not? Should blessings be received or not? Should merit (punya) be received or not? In whose fate does this merit go? In whose fate does this merit go? In whose fate does it go? Today 40 thousand people have got houses, you all are the entitled ones of their blessings, of their merit, you are the citizens of the country, because the strength of your one vote, who gave me this chance to serve, and here the permanent houses of 40 thousand people were built. You all are the rightful claimants of this merit, I am just a medium. I congratulate all the beneficiary brothers and sisters of PM Awas very much today for this.
Friends,
Today I have come among you, so the decades-old condition here is also coming to mind. No one can forget those days, when as soon as the name of North Gujarat came, a different picture used to form in people's minds. Dryness, famine - drought, lack of water, there used to be famine 7 times in 10 years. One had to go 3-4 kilometers carrying pots to fill water. This life full of struggle, and our continuous neglect by Congress governments, who of us can forget those days, when water had to be brought from many kilometers away. Much of the time of women, sisters-daughters of the house used to be spent in arranging water. Due to the shortage of water, farmers also did not get the right value for their hard work. Cattle herders also used to be worried about water and fodder for their animals. This problem had been going on for a long time. Earlier, cattle sheds used to run here. When summer used to come, cattle sheds used to run. And the government used to deliver grass. There used to be difficulty with drinking water. Two-two decades have passed, all that stopped. It is not seen anywhere, there is no need. This was the spirit of the people of Gujarat that we together took the resolution to change destiny with our hard work. We solved the water problem through 'Sujalam Sufalam Yojana'. Narmada's water started reaching far away. A new system of irrigation was created.
Friends,
Today the farmer here is not dependent on one crop. He is planning farming according to himself. The way the name of Banaskantha has emerged today in potato production, it is an example in itself.
Similarly, brothers and sisters,
The works of development that we are carrying forward today, their benefit will go to the entire North Gujarat. New opportunities will be created for every district - Vav-Tharad, Banaskantha, Patan, and Mehsana - paths to a better life will open.
Friends,
The biggest strength of Gujarat is that it has not let the grand campaign of development stop continuously for 25 years. Gujarat made new records. Broke its own records itself. Then made new records, then broke the record, then made new records. Just now the infrastructure projects of Gujarat were mentioned, similarly, we connected village to village with good roads in the whole of Gujarat. Built high-speed highways. The facility of high-speed trains like Vande Bharat is also being received by Gujarat.
Brothers and sisters,
In 2005, I started the 'Urban Development Year' to take development to every corner of Gujarat. Then its budget was about six hundred and fifty crore rupees. But, the wheel of development turned so fast that today this budget has become more than 33 thousand crore rupees. In this direction, about 300 proposals of about 2300 crore rupees for 9 new municipal corporations have come for approval. 72 municipalities have been upgraded. The budget that the Gujarat government has presented this year is also more than 4 lakh crores. This money will be spent for the transformation of villages, towns, and cities. Better facilities are being made in every village. Water is being reached house-to-house through pipes.
Brothers and sisters,
As long as your trust remains from Panchayat to Parliament, the superfast express of development will keep running at this speed.
Friends,
The big strength of India has always been - difficult time, no matter how hard a time comes, our country stands united at the time of difficulty. You have been seeing for some time, many countries of the world are surrounded by war, unrest, and instability. The situation created in West Asia has an impact on the entire world. The difficulty of energy needs, of diesel, petrol, and gas has increased in the whole world. Even in such a crisis, India has kept the situations under control. Behind this is the strength of the country's successful foreign policy and the unity of the countrymen.
But brothers and sisters,
See the misfortune, in our country some political parties are not refraining from baking political rotis even in the era of global crisis! If someone is at the forefront of this political conspiracy, it is the Congress party! Today when the country needs unity and solidarity, Congress leaders are busy dividing the country. Today when the country needs trust, Congress is busy in spreading fear and rumors. Today when the country needs restraint, Congress is engaged in inciting people. Like political vultures, Congress is in wait for when the country increases in trouble, and on that pretext, they get political benefit!
Brothers and sisters,
Today in countries ranging from small to big superpowers of the world, prices of diesel and petrol have increased somewhere by 10 percent, somewhere 20 percent, somewhere up to 25 percent. But, India is not letting its impact fall on the people of the country. Congress is not able to tolerate this. That is why, it is constantly spreading rumors, so that an atmosphere of fear is created in the country, and people stand in lines at petrol pumps and gas agencies, disorder spreads! They should do propaganda regarding this, this is their intention!
Friends,
Distance from power makes the Congress party hysterical. You have seen also in the Global AI Summit held in Delhi recently, guests from all over the world were here, the AI Summit of Delhi was being praised in the whole world, but how for the sake of protest the people of Congress even tore their clothes, their attempt was that India's image should get spoiled in front of the world! Even in today's circumstances, Congress is speaking the language of foreign powers that hate India. We have to be careful of this conspiracy of Congress.
Friends,
India can face any difficult situation firmly, we have shown this also in the Corona period. Similarly, this is also the time to stay together. We should be proud of this fact, today when the entire world is busy only in its own defense, India is not only maintaining stability, but is also advancing every day on the path of development. Today the inauguration and foundation stone laying of thousands of crores of development projects in Gujarat is a living example of this. I once again congratulate you all very much for these development works. I also thank the countrymen very much for their restraint, cooperation, and discipline.
It was a great pleasure meeting you all. Now I move forward taking your blessings. Thank you very much.
