Omar Abdullah's Visit to Statue of Unity Receives Praise from PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed joy over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's visit to the Statue of Unity, emphasising its message of unity and encouraging travel across India. Abdullah shared his experience running at the Sabarmati Riverfront during his trip.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight on Thursday over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's visit to Gujarat. Modi noted that Abdullah's trip to the Statue of Unity would encourage Indians to explore various parts of the nation. Abdullah was in Ahmedabad for a tourism event, and Modi shared his thoughts on X, highlighting the significance of Abdullah's visit.

Modi stated, "Kashmir to Kevadia! Good to see Shri Omar Abdullah Ji enjoying his run at the Sabarmati Riverfront and visiting the Statue of Unity. His visit to SoU gives an important message of unity and will inspire our fellow Indians to travel to different parts of India." This message underscores the importance of national unity and exploration.

Omar Abdullah's Experience in Gujarat

Earlier, Abdullah shared images from his morning jog along the Sabarmati River Front promenade. He remarked, "It's one of the nicest places I've been able to run & it was a pleasure to get to share it with so many other walkers/runners. I even managed to run past the amazing Atal Foot Bridge." This highlights his enjoyment of the scenic location.

The Statue of Unity, standing at 182 metres, is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first home minister. It is located near Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia, in Narmada district. Abdullah expressed his admiration for both the statue and the dam nearby, noting their impressive nature.

Significance of Structures in Ekta Nagar

While speaking at Ekta Nagar, Abdullah mentioned he never anticipated these structures would be so remarkable. He stated, "Both these structures are a true tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is known as the Iron Man of India. These structures are the symbols of new India." His words reflect the national pride associated with these landmarks.

Abdullah also highlighted how the dam has transformed lives by providing water to arid regions like Kutch. He said, "Just imagine that this dam helped us in providing water to arid regions like Kutch. People's lives changed because of this project." This emphasises the dam's impact on local communities.

Challenges Faced by Jammu and Kashmir

Abdullah pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir were not as fortunate due to restrictions on river water projects. He explained, "We the people of J&K were not that fortunate because we could never conceive such projects. Because we were not allowed to stop river waters." This highlights regional challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir.

However, with changes in policies like the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, there is renewed hope for similar projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah noted, "Now, when the Indus Water Treaty has been suspended, we are seeing a ray of hope." This suggests potential future developments for water management in the region.

With inputs from PTI