New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, on Monday. Extending his greetings to the people of Haryana, he paid homage to the sacred land of Haryana, acknowledging it as the origin of Maa Saraswati, the abode of Mantra Devi, the site of Panchmukhi Hanuman Ji, and the blessed Kapalmochan Sahib. “Haryana is a confluence of culture, devotion, and dedication,” he described. He also conveyed his heartfelt wishes to all citizens on the 135th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, highlighting Babasaheb’s vision and inspiration, which continue to guide India’s journey toward development.
“Yamunanagar is not just a city but a vital part of India’s industrial landscape, contributing significantly to the economy with its industries ranging from plywood to brass and steel,” said Modi, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the region, mentioning the Kapal Mochan Mela, the sacred land of Rishi Ved Vyas, and the site of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s weaponry. He shared his connection with Yamunanagar, recalling his frequent visits from Panchkula during his tenure as Haryana’s in-charge. He expressed gratitude for the dedicated workers he collaborated with and acknowledged the region’s enduring tradition of hard work and commitment.
Underlining that Haryana is witnessing double development speed under the Union and State governments for the third consecutive term, the Prime Minister emphasised the commitment to a developed Haryana as part of the vision for a developed India. He highlighted the government’s dedication to serving the people of Haryana and fulfilling the aspirations of its youth by working at incredible speed and scale. He pointed to the development projects launched today as a testament to this commitment and extended his congratulations to the people of Haryana for these new development initiatives.
Expressing pride in his government’s commitment to advancing the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Modi highlighted Babasaheb’s belief that industrial development was a pathway to social justice. He noted that Babasaheb identified the issue of small landholdings in India and emphasised that Dalits, lacking sufficient agricultural land, would benefit the most from industrialisation. He shared Babasaheb’s vision that industries would provide more significant employment opportunities for Dalits, improving their standard of living. He also acknowledged Babasaheb’s important role in India’s industrialisation efforts, working alongside the country’s first Industry Minister, Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, to drive progress.
Remarking that Deenbandhu Chaudhary Chhotu Ram also recognised the synergy between industrialisation and manufacturing as the foundation for rural prosperity, the Prime Minister highlighted Chhotu Ram’s belief that true prosperity in villages would come when farmers enhance their income through small industries alongside agriculture. He further noted that Chaudhary Charan Singh, who dedicated his life to the welfare of villages and farmers, shared a similar vision, emphasising Charan Singh’s perspective that industrial development should complement agriculture, as both are pillars of the economy.
Emphasising that the essence of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ lies in fostering manufacturing, Modi underscored the government’s focus on manufacturing, as reflected in this year’s budget announcement of ‘Mission Manufacturing.’ “The mission aims to create maximum employment opportunities for Dalit, backward, underprivileged, and marginalised youth, provide them with essential training, reduce business costs, strengthen the MSME sector, equip industries with modern technology, and ensure Indian products are world-class,” he stated. Underscoring the importance of uninterrupted power supply to achieve these goals and highlighting the significance of today’s event, he announced the commencement of work on the third unit of the Deenbandhu Chaudhary Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant, which will benefit Yamunanagar and Haryana. The Prime Minister noted that Yamunanagar produces half of India’s plywood and is a hub for manufacturing aluminium, copper, and brass utensils. He added that petrochemical plant equipment from Yamunanagar is exported to several countries. He emphasised that increased power production will benefit these industries and support ‘Mission Manufacturing.’
Underlining the critical role of electricity in building a developed India, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s multifaceted efforts to enhance power availability, including initiatives like One Nation-One Grid, new coal power plants, solar energy projects, and the expansion of the nuclear sector. “Increasing electricity production is essential to ensure that power shortages do not hinder nation-building,” he stressed, recalling the frequent blackouts before 2014 under the previous dispensation’s rule, stating that such crises would have persisted if Congress had remained in power. He noted that factories, railways, and irrigation systems were severely affected during those times. He shared that India has nearly doubled its electricity production capacity over the past decade and now exports power to neighbouring countries. He highlighted the benefits of their government’s focus on electricity production for Haryana, which currently generates 16,000 MW of power. He also announced the goal of increasing this capacity to 24,000 MW in the coming years.
Highlighting the government’s dual approach of investing in thermal power plants while empowering citizens to become power generators themselves, Modi mentioned the launch of the PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Yojana, enabling individuals to install solar panels on their rooftops, eliminate electricity bills, and even earn by selling surplus power. He noted that over 1.25 crore people across the country have registered under this scheme, with lakhs from Haryana applying to join. He expressed satisfaction with the scheme’s expansion, which is fostering a growing service ecosystem. He emphasised that the solar sector is creating new skills, generating opportunities for MSMEs, and opening numerous avenues for youth employment.
Prime Minister underscored the government’s focus on ensuring adequate electricity and financial resources for small industries in smaller towns. He mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government provided financial assistance worth lakhs of crores to support MSMEs. He further said that the definition of MSMEs has been revised to allow small industries to expand without fear of losing government support as they grow. He also mentioned introducing special credit cards for small enterprises and increasing credit guarantee coverage. He noted the recent 10-year milestone of the Mudra Yojana, under which ₹33 lakh crore in collateral-free loans have been disbursed. He emphasised that over 50% of the beneficiaries of this scheme are from SC, ST, and OBC families. He expressed the government’s commitment to enabling small industries to fulfil the big dreams of India’s youth.
Lauding the hard work of Haryana’s farmers, who contribute to every Indian’s plate, the Prime Minister emphasised that the governments at the Center and state stand as steadfast partners in the joys and challenges of farmers. He highlighted efforts to empower Haryana’s farmers, noting that the state government now procures 24 crops at MSP. He shared that lakhs of farmers in Haryana have benefited from the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, with claims exceeding ₹9,000 crore under the scheme. Additionally, he mentioned that ₹6,500 crore has been disbursed to Haryana’s farmers through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, further supporting their livelihoods and growth.
Underlining the Haryana government’s decision to abolish the colonial-era water tax, relieving farmers from paying taxes on canal water, Modi noted that over ₹130 crore in outstanding dues under this tax have also been waived. He emphasised the efforts of the Union and state governments to provide new income opportunities for farmers and livestock owners. He mentioned the Gobardhan Yojana, which enables farmers to manage waste and generate income by producing biogas from cow dung, agricultural residues, and other organic waste. He shared that this year’s budget includes announcing 500 Gobardhan plants nationwide. He highlighted the foundation stone laying of a new Gobardhan plant in Yamunanagar, which will save ₹3 crore annually for the municipal corporation. “Gobardhan Yojana is also contributing to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, furthering the mission of cleanliness and sustainability, ” he said.
Prime Minister underlined Haryana’s rapid progress on the development path, mentioning his earlier visit to Hisar, where direct flight services to Ayodhya Dham were inaugurated. He also announced the new bypass for Rewari, which will ease traffic congestion in markets, intersections, and railway crossings, allowing vehicles to bypass the city smoothly. He noted that the four-lane bypass would reduce travel time between Delhi and Narnaul by an hour and congratulated the people on this achievement.
Emphasising that for them, politics is a medium of service—service to the people and the nation, Modi stated, “Our party delivers on its promises, as evident in Haryana,” where the government is fulfilling commitments made after being elected for the third term. He contrasted this with opposition-ruled states, citing betrayal of public trust. He pointed to people’s struggles in Himachal Pradesh, where development and welfare projects have stalled. In Karnataka, he highlighted rising costs of essentials like electricity, milk, bus fares, and seeds under the current dispensation’s rule. He mentioned public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government in Karnataka, as seen on social media, and noted allegations of corruption, with even close associates of the Chief Minister acknowledging Karnataka’s ranking as number one in corruption.
Modi criticised the current government in Telangana for neglecting its promises to the people and focusing on bulldozing forests, causing harm to nature and wildlife. He contrasted two governance models and described his party’s model as genuine and dedicated to building a developed India, while the opposition’s was deceitful and focused solely on power. He highlighted the ongoing efforts in Yamunanagar as an example of his party’s commitment to progress.
Reflecting on the significance of Baisakhi and the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Prime Minister honoured the memory of the patriots who sacrificed their lives and highlighted the cruelty of the British regime. He emphasised another aspect of the massacre—the unwavering spirit of standing for humanity and the nation, exemplified by Shankaran Nair. He further shared that Shankaran Nair, a renowned lawyer and high-ranking official in the British government, chose to resign and raise his voice against the atrocities of foreign rule. He fought the Jallianwala Bagh case single-handedly, shaking the foundations of the British Empire and holding it accountable in court. He described Shankaran Nair’s actions as a remarkable example of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” showcasing how a man from Kerala stood against British power for a massacre in Punjab. He remarked that this spirit of unity and resistance was the true inspiration behind India’s freedom struggle and remains a driving force in the journey toward a developed India.
The Prime Minister urged everyone to learn about Shankaran Nair’s contributions and emphasised the Union and state government’s continuous efforts to empower the pillars of society—poor, farmers, youth, and women. He expressed confidence that collective efforts will lead Haryana toward development.
The Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, Union Ministers Manohar Lal, Rao Inderjit Singh, and Krishan Pal Gurjar were present, among other dignitaries at the event.
Background
Boosting the region’s power infrastructure and the vision of electricity reaching the last mile, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the 800 MW modern thermal power unit of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant at Yamunanagar. This unit, spread across 233 acres, worth around Rs 8,470 crore, will significantly boost Haryana’s energy self-sufficiency and provide an uninterrupted power supply across the state.
Taking forward the vision of GOBARDhan, i.e. Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of a Compressed Biogas Plant in Mukarabpur, in Yamunanagar. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 2,600 metric tonnes and help in effective organic waste management, contributing to clean energy production and environmental conservation.
Prime Minister also inaugurated the 14.4 km Rewari Bypass project, worth around Rs 1,070 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. It will decongest Rewari city, reduce Delhi–Narnaul travel time by around one hour, and boost economic and social activity in the region.