Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Karnataka on October 29 to take part in various public functions.
Updates:
12.40 p.m.: “ Conservation of water is a major challenge for us in this day and age. We also need to give importance towards living in harmony with nature and not think about short term gains,” he says. “I urge the farmers of Karnataka to embrace methods like drip irrigation that help conserve water.”
Mr. Modi has a word of praise for former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. “I have seen how hard Mr. Yeddyurappa works for the welfare of farmers. Even when I was serving as Chief Minister, he would be talking to me about issues relating to farmers.”
12.25 p.m.: “ This century is about skill development. A nation like India is youthful and hence, we must harness our demographic dividend,” Mr. Modi says. “Our saints and seers created as well as nurtured institutions which have helped society for centuries.”
12 p.m.: “Happy to see enthusiasm towards digital transaction,” Mr. Modi says after presenting Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana account holders with RuPay cards. He also unveils the logo of Dharmasthala’s initiative, Mother Earth at Ujire.
According to Mr. Heggade, the temple has established 587 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes and have trained 2.5 million young people. “We have also established SKDRDP in 1982. Help from the temple is extended for rural development through these groups. We plan to have 40 lakh PMJDY accounts shortly,” he said.
11.50 a.m.: After the temple visit, Mr. Modi proceeded to Ujire, 5 km from Dharmasthala to attend a public programme. He would be addressing a convention of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, where he would launch Mr. Heggade’s new initiative, Safe Earth and distribute RuPay cards to SHG members of SKDRDP. He would also witness signing of an MoU between the SBI and the SKDRDP for cashless transactions of SHG members.
11.45 a.m.:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dharmasthala, Karnataka on October 29, 2017. Photo: Special Arrangement
At Dharmasthala, Mr. Modi was welcomed by Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade at the temple entrance. Inside the temple, he witnessed the rudrabhisheka seva done for the deity, according to the Dharmadhikari's aide Veeru Shetty. He also had the darshan of other deities, Annappa, Ganapathi and Padmavathi.
Mr. Modi landed at the Mangaluru airport from New Delhi and flew to Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district in a helicopter.
Union Ministers D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar and Karnataka Minister U.T. Khader greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Mangaluru airport on October 29, 2017. Photo: Karnataka Information Department
The Prime Minister offered prayers at the Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dharmasthala, which is about 100 km away from the port city of Mangaluru.
On account of the Prime Minister’s visit, the temple administration has restricted public entry till 2 p.m. on October 29.
Mr. Modi will later address a public rally at Ujjire town near Dharmasthala and hand over RuPay cards to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders.
Later in the day, Mr. Modi will fly to Bengaluru to attend a public function organised by the Vedanta Bharati at the Palace Grounds.
In the evening, he would inaugurate the 110-km Bidar-Kalaburgi railway track in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region that would reduce the distance between Bengaluru and New Delhi by 380-km and travel time by six to eight hours.
(with agency inputs)
