Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a coterie who will always clap for him even if he does nothing. In case of minor achievements they are always in a competition to offer statements that would please the boss.
A day after Modi inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 182-metre statue in Gujarat — which is indeed a monumental one — Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani quickly jumped the bandwagon to highlight the achievement in whatever way he could.
Bringing in a parallel with Taj Mahal in Agra, which is the most sought-after destination for the foreigners when they visit India, Gujarat Chief Minister ended up saying that people throughout the world would also seek to visit Gujarat to see the tallest statue alongside the Taj Mahal.
“People used to come to India to see only the Taj Mahal, now they will come to see the Statue of Unity… We will also put up signboards in six foreign languages as people from across the globe will come to see the statue…,” Rupani said. The Gujarat government is expecting around 15,000 visitors every day for the statue near the Narmada dam.
While speaking at the national executive meeting of FICCI members, Rupani invited them to visit the Statue of Unity along with their families. “It is our estimate that per day, 15000 visitors will come at the Statue of Unity,” he said.
Rupani also said that the government has decided to convene future national meetings and conferences close to the Statue of Unity. “We are providing a lot of facilities there and Gujarat government is trying to make it a hub for tourism. Only the inauguration has happened. In the coming days, we will also develop an “Ekta Nagar” there.”
On Wednesday, Modi had said that when he conceptualised the project in 2010 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat that one day he would inaugurate the Statue of Unity as the Prime Minister.
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