Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a busy one-day visit to Gujarat on Saturday, starting with a review of one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects—the Ahmedabad–Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor. After landing in Surat from Delhi, he headed straight to the under-construction Bullet Train Station to assess ongoing progress on the transformative rail network.
From Surat, the Prime Minister travelled to the Devmogara Temple in Narmada district, offering prayers at a shrine deeply respected by the region’s tribal communities. His visit set the tone for a day focused heavily on tribal empowerment and cultural preservation.
In the afternoon, PM Modi addressed a massive gathering held to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon ‘Dharti Aaba’ Birsa Munda. Speaking at the event, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several development and welfare projects aimed at uplifting tribal regions.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives, the Prime Minister said, “We are building several tribal museums across India, including in Gujarat. Museums have also come up in Chhattisgarh and Ranchi. We are working to preserve tribal languages, songs, and traditions… Our aim is to connect the new generation with this rich tribal heritage.”
He criticised the Congress for years of neglect, stating, “For decades, Congress left tribal communities to fend for themselves… Congress did nothing, but for the BJP, tribals are a priority. We are committed to ending the injustices they have faced and ensuring they receive the full benefits of development.”
Continuing his attack, PM Modi added that real institutional support for tribals began only after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister. “Congress never felt the need to work for tribals… Even in Gujarat, there were no science-stream schools in tribal areas,” he said. Modi recalled meeting tribal students during his tenure as Chief Minister, assuring them that education would help them build their future. “Today, there are more than 10,000 science-stream schools in the tribal belt. We have built colleges, hostels, and universities as well,” he noted.
Celebrating the achievements of tribal youth, the Prime Minister said, “The children who once shared their dreams with me are now doctors and engineers. Hard work is the legacy of Adivasi youth. Today, many sportspersons are emerging from tribal regions… We are working keeping in mind the tribal community’s needs. We are bringing reforms that benefit tribal farmers.”
Modi also pointed out that he was the first Prime Minister to visit Birsa Munda’s home and stay connected with his descendants, underscoring his government’s emphasis on honouring tribal legacies.
At Dediapada, PM Modi launched a set of major initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JAGUA). This included the ‘Grih Pravesh’ for one lakh newly built homes, marking another milestone in the government’s push for rural and tribal development.
