Congress counters PM Modi on Sikkim airport being the 100th of the country
The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying to the nation “once again” for his statement that the Sikkim airport is the 100th airport of the country.
SNS | New Delhi | September 24, 2018 9:15 pm
The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying to the nation “once again” for his statement that the Sikkim airport is the 100th airport of the country.
“Once again, PM Modi has blatantly lied to the nation,” read a tweet by the Congress.
Advertisement
“In 2014, there were 125 AAI managed airports, 60 were operational- 49 domestic & 11 international. Today there are still 125 airports, of these BJP has made an additional 17 Domestic & 6 International airports operational,” read the tweet.
Advertisement
“We’re not entirely clear in which country the BJP has managed to “build” 35 airports in four years, but the facts speak for themselves,” read a second tweet which contained an India Brand Equity Foundation report on aviation.
We’re not entirely clear in which country the BJP has managed to “build” 35 airports in four years, but the facts speak for themselves. https://t.co/unWcNsNSbu
Earlier today, the PM, after dedicating the Pakyong airport in Sikkim to the nation, said, “It is a historic day not only for Sikkim but also an important day for the country. Our country now has 100 airports. Since Independence till 2014, the country had only 65 airports but in the past four years, we have set up 35 more airports.”
Attacking the previous Congress-led governments at the Centre, the PM said, “For them connectivity was never a priority. Since Independence, there were only 65 airports in the country, which means one airport on an average per year, but in the last four years, we have developed nine airports on an average per year.”
Sikkim got its first airport nine years after the foundation stone for it was laid in 2009. The airport is located 33 km from the state capital of Gangtok. The first commercial flight from Pakyong will take off on 4 October.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Humble tribute to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh ji, a true well-wisher of the poor and farmers, on his birth anniversary. His dedication and service to the nation will continue to inspire everyone."
He said that the project would realize the vision of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the bhoomi pujan would be carried out on his 100th birth anniversary.
Six people accused of vandalizing the residence of actor Allu Arjun at Jubilee Hills were granted bail on Monday as both the Congress and the BRS leveled accusations at each other for having links with the lynchpin of the attack.