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.
“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.
“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
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 24, 2018
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.”
Read More: PM Modi inaugurates Pakyong airport; India gets 100th airport, Sikkim its first
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.
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