Gandhinagar, Jan 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to formally inaugurate the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Thursday morning. The prime minister is likely to launch the ‘Dandi Kutir’, an exhibition depicting the various stages of the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi.
PM Modi along with Union Urban Decevlopment Minister Venkaiah Naidu arrived at Ahmedabad on Wednesday night and he was received by Gujarat Governor OP Kohli and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and other officials. Supporters of the BJP also welcomed the prime minister at the airport.
Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat before becoming the 15th prime minister of the country last May. Modi emphasised on his commitment for a clean India by 2019, the year which will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
A three-day conclave is bei ng held on the occasion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the Mahatma Mandir Complex in Gandhinagar to mark the centenary of the Mahatma’s return from South Africa.
The enclave has already been addressed by cabinet ministers including Sushma Swaraj, Harsh Vardhan and VK Singh, the former army chief. PM Modi is likely to stress his pet programmes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Make in India, Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Smart Cities among the Indian Diaspora during his address on Thursday. Vice-President Hamid Ansari will hand over the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards on Froday.
“As per one study, poor people have to spend Rs 7,000 per year to fight diseases. Lack of cleanliness will cause diseases. It affects the poor the most. Everybody should treat Clean India campaign as a service to the poor.
“Mahatma Gandhi loved cleanliness. Today, in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas programme, we are celebrating 100 years of his return. 2019 will be 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. We should gift him the clean India of his dreams by then,” Modi said.
