Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of “spreading chaos and uncertainty” and said that people were dissatisfied in the party-ruled states as he referred to the change of Chief Minister in Karnataka.

PM Modi was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating and laying the foundation of projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore in Gujarat at a programme in Surat.

“For the past 12 years, the Congress has been sowing chaos and uncertainty and looking for opportunities for itself, but the people of the country are giving it a befitting reply,” he said.

PM Modi said, “Everyone was talking about West Bengal, and the recent Assembly election results there gives enthusiasm and energy to the people. In the elections in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, the BJP and the NDA have got a huge mandate. Apart from this, in the local body elections such as panchayats and corporations, held across the country, the BJP is winning. The country does not like chaos, uncertainty and disappointment. In Gujarat, the people have pushed the Congress into a funny situation. Apart from this, in states where the Congress is in power, the people are fed up with that party. Recently, in the local body elections in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, the Congress lost badly. The people of Punjab too have given a clear message to the Congress. The message is that Congress’s parasitic politics will not work. The Congress’s politics of seeking opportunities in chaos will not work. There is widespread anger among the people of Karnataka against the Congress government there. This is why the Congress resorted to the process of changing the CM in Karnataka.”

Addressing a large gathering at the Indoor Stadium in Surat, in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, the PM said, “One lakh people have launched a five-day cleanliness campaign in Surat city. This is the biggest gift for me. It is not just a cleanliness campaign but a festival of culture for a healthy future.”

PM Modi said, “June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day, and I am happy that today I am in Surat, inaugurating development projects in the city that has been ranked the cleanest in the country. In the past, Surat was affected by an epidemic… the plague. But today, it is known for cleanliness. Surat is not a city; Surat is a spirit.” He also appealed to the farmers of Surat city and people in Saurashtra (Kathiyawad) to practice natural farming.
Speaking in the backdrop of the West Asia conflict, which has disrupted the international oil and gas supply chain, Modi noted the ongoing global crisis shows just how crucial energy self-reliance is and highlighted India’s capacity building since 2014.

“On one hand, we secured oil and gas supplies from various parts of the world and on the other, we ramped up investment in renewable energy to historic levels,” he said.

Citing the example of Hazira (industrial belt) as self-reliant, he said, “Hazira is not just an industrial sector today, it has become an ecosystem of energy, steel, defence production, ports, etc. Hazira is developing as the country’s maritime industrial hub. It is emerging as a major centre for Atmanirbhar Bharat. There are some pessimists in the country who make fun of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaign. They are the people who have always kept India dependent on other countries. They forget that a country which is dependent on other countries cannot achieve the heights of development to which it is entitled. To give momentum to a self-reliant India, there is a lot of focus given on connectivity in this country, like the dedicated freight corridor, the bullet train project, etc..”

PM Modi said, “Presently, the world is going through a period of unprecedented challenges. We have seen in the past global disasters such as the coronavirus pandemic, international wars and, presently, a huge energy crisis that has kept the whole world busy. The price of petrol is constantly fluctuating worldwide. The gas supply chain is being badly affected. With the sincere efforts of 140 crore Indians, the country is facing every crisis with strength, and we have to win this battle too.”

He said, “The world has become cautious towards a green growth future. India is also working a lot on green growth. And Gujarat already took steps a long time ago. Gujarat is the first state in the country which established a separate department for climate change. Gujarat is also the first state in the country to set up a solar park in India at Patan, when nobody thought of it. Gujarat, at that time, has inspired the entire country. Today, India is developing with the mantra of progress along with nature. It is developing both the economy and ecology.”

PM Modi said, “Gujarat has strengthened its position in renewable energy, particularly in wind and solar. Today, India’s renewable capacity is 250 gigawatts. Gujarat alone contributes 50 gigawatts and produces one-fifth of the country’s green energy. The country is working in areas like green hydrogen and green ammonia; Gujarat’s role is also very significant. The present global crisis shows how much self-reliance is necessary in the matter of energy. We have also ensured that oil and gas supplies come from different parts of the world. We have also increased investment in the renewable energy sector. Today, we are one of the top five countries in the world in solar energy production. India has increased its ethanol blending capacity, modernised our old electricity transmission network, expanded our gas pipeline network, and increased the capacity of our ports to handle more and more petroleum and storage.”