PM Modi flies into storm with Rahul Gandhi as he makes bid to fire up Gujarat poll spirit with seaplane ride
- Modi ended the campaign for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls in air
- He took the seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple
- Trip was hailed as the first landing of a seaplane on a waterbody in India
- But the stunt drew sharp criticism from Gandhi, who said it was a ‘distraction’
- See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome
On the last day of campaigning for the high-voltage Gujarat assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi raised the pitch by taking a seaplane for campaigning in the state.
While the BJP termed the day as historic for Gujarat, Congress president elect Rahul Gandhi was quick to retort, calling it a ploy to deviate from the core issues of Gujarat.
CM Vijay Rupani claimed this was the first time a seaplane landed on a waterbody in the country and it was a matter of pride that the first operation took place in Gujarat with the Prime Minister.
Modi took the seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple
Union minister Nitin Gadki too hit out at Gandhi saying the seaplane had nothing to do with elections.
‘The PM can choose any mode of transportation. It is a moment of pride for us that he chose it for trial run. If (Congress president-elect) Rahul Gandhi wants, he can use it,’ Gadkari said.
Gandhi, earlier in the day, took a jibe at Modi over his seaplane ride, saying it was a distraction from the main issues of Gujarat.
The stunt drew sharp criticism from newly-elected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who said it was a ‘distraction’
Modi ended the campaign for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls taking the seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple.
He boarded the single-engine seaplane from near the Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad West and flew to Dharoi Dam in Mehsana district.
A special floating platform was constructed on the river to facilitate the prime minister to board the plane. The plane took off from the Sardar Bridge-end amid chants of Modi-Modi from BJP workers and city-dwellers, who flocked to the Sabarmati riverfront.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering prayers at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand
After his plane landed on the water of Dharoi dam, the prime minister proceeded to the Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district via road. From Dharoi dam site, he reached the temple by road after covering a distance of around 50km.
He was greeted by the people of Ambaji town during a roadshow that stretched from the outskirts of the temple town till near the shrine. A large number of locals lined up on both sides of the road leading to the famous shrine to have a glimpse of Modi, who reciprocated by waving at them.
Later in a series of tweets, Modi lauded the efforts of his government to make operation of seaplane in India possible.
‘Earlier today, I travelled on a seaplane from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati River to Dharoi Dam, taking off and landing on water. This experience was unique. It adds strength to our resolve to harness waterways for India’s progress,’ Modi said in one of his tweets.
According to the department of inland waterways, more than five lakh water bodies in the country could be used for operating seaplane, which can land over one-foot deep water.
To begin with, 111 rivers converted into inland waterway will be used for operating sea planes. These include Mandovi River, Zuari and Cumberjua Canals in Goa, the Sunderban in West Bengal, the Brahmaputra in Assam and Ganga and Kosi in Bihar.
Seaplances are currently operational in countries like Canada, Maldives, South Africa and some other western nations. Gadkari said it could even land on one-foot deep water body and is also cheaper as 12-seater such planes cost Rs 12-13 crore. He said such mode of transport would be made available wherever possible in the country.