In a vibrant youth congregation held at Amalipali in Jharsuguda, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi delivered a heartfelt welcome address to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the day as a “festival” for the state’s 4.5 crore residents.
The event, organised amid the festive spirit of ‘Seva Paksha’, celebrated PM Modi’s leadership and his contributions to Odisha’s rapid development. CM Majhi began by invoking Lord Jagannath, welcoming the Prime Minister to the sacred soil of Odisha and expressing gratitude for his presence. He noted the significance of the venue, highlighting that the Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda was inaugurated by PM Modi exactly eight years ago on September 22, 2017, and has since accelerated growth in western Odisha. Reflecting on PM Modi’s recent birthday on September 17, Majhi praised it as a reflection of over five decades of unwavering service to the nation. He emphasised how ‘Seva Paksha’, observed from September 17 to October 2, embodies a ‘festival of service’.
The CM lauded Modi as the “biggest icon” for India’s youth since 2014, crediting him with inspiring young people through initiatives focused on four key pillars, including youth empowerment. Majhi touched on national security, referencing ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the surgical strikes following the Pulwama attack, quoting a popular Hindi saying: “We won’t provoke, but if provoked, we won’t spare.” He commended the Balakot airstrikes and Modi’s firm stance, which he said has instilled new enthusiasm in the youth and transformed India’s security policy. Expressing deep appreciation for Modi’s affinity toward Odisha and Lord Jagannath, the CM mentioned that the Prime Minister has visited the state seven times since the new government took office. Last year, on his birthday, Modi launched the ‘Subhadra Yojana’, benefiting over one crore women with annual financial aid of Rs 10,000.
Majhi also recalled Modi’s gesture of celebrating his birthday by accepting milk from an Adivasi woman, which has deeply touched Odishans. On environmental efforts, Majhi highlighted the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, noting that Odisha aimed for 75 lakh tree plantations on Modi’s birthday but achieved double—1.5 crore—demonstrating the people’s respect for the PM.
Turning to development, Majhi underscored Modi’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision, with Odisha at its core. He announced several projects to be launched by Modi, including a new Amrit Bharat train from Berhampur to Surat, world-class skill development initiatives, a semiconductor park, upgrades to MKCG and VIMSAR hospitals into super-specialty facilities, a new port-based SEZ in Ganjam, and work orders for 50,000 Antyodaya houses for the poor.
As a “double bonanza” during the Navratri season, Majhi praised the ‘Next Generation GST Reforms’, enabling savings for Odishans during Durga Puja shopping. He noted that the Odisha Assembly recently passed a resolution thanking Modi for this historic step. Under Modi’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, Majhi affirmed Odisha’s commitment to empowering farmers, the poor, women, and youth. He highlighted investments worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in 84 industrial projects in the last 7.5 months, creating 1.64 lakh jobs, inspired by Modi’s call at the ‘Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha’ event:
“Yeh hi samay hai, sahi samay hai.” In closing, Majhi recited Modi’s emotional poem from a 2019 rally in Churu, Rajasthan, pledging unwavering commitment to the nation: “I swear by this soil, I won’t let the country perish; I won’t let it stop; I won’t let it bow.” He urged the youth to join Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2047, assuring that under his leadership, a ‘New India’ will march forward unstoppably. The rally, attended by thousands of enthusiastic youth, underscored the strong bond between Odisha and the central leadership, setting the stage for accelerated progress in the state.
