Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Amaravati, the new and ‘futuristic’ capital of Andhra Pradesh at Uddandarayunipalem village in Guntur district, about 40 kms from Vijayawada, the commercial hub of the state – Amaravati was once the seat of power of Satavahana rulers. Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao, respectively, were among those present on the occasion of ‘shila nyas’. Narendra Modi claimed that urban development should be seen as an opportunity, not a challenge during his inauguration speech in Guntur district. Here are the top 10 quotes from Narendra Modi speech:
1. Andhra Pradesh is taking up a new initiative on Vijaya Dashami of building a new capital at the place where in history it commanded respect for its culture. The pace at which Chandrababu Naidu took up this task of building the capital by bringing together the best minds and best practices in the world, need to be congratulated.
2. Very few new capitals or towns have been built after Independence, but that inhibition must end. We must look towards urbanisation with sustainability, without looking at it as problem, but as an opportunity.
3. We have to move towards building new modern cities and that is why we have started the programme of 100 Smart Cities. The cities should be centres of economic growth and revenue generation.
4. 2001 Bhuj earthquake
5. Be it Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, the soul is Telugu. Both states must progress. I assure that whatever is mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act, we will implement it to the last letter.
6. The advantage of start-up movement launched by Centre was taken by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh youth and they have the capacity to make it happen.
7. People of Andhra Pradesh working all over the world can come back to Andhra Pradesh and participate in the start-up movement. In the days to come Andhra Pradesh will lead an economic revolution. This will be youth-led economic revolution in the days to come. A country which has 80 crore of youth can reach top of the world. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should be complementary to each and benefit from that.
8. In the past the government had not helped the state, but our government will be see that Andhra Pradesh becomes a ‘human resources capital’. Our government has set up 11 national level institutions in the direction of improving the human resources.
9. You have brought soil and water from all your villages and tried your best to make it real people’s capital. When I handed over soil and water from Parliament and Yamuna, to Chandrababu Naidu, he said it had emotional touch. It is like the country’s capital had reached Amaravati.
10. Political selfishness led to the hasty division of Andhra Pradesh. Congress