SHILLONG: Exactly on the second anniversary of the BJP led NDA government assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is arriving here on Friday, may announce development initiatives for Meghalaya and highlight the achievements of his government in the last two years.
It was on May 27, 2014 that Modi assumed office as the 15th Prime Minister of the country.
As per schedule, the Prime Minister will attend two official programmes – one at the State Convention Centre here convened by the NEC as part of its plenary session at 11 AM followed by a civic reception in the presence of a large gathering of people at Polo Grounds from 3 PM to 4.30 PM.
Though Modi is only taking part in official programmes in the city, the State BJP has put up banners and party flags in most parts of city and appealed to people to gather in large numbers at Polo Grounds.
The Prime Minister will launch the Mission Football Meghalaya during his public address at Polo Grounds besides laying the foundation stone online for Ampati stadium to be built under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).
He will also give away awards to winners of a Marathon which will be held on Friday morning and also to the cleanest village and the cleanest city in the North East during the public meeting.
Three train services will be launched online by the Prime Minister on the occasion including Jiribam (Manipur)-Silchar (Assam) daily passenger train, Bhairabi (Mizoram) – Silchar daily passenger train and Kamakhya-Vaishno Devi Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) Express weekly train.
Earlier, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the exhibition of achievements of the North East and visit stalls put up by some central ministries at JN Indoor stadium, Polo Grounds.
He will also interact with members of Self Help Groups and others, who will display their hand amde products at the 5th Ground.
Sources said that during his address at the 65th NEC plenary session he is expected to highlight various initiatives of the Centre for the Northeastern states.
Besides DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Governors and Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states will address the plenary session on Friday.
The Prime Minister will wind up his maiden visit to the city by addressing a gathering of youths at the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre (RKMVCC) at Quinton Road on the morning of May 28.
Modi will address the youths at 7:20 AM at the historic Quinton Memorial Hall of RKMVCC now known as Vivekananda Hall, where Swami Vivekananda gave a momentous speech during his only visit to Shillong in 1901.
The public speech on that occasion was organized by his admirer and Chief Commissioner of Assam Province, Henry John Stedman Cotton (1896 to 1902).
The Prime Minister will offer floral tribute at the life size statue of Swami Vivekananda amidst holy chanting by monks of Ramakrishna Mission.
Others who are slated to speak on the occasion include Governor V. Shanmuganathan and Union DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, besides Swami Achyuteshananda and Swami Anuragananda, Secretaries of Ramakrishna Mission Shillong and Cherrapunjee, respectively.
The Prime Minister along with the visiting delegation will also offer obeisance at the shrine of the ‘Holy Trio’ at RKMVCC and take a round of Employability Training Centre.
Meanwhile, on the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit and also in view of the NEC meet, the traffic personnel were seen on Thursday managing traffic to ensure that the movement of VIP vehicles throughout the day do not cause inconvenience to the commuters.
No schools were given holiday as was speculated during the day and rather those schools close to the area through which the PM’s entourage will pass through, has asked their parents and guardians to send their wards without causing any inconvenience.
Some parents and guardians have observed that they are reluctant to send their wards since the visit of former Vice President Hamid Ansari to the city in the past is still fresh in their minds when their wards reached home late in the evening.
