No Privatisation of Railways, Says PM Modi in Varanasi

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in his Lok Sabha constituency today, where he paid floral tributes to Madan Mohan Malaviya's statue and visited the Assi Ghat.

Mr Modi flagged off the WDP4D locomotive at Diesel Locomotives Work (DLW) in the presence of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, and addressed a gathering. Here is what he said:

• "I have a deep connection with the Railways. My life is what it is because of Railways."
  
• "For progress, we need to focus on our own capabilities."
  
• "We have asked the youth to 'Make in India'."
• "Our defence requirements need to be met in India."
  
• "I am told that the 96 per cent of the components used in the engine that has been made here have been manufactured here by you. The question is, how can we make even the remaining four per cent?"
• "Since becoming PM, most of the time I end up talking about Railways."
• "We have to take the railways ahead and through the Railways we have to take the Nation ahead."
  
• "We want to set up four railway universities to boost the capabilities of the Railways."
• "The finances that should have gone into building roads and hospitals for the poor were pumped into the Railways to keep it afloat."
• "What we want to do is to put more money for development of Railways in such a way that the people are benefitted and you are also benefitted."
• <b>"We will not privatise the Railways."</b>
• "Our development approach is to bring the world's wealth and put it in Railways, take it forward and take progress forward."
• "We don't see Railways only as a means to travel. We see it as the backbone of India's development."
• "If we use the Railway properly, we can bring development to our villages. There is always electricity near a Railway line. Even if there is one train that stops there, a station exists."
• "All we need to do is build two or three extra rooms at Railway stations and use them for skill development and to train our youth."
• "Whatever development has taken place since Independence, you will see more development than that in the coming days."

He earlier took part in a function at Banaras Hindu University's Swatantrata Bhawan. Here is what he said during a speech there:

• "This is a century of knowledge. And India has a huge role to play."
• "Our education apparatus can't be one that produces robots. There has to be overall personality development."
  
• "Whether it is science or technology, the vibrant mind of a young student is very important."
• "In this land of the Ganga, there was education of culture. But, more importantly, there was a culture of education.
• "People always thank their mother and teacher for their achievements."
• "Today, what the world needs are good teachers."
• "Good education is linked with good teachers. We need to think how we can have good teachers."
• "We need to think how we can create an environment where children want to become good teachers."
• "A student who wants to become a teacher will not study just for exams but will closely observe the teachers and get inspired."
• "If we can train such people, we can give good teachers to the world: PM Modi in Varanasi."
• "Our culture is our strength, be it our songs, dance or art. These are very precious."
• "Good governance is key to a nation's development."
• "Every school can develop a mastery on any one aspect of Varanasi and this can be a great way to showcase Kashi."
• "A tourist will come here drawn to the beautiful past but he or she will stay when we create systems that make them stay here."
• "After my experience of six months I can say the world is looking at India."

Earlier, the Prime Minister spoke at Assi Ghat. Here are the highlights of what he said there:

• PM Modi thanks those involved in the cleaning up of the Assi Ghat.
• "When I had come here in November, we had promised to clean this place up. The civic body and the government have taken this programme seriously. We can see the difference. The (Assi) Ghat is looking cleaner."
• "People across the country have appreciated the Swachh Bharat campaign.
• "I am going to nominate more people to the Swach Bharat campaign, both organisations and personalities, like Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, Dr Kiran Bedi, Sonal Mansingh, Kapil Sharma, Saurav Ganguly, Aroon Purie, Ramoji Rao, the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI) and Mumbai's dabbawalas."
  
• "Today is December 25. I convey my Christmas greetings to everyone."
• "Today is the birthday of 'Mahamana' Madan Mohan Malaviya and of Atal Bihari Vajpayiji. I pay my respects to them."
• "My heartiest congratulations to Atalji on his birthday."