Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 interacted with students on board the Vande Bharat in Varanasi during which the students expressed excitement over the launch of the train. Later, they shared what the Prime Minister discussed with them. One student said, “This is my first time travelling on the Vande Bharat. I feel very happy and proud to be sitting on this train. I want to thank my teachers and the Railway Minister for giving us this opportunity. PM Modi talked to me about how we can contribute to keeping Varanasi clean and help in building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
Another student said, “PM Modi saw my painting and asked about its theme. I told him my inspiration was ISRO and DRDO and the way our country is progressing. PM Modi also advised us to focus on cleanliness.” A third student shared, “PM Modi asked how I was selected among other students. I told him I was chosen through an essay competition, and my essay was on Viksit Banaras.”
Another student said, “PM Modi listened to my poem.” One more student added, “I feel really good to be here. It feels like I’m on an airplane. Interacting with PM Modi was a wonderful experience.” Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi and said that infrastructure has played a significant role in the development of nations. While addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, “I have seen how incredibly you celebrated Dev Deepawali. Today is also an auspicious day. Infrastructure has played a great role in the development of countries. Consider a place where there is no railway station — once it is built, development begins naturally. Think about a region where there is no road; when a road is constructed, farmers can take their produce to markets, and progress starts. Infrastructure is not only about bridges or buildings — wherever such developments happen, growth follows.”
