Narendra Modi in Champaran highlights: Our govt has stopped the culture of suppressing files, says PM

We will launch a Gram Swaraj Abhiyan from April 14. We should see that the message of hygiene reaches all sections and every person in the society. It has been revealed in studies that the children of 'open-defecation free' villages are leading a healthy life, says PM. We should make India a clean country in order to realise the idea of a 'New India' by 2022, says PM. 

About 26 lakh toilets have been constructed in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir in the past week, which has been observed as Swachhagraha week. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has changed the life of crores of women in the country. By building a toilet, a woman has found respect and safety and health parameters have also shown a marked increase. Even toilets in Bihar are being called 'izzazat ghar', says Modi.

Speaking of the high-speed electric locomotive, Modi says the project was approved as far back as 2007. 'The files gathered dust for eight years after clearance. Three years ago, the NDA government started working on it and the first phase has also been completed,' says PM, in an apparent dig at the RJD government. "Our government has stopped the culture of suppressing files," says Modi.

The demand for cylinders has also risen because of the emphasis on clean fuel and the success of the Ujjwala scheme. Champaran and the surrounding region will not face any shortage of LPG cylinders with the launch of Motihari and Sugauli projects today. 

I encourage your enthusiasm, excitement, energy towards nation building. I bow to the desire of the people of Bihar. I am glad that the people of Bihar have once again shown the spirit of oneness for the Swachhta campaign, says Modi. Thousands have gathered here under the slogan of 'Chalo Champaran', says PM.

"I salute the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi present inside every individual today. Those who say that history does not repeat itself, can come here and see this picture of mass movement," says Modi. The PM says Bihar has shown the most improvement in Swachh Bharat Mission. "Bihar has built about eight lakh toilets in the past year and will soon catch up with the national average," says Modi.   

PM Narendra Modi begins his speech. The PM says we are taking forward Mahatma Gandhi's ideals through the Swachhagraha movement. "Under the leadership of Gandhi, the Satyagraha movement gave a new lease of life to many individuals. Swachhagraha is also changing people's lives," says Modi.

PM Narendra Modi is now felicitating the Swachhagrahis (ambassadors of cleanliness movement) with a shawl and Rs 51,000 cash award. The people have undertaken cleanliness drives in their respective localities.

Along with PM Modi, Union Water Minister Uma Bharti, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi are also present. Speaking at the ceremony Nitish Kumar lauded the Swachh Bharat mission and spoke of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement. Sanjhauli in Bihar’s Rohtas district was named the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) block in the state under the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Gandhi Maidan at Motihari, where he will address around 20,000 Swachhagrahis (ambassadors of cleanliness movement) – 10,000 from Bihar and the rest from other states. The PM's visit is a part of the concluding celebrations of Champaran Satyagraha centenary launched by the Bihar government in April last year. You can watch PM's speech here.

#ChaloChamparan LIVE ?:PM @narendramodi at concluding ceremony of 100 years of #ChamparanSatyagraha in Bihar https://t.co/GZlLNYH5jM

— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 10, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Bihar's Motihari. He will address the "Satyagraha se Swachhagrah" event shortly.

Meanwhile, the Bharat Bandh call against caste-based reservations in jobs and education is gaining traction in Bihar. Protesters have stopped a train in Arrah district and there were clashes between two groups. Gunshots were also heard from the site. Curfew has been imposed in Bhind and Morena.

According to police officials, Modi reached Patna in an Indian Air Force aircraft and is travelling to Motihari by helicopter. The Prime Minister is slated to address 20,000 'Swachhagrahis' (cleanliness ambassadors). Swachhagrahis are the 'foot soldiers' and motivators to implement the Community Approaches to Sanitation at the village level.

PM Narendra Modi arrives in Bihar and is received by Governor Satyapal Malik and CM Nitish Kumar. He will lay the foundation stone for various projects in the state and speak at a Swacch Bharat Abhiyan event.

Patna: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Bihar, he will lay foundation stone for various projects in the state and speak at a Swacch Bharat Abhiyan event. He was received upon arrival by Governor Satyapal Malik and CM Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/y3MC7kw0Hc

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2018

While there is no official meeting between PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar scheduled for today, the JD(U) has said that it wanted the PM to announce granting of special category status to Bihar during his visit. "Modi should grant special status to Bihar as promised during his visit," a JD(U) leader told media on Monday. Following TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's hue and cry for special status, Nitish Kumar last month said he had not given up a similar demand for Bihar "for even one second" since he first raised it in 2005. Last week, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said Kumar should follow Naidu and walk out of the NDA if special status was not granted.

PM Modi is also likely to flag off a new bi-weekly train – Humsafar Express – connecting Katihar to New Delhi. He will also launch the electrification work on the Motihari-Muzaffarpur rail line and the doubling of Muzaffarpur-Narkatiyaganj railway track. In an interesting development, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has been going around the Railway Ministry with a rather unusual request. Pal, it turns out, has expressed his desire to “flag off” the Humsafar Express when it passes through his constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The train will reach a station in his area at 5 am and Pal apparently doesn’t mind doing it at that time. Seeing his enthusiasm, railway authorities are learnt to have assented to his request.

Welcome to our live blog on PM Modi's visit to Bihar today. The PM has a hectic schedule in Bihar, where he will first take part in the concluding ceremony of the Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations at Motihari. Titled "Satyagrah se Swachhagrah" campaign, the PM will address about 20,000 'Swacchagrahis' or cleanliness ambassadors, who have been camping in the area since Sunday. A sprawling tent-city, named 'Swachhagram', has been set up to accommodate the volunteers. Mahatma Gandhi had set off on his Champaran satyagraha in 1917 in protest against atrocities on Indigo planters.