Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy in Mumbai. Hailing the contribution of Bohra Muslim Community to social welfare programs, PM Modi said their roles were crucial to fight malnutrition and water issues in Gujarat.
He recalled the decades-old bond he shared with the Dawoodi Bohra community.
“l am here as a family member, not as prime minister,” Modi said after inaugurating the fourth campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy, premier educational institute of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
He said visiting the campus is like visiting his own family, and spoke about his bond with the community. The Bohra community has stood the test of transforming with the times, he said.
“I worked with them for water conservation and anti-malnutrition schemes in Gujarat when he was chief minister of the state,” he recalled. “I respect your commitment to education,” he added.
Earlier, PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Friday. The Prime Minister first inaugurated CSMT-Solapur Vande Bharat Express followed by the second semi-high-speed train linking the financial capital to Sainagar Shirdi.
He also inaugurated other development projects in Mumbai in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
While addressing the inaugural event in Mumbai, PM Modi said It was a historical day for Maharashtra and the first time a state got two Vande Bharat trains.
“Vande Bharat train is a magnificent picture of today’s modern India. It’s a reflection of India’s speed & scale. You can see the speed with which the country is launching Vande Bharat. 10 trains are launched so far,” he added.
Besides, the Prime Minister launched a new campus of an educational institute of the Dawoodi Bohra community as well as two elevated road corridors and a vehicular underpass during his visit to the metropolis.