Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Vijayawada:Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and education Minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s services to the nation for the last 25 years.

In a message on X, Kalyan highlighted the expansion of national highways and expressways, railway modernisation, broad-gauge electrification, and digital initiatives such as UPI, Digital India, Make in India, Startup India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He also referred to India’s defence preparedness and said the country had become the world’s fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP in the World Bank’s 2024 data.

Lokesh marked Modi’s birthday at his Undavalli residence by lighting an ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ (lamp of blessings), praying for his long life and “strength to lead India towards greater prosperity.” BJP MLC Somu Veerraju attended the programme.

Pawan Kalyan said the Centre’s support had been significant for Andhra Pradesh’s development, including Amaravati, Polavaram, the Visakhapatnam development corridor, the Bhogapuram International Airport, connectivity, industrial investments and energy projects.

Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar said Modi had ensured food security for 140 crore people. He credited the Centre with providing foodgrains free instead of at subsidised rates. Under Modi’s rule, payments to paddy farmers were being made within 24 hours and broken rice in PDS supplies had been reduced from 25 per cent to 10 per cent, he said.

Manohar announced that subsidised onions would be supplied across Andhra Pradesh at Rs 32 a kg from this week, while palm oil and red gram would also be provided at subsidised prices soon.

Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav participated in the ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ programmes in Vijayawada and inaugurated a medical camp at Gannavaram CHC as part of the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’.

The campaign, from September 17 to October 17, includes blood donation, tree plantation, cleanliness drives, health camps and service activities.

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