BANDA: "Banda looks like Delhi when one sees wide and clean roads," said Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath while praising the improved infrastructure of the Bundelkhand city as he inaugurated two tall statues of Maharana Pratap of Mewar and Maharaja Khet Singh Khangar of Khangar dynasty at separate chowks here on Friday.
After inaugurating the statue of Maharana Pratap, Yogi addressed a large gathering and said, "Roads in Bundelkhand have now been widened and that is allowing people to travel smoothly and faster. Travel time for long distances has now reduced due to better roads."
He said Bundelkhand is now really on the way to become a paradise of Uttar Pradesh. Significantly, PM Narendra Modi had last year only inaugurated the 296-km-long Bundelkhand expressway built at a cost of Rs 14,856 crore that connected Banda and several major cities of the southern UP region to arterial roads connecting Delhi and Noida. The eway has now turned into the lifeline of Bundelkhand.
Recalling the freedom struggle and bravery of Maharana Pratap, Yogi said, "When Maharana Pratap ji got the throne at the age of 28 after the passing away of his father, he had neither Chittorgarh nor Mewar. At that time, Akbar had captured both his kingdoms. At the young age of 36, he started his battle and by the time he turned 40, he won back Mewar and later Chittorgarh and gave a tough fight to Akbar."
The CM also recalled the sacrifices of other great leaders like Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh and Rani Ki Jhansi and their love for the motherland.
At the unveiling of the statue of Maharaja Khet Singh Khangar Judev ji installed at Baberu Gureh bypass intersection, the CM said, “You all are fortunate that in the 12th century when this country was facing foreign invaders, a young man named Khet Singh Khangar became an ally of Prithviraj Chauhan from the land of Junagadh. Along with Prithviraj, Khangar showed his courage and bravery. He said the “nation is paramount and we should be proud of Prithviraj Singh Chauhan, Khet Singh Khangar, Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji who inspired us”.
Cabinet minister Swatantra Dev Singh and UP minister of state for Jal Shakti department, Ramkesh Nishad, Chitrakoot & Banda MP R K Singh Patel, Hamirpur-Mahoba MP Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Banda district BJP president Sanjay Singh also addressed a large gathering of public representatives and residents of the district. On this occasion, Banda DM Deepa Ranjan and SP Abhinandan received the CM at the event.
