PM Modi says UPA roadblocks delayed Gujarat semiconductor project by over two decades

Gandhinagar: Taking a subtle dig at the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that while he had formulated a plan to set up a semiconductor plant in Gujarat more than two decades ago, it could not materialise because of the Centre's lack of support at the time.

Modi was inaugurating the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility at Sanand in Gujarat. Addressing the gathering, he said that the occasion brings a special sense of joy to him.

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"The reason is that twenty years ago or perhaps even earlier, I had formulated a plan to set up a semiconductor plant in Gujarat. At that time, the Government of India was making grand announcements, so companies would come for discussions. But I do not know what happened to the government then. It was as if its feet were shackled, and the matter did not progress," he added.

"Today, when I see this happening, realising a dream I had 22 years ago, at a time when no one in the country discussed these issues and the media used to mock me for doing so, I feel an immense sense of happiness deep within," he said.

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This is the third semiconductor plant inaugurated by the PM in Sanand. Modi said that India is building the entire electronics value chain from products and components to semiconductors which is the country's roadmap to 'Viksit Bharat'.

Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that India has entered a new era in the semiconductor sector. He added that of the 12 semiconductor projects approved, three have already begun commercial production.