"Hawai chappal-wearing common citizens should be able to travel in Hawai Jahaj", says Modi

"Hawai Chappal-wearing common citizens should be able to travel in Hawai Jahaj. I am seeing it happening," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he highlighted that India's aviation market is growing rapidly. Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating the Shivamogga airport, he said in the coming days India will need thousands of aircraft, and the days of Made-in-India passenger aircraft are not far.

Modi also took a dig at the Congress, saying before 2014 during the Congress regime, Air-India was generally discussed in a negative light and its identity had always been associated with scams where it was deemed a loss-making business model.

Highlighting the Air-India of today, the Prime Minister said that it is recognised as the potential of the new India where it is soaring to the heights of success.


The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth more than Rs 3,600 crore here.

The inauguration of the airport coincided with the 80th birthday of Karnataka BJP strongman and four-time Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who hails from Shivamogga district.

Modi asked people to switch on the flashlights of their mobile phones to commemorate Yediyurappa's birthday.

Karnataka has made up its mind to repeatedly give the opportunity to "double engine" government, he said.

This is Modi's fifth visit this year to the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.

The Prime Minister recalled Yediyurappa's contribution to public life. He said his recent speech in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly is an inspiration for everyone in public life.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the airport in Shivamogga is being inaugurated at a time when the enthusiasm for air travel is at an all-time high in India.

Elaborating upon the policies of the government that have led to an unprecedented expansion of the aviation sector, Modi said unlike the approach of previous governments, the current government pushed for airports in smaller cities. Till 2014, the country had 74 airports in the first seven decades of independence whereas in the last nine years, 74 more airports have been added, connecting many smaller cities.