On Saturday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot. During his visit, he announced that AIIMS Rajkot has become self-sufficient in virus detection. This is a significant achievement, as the institute previously relied on the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for this purpose. Nadda emphasized that this progress aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing high-end healthcare facilities to the general public.
In his words, “Earlier, this institute (AIIMS Rajkot) was dependent on NIV (National Institute of Virology) Pune for virus detection, now it is self-sufficient for virus detection. PM Modi envisioned providing tertiary (higher-end) healthcare facilities to the common people.”
Growth of AIIMS Under PM Modi
Nadda also highlighted the growth of AIIMS across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He pointed out that during the Congress rule from 1960 to 1998, only one AIIMS was established. However, since PM Modi took office, the number of AIIMS institutes has grown significantly.
He noted, “During Congress’ rule from 1960 to 1998, only 1 AIIMS was established. Under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 6 AIIMS were established. Then in the 10 years of UPA’s leadership of UPA, only 1 AIIMS was established. Now, in PM Modi’s leadership, India has 22 AIIMS, out of which 18 are operational.”
Participation in ‘Tiranga Yatra’
Earlier in the day, JP Nadda, along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, flagged off the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Rajkot. The ‘Tiranga Yatra’ is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) broader ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, which encourages citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes, shops, and offices. This campaign is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which celebrates 75 years of India’s independence.
Addressing the public during the Yatra, Nadda reflected on the freedom movement and Gujarat’s significant role in it. He remarked, “Today as we set out on ‘Tiranga Yatra’ and see ‘Tiranga’ all around us, the period of freedom also comes to mind. The state (Gujarat) has played a big role in the independence movement of our nation.”
Honoring Freedom Fighters
Nadda also paid tribute to key figures in India’s struggle for independence, particularly Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He stated, “The nation can never forget the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi who played a big role in achieving independence. It is our pleasure that Mahatma Gandhi’s connection was also with the land of this state.”
He further added, “We also cannot forget the contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who played a big role in uniting the princely states with India.”
PM Modi’s Connection to Gujarat
Finally, Nadda highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s strong connection to Gujarat, saying, “It is our pleasure that PM Modi’s connection was also with the land of Gujarat, who has taken a resolve to make Viksit Bharat.”
The BJP’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, as part of the Independence Day celebrations, encourages everyone to take pride in the national flag and actively participate in the country’s ongoing journey toward progress and unity.
