PM Modi Takes 'Naraz Fufa' Dig at Critics, Flags Off Key Freight Corridor Sections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation for development projects worth Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat. Speaking at the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' programme, he used the folksy term "Naraz Fufa" (angry uncle) to target those questioning his government's development record.

Without naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the PM also took a swipe at his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' youth outreach initiative, suggesting that youngsters would not be misled by what he called the "echo of lies."

A key highlight of the event was the inauguration of three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, marking the completion of the 2,800-km project that connects Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai with Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. Modi described the corridor as a "historic achievement for the 21st century" and a testament to the transformation in the country's work culture over the past 12 years.

He contrasted the current pace of work with the previous Congress-led regime, noting that while the idea for the corridor was conceived in 2004 and a company was set up in 2006, files merely "shuffled" until 2014. He also pointed to the scale of modern manufacturing, stating that India has built around 50,000 modern rail coaches since 2014, a period in which the previous government could not build even 50,000 toilets.

Modi highlighted the operational benefits of the new freight network, noting that a 100-km journey that once took 6.5 hours for a freight train can now be covered in less than half the time. He added that over 430 freight trains operate daily on the Eastern and Western corridors, which he called the backbone of the country's trade. The PM also mentioned that a double-stack container train recently moved cargo equivalent to that carried by over 250 trucks in a single trip.

Addressing the largely Gen Z audience, Modi spoke about the future economy, urging youth to become experts in artificial intelligence. He said India was preparing the ecosystem needed to become a global superpower in AI and was signing international agreements on critical minerals. He also noted that India's solar PV module manufacturing capacity has exceeded 200 gigawatts, and that 55 lakh families have installed rooftop solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

The Prime Minister flagged off freight services from several new stations and a passenger train between Tanda Road and Vadodara. He said the freight corridors were helping farmers transport perishable goods faster and bringing rail connectivity to tribal areas in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.