Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, on his one-day maiden visit to Himachal Pradesh, inaugurated three hydro-electric projects and lauded the Indian Army for showing valor and successfully conducting surgical strikes on terrorists launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

PM Modi, while comparing the Army with the vaunted Israeli forces, said that everyone now is talking about the Indian Army. PM said, “Everyone is talking about our Army, we used to hear about similar feats of Israel. But now everyone knows the Indian Army is no less.”

The Prime Minister was addressing a rally in Mandi, in the Congress-ruled Himacha Pradesh, which is going for polls next year.

PM also lauded his government for implementing One Rank One Pension (OROP) for retired servicemen, whose families, according to him, now ‘bless’ him for it. PM said, “One Rank One Pension was hanging for 40 years, and it is our government which completed that work. Not only soldiers but their families bless me. We have released Rs 5,500 crore and promise to deliver the remainder soon.”

Modi said that Himachal Pradesh is not just a Devbhoomi (God’s land) but also a Veerbhoomi (Land of brave) and said that every home in Himachal Pradesh has given a soldier to serve the country. He said, “Today in this Veerbhoomi I can say that this right of yours has been given.”

PM Modi also inaugurated three hydro-electric projects with the generating capacity of 1,732 MW.

In a Statement, state owned BHEL said, “All the three power projects - Koldam HEP (4x200 MW) of NTPC, Parbati HEP Stage-III (4x130 MW) of NHPC and Rampur HEP (6x68.67 MW) of SJVN -are equipped with generating equipment supplied and commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).”

By Prajakt K.