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INFRASTRUCTURE

himself to be aggressively vocal in
attacking Modi personally as well as Rohtang Tunnel
on his style of functioning, like the
dishing out ‘jumlas’ and acronyms
like ‘reform, perform & transform,’
the Congress President has taken on in the waiting
the mother organization RSS with
blistering attacks at its very nature
on outside soil. Rafale scam is being
positioned as its nemesis. Recently
Kerala floods have pitched centre
against the state over humanitarian
assistance for the flood ravaged peo-
ple. Rajasthan Congress is claiming
of bogus voter list numbering into
thousands. TMC, TDP, BSP, SP, CPI,
RJD and other satraps have closed
ranks to present a united coalition.
Crime like rapes and girl child abuse
have figures breaking all records
particularly in the northern belt.
Cow vigilante and moral policing
are on a free run. Lumpen elements
are bereft of fear of law. Eating and Economy is the • Growth key Modi’s victory in the 2019
dressing as a matter of personal polls is linked to the economic growth
choice is at all time risk. PM’s J&K biggest challenge
thrust and policy on Kashmir hav- chance to carry his work forward.
ing hit the rock Modi appeared on that PM Modi might His speeches all along have been
the backfoot as he exhorted Vajpai’s, face a backlash on. about his hard work, his life, his
‘Insaaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiri- vision for the country which he uses
yat.’ Finally the Prime Minister will Inflation is high, as influencers. It was a far more
have to answer for this. oil prices are going politically significant oratorial
Economy is the biggest challenge performance as some would call The Rohtang Tunnel project, laid by the then ruling UPA Chairperson
that Modi might face a backlash on. steeper by the day, it. A mix of political and personal. Sonia Gandhi, has missed several deadlines in the past. The tunnel is now expected
Inflation is high, oil prices are going job situation is tense Undoubtedly Modi is a master or
steeper by the day, job situation is symbols and oratory. to be opened in 2020, writes RAKESH ROCKY
tense and getting worse. If oil prices The template of his speech was
continue to rise, it will affect the ru- On the international stage US clearly Lok Sabha elections 2019 he Rohtang Tunnel, a stra- ing carried out by the Border Roads The foundation stone of the pro-
pee which will affect inflation. At the sanctions on Iran will affect India. which by all guesses may be just tegic project that will also Organisation (BRO), a wing of the ject was laid on June 28, 2010, by the
end Prime Minister Modi can only Trump leashed tariff war between about 4 months away. provide all-weather road Defence Ministry, in collaboration then ruling United Progressive Alli-
win election on the state of the econ- US & China will hurt India badly too. Will the people buy what the connectivity to Lahaul with Afcons, a joint venture with ance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gan-
omy. Challenges are clear-growth is master orator is saying? T Spiti Valley — known as Strabag AG. dhi in Solang Valley, however, due to
sliding, rupee is in problem, banks The template His task is more challenging this cold desert — is not likely to meet its The first deadline fixed for difficult climatic reasons and tough
are in serious trouble. Add to this the Words apart, how much have the time. But he seems convinced that deadline. According to the informa- the completion of the tunnel geographical conditions, the tunnel
Nirav Modi and Mehul Chauksi scam promises made in the last 4 years he’s going to come back in power. tion gathered by the Tehelka, there is was 2015, however, it was de - project missed several deadlines.
of debt and defaulting that has taken translated on ground is a conten- Ending his speech with poetry all possibility that it will be delayed layed due to geological challeng- Once the tunnel is completed, this
a toll on the much publicized clean tious matter. The Prime Minister’s was a first too. Was Prime Minister by a year. Earlier, the deadline for the es it battled since 2010 when its route has the capacity to ply 3,000
image of the system under Modi. speech was designed to address anti- Modi trying to reposition himself completion of this tunnel was fixed construction began. The tunnel vehicles per day under any weather
Farmer agitation and the disen- incumbency, to be back to being the as a softer, more inclusive leader? for 2019. The conceptual plan of Roh- across the Pir Panjal range of the condition.
chantment in the farmer communi- change agent. Starting with placing himself as tang tunnel first figured in 1983 but Himalayas, that will measure 8.802 Local MLA and Transport Minis-
ties is only simmering. Prime Minis- Modi’s speech was a clarion call. futuristic, he said that his goal work on the ground was only started km once completed, will connect ter in the state government Govind
ter’s promise of 50% increase in MSP A call that said he is restless, he is (manzil) was to finish what he had in 2010 and it was stipulated to be Manali to Lahaul and Spiti Valley Singh Thakur appreciated the work
is not really on ground and there is impatient, he is anxious to move promised. completed by 2015 earlier. throughout the year and will reduce done by the BRO. He said that people
not much that his rhetoric will be forward, were pointers of his ambi- The construction of the ambi- the length of the Leh-Manali High- are eagerly awaiting the opening of
able to do now. tion to be there asking for another LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM tious Rohtang Tunnel project is be- way by about 46 km. the tunnel and road. ‘’This will re-

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28-30 Priti Prakash.indd 4 9/1/2018 3:25:40 PM 31-33 Rakesh Rocky.indd 3 9/1/2018 3:26:08 PM