Key Points

Fadnavis, making an indirect reference to the tariffs levied by the Donald Trump administration and new H1B visa rules, stated that those countries that are challenging us are being given a strong response.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Fadnavis said, "Whenever India has been challenged, India has always responded. Even today, those countries that are challenging us are being given a strong response. Under PM Modi's leadership, we have developed pure indigenous technology. When connectivity reaches villages, only then we connect them with the world".

CM Fadnavis further said, "Today is a day of happiness, as BSNL is inaugurating 92,633 towers at the hands of the Prime Minister. Out of these, more than 900 are in Maharashtra alone. You know that Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had once said: 'If we want to develop India, communication will be very important.' For development, the roads leading to villages also need to be strengthened, because it is through roads that growth and facilities reach rural areas. Now it is necessary to take connectivity to villages. Only then will development and information reach there. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, 4G network will now reach every village".

The Chief Minister added that through connectivity, children can access quality education, health facilities can improve, and farmers can get information about crops and weather.

He said, "In Maharashtra too, we have made such arrangements where more than 100 government services are now available online. In the coming time, we are preparing a system in which if citizens need any government service, it will be available directly on their mobile phones".

"Citizens will even be able to track where their application file is, on which officer's table. This will create accountability for officers. If there is a delay in work, there will also be a system to impose fines on the officer. But to make all this possible, the backbone is connectivity. That is why, with today's launch of indigenous 4G, connectivity in villages will increase", Fadnavis added.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)'s 4G stack embodies the swadeshi spirit.

Responding to a post by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on X, PM Modi said: "Union Minister Scindia highlights how BSNL's 4G stack embodies the swadeshi spirit."

"With over 92,000 sites connecting 22 million Indians, it reflects India's journey from dependence to confidence, driving employment, exports, fiscal revival and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," the Prime Minister said.

In a landmark moment for Bharat's telecom sector, and celebrating 25 glorious years of BSNL, PM Modi inaugurated the country's fully indigenous 4G stack and more than 97,500 BSNL towers from Jharsuguda today. The BSNL towers are spread across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, Gujarat and Bihar.

- ANI