Noida is not jinxed, says PM Modi, praises Yogi Adityanath for rising above superstition

The Prime Minister rubbished the superstition that Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers have lost their seat whenever they visited Noida.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on his arrival at Botanical Garden in Noida. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on his arrival at Botanical Garden in Noida. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 12.64-km Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in tow.

The Magenta Line, connecting Noida to South Delhi, will be the first corridor of the Delhi Metro to use driverless trains. It will also be the first to use Communication Based Train Control signalling technology that will bring down waiting time to 90-100 seconds.

One thing that drew attention at the inauguration was the presence of Yogi in Noida alongside the Prime Minister. This is because a myth has been in play for decades that any Chief Minister who visits Noida does not return to power for a consecutive term.

Modi made it a point to praise Adityanath for not heeding the so-called Noida ‘jinx’.

“I am very happy. People say Yogiji is not modern enough because of the clothes he wears. But it is Yogiji who has done what Uttar Pradesh CMs never do — he has come to Noida. Faith is important but blind faith is not desirable,” he said at a public gathering in Noida.​

The Prime Minister, who took a ride from Botanical Garden to Okhla Bird Sanctuary, appealed to people to use public transport more. Apart from Yogi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Union Culture Minister and Noida MP Mahesh Sharma were present at the launch.Adityanath too addressed the gathering in Noida.

“Modiji is always telling us one thing -- we have to move ahead on the path of development. We should ensure no citizen is unhappy. There is no question of discriminating against anyone.”

The Aam Aadmi Party, however, alleged that not inviting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the launch was “cheap politics” on the part of the organisers.

“Not calling the Delhi Chief Minister for the inauguration of the Delhi metro is an insult to the people of Delhi. There’s only one reason for doing that — they are afraid that Kejriwal will ask the Prime Minister to cut Metro fares,” claimed deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

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