CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a stopover at Chennai en route Sriharikota, where he is to witness the launch of PSLV-C23 on Monday morning. Modi was received by Governor K Rosaiah and Tami Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, with whom he conversed in the VIP lounge of the Chennai Airport.
Modi landed in Chennai past 6 pm, and spoke with Jayalalithaa and Rosaiah before departing for Sriharikota by helicopter. Also present were Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Pon Radhakrishnan. This is the first time Modi has landed, transit or otherwise, at the Chennai Airport since he took the country’s top executive office.
Modi also met with NDA ally and MDMK chief Vaiko, and exchanged a few words with him before leaving for Sriharikota, where he was received by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan.
Modi is set to witness the launch, the first since he took over as Prime Minister, reportedly on the invitation of ISRO chief Radhakrishnan. After viewing it from the gallery at the Command Centre, he is likely to make a speech, which could be an affirmation of the government’s commitment to the space agency’s direction.