Want to see 'Hawai Chappals' in 'Hawai Jahaz': PM Modi

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India] Apr 27 (ANI): In a bid to boost air travel between smaller cities by making flights far more affordable for "tier 2" and smaller towns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he wants to see people who wear hawai chappal (flip flops) in a hawai jahaz (airplane). Prime Minister Modi was addressing a public rally at Ridge Maidan here after flagging off three UDAN flights on Shimla-Delhi route. He said those who have looted poor will have to return to them. "Our government has brought down stent prices considerably. This benefits poor the most," he added. "We want our youth to get jobs, children must have access to good education, elderly must get affordable healthcare," he said, adding that "it is a delight that several households in the rural areas have been benefitted through the Ujjwala Yojana". Sounding the poll bugle for next assembly elections in the state, Prime Minister Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) wave is entering Himachal Pradesh. "Time has changed. Now wave from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi is entering Himachal Pradesh," said Prime Minister Modi. Taking a dig at Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's links with the disproportionate assets case, the Prime Minister said, "Probably no Indian Chief Minister has spent so much time with lawyers." The assembly elections in the state are to be held in late 2017 as the term of current assembly ends on 7 January 2018. Himachal Pradesh has 68 seats. Highlighting his government's work, the Prime Minister said "Our sole aim is farmer welfare. Our Government has brought the most comprehensive Fasal Bima Yojana for the farmers". "Our government is devoted to take the country to new heights. Today, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing nations," he added. Talking about the benefits of digital payments, Prime Minister Modi urged everyone to undertake less cash and encourage more digital transactions. "The BHIM App can transform the way we transact, said Prime Minister Modi, who launched the App on April 14 this year in Nagpur on the occasion of birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Aadhaar-linked Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app is based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). (ANI)