Modi Says ‘Truth Will Defeat Jhooth Ki Goonj’, Takes Fresh ‘Naraaz Phupa’ Jibe at Opposition

VADODARA, Sep 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India was rapidly strengthening its infrastructure to accelerate the movement of people and goods, create new economic opportunities and drive economic growth, as he inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Addressing a large public programme titled “NaMo for Viksit Bharat” at the Maharaja Sayajirao University Pavilion Ground, Modi said the government’s infrastructure push was aimed at laying the foundations for a developed India.

“We are strengthening India’s infrastructure to move people and goods faster, create new opportunities and power economic growth,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the importance of modern transport networks in supporting manufacturing, trade and investment.

A key highlight of the programme was the commissioning and dedication of three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

Describing dedicated freight corridors as crucial to India’s economic expansion, Modi said, “The Dedicated Freight Corridor is the lifeline of a rapidly developing India.”

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor is intended to enable faster and more efficient movement of freight between major industrial and commercial centres, reduce pressure on conventional railway routes and improve logistics efficiency. It is also expected to strengthen connectivity with ports and facilitate the movement of industrial goods across western and northern India.

Linking infrastructure development with India’s manufacturing ambitions, Modi said the country was entering a new phase of industrial growth.

“From chips to ships, India is now building a new manufacturing future,” he said, underlining the government’s focus on domestic production, supply chains and strategic manufacturing capabilities.

Alongside the freight corridor projects, the Prime Minister launched, dedicated and laid the foundation stones for several railway, highway and tribal connectivity projects aimed at improving regional connectivity, strengthening logistics networks and creating new opportunities for economic activity and employment.

The Vadodara event also provided Modi an opportunity to launch a sharp political attack on the Opposition.

Taking a swipe at those whom he said were unable to acknowledge India’s progress, the Prime Minister revived his “naraaz phupa” (angry uncle) jibe, suggesting that some political opponents remained dissatisfied despite the country’s achievements.

He said some Opposition leaders appeared incapable of celebrating India’s development and continued to “crib” about virtually everything. Drawing on the image of an unhappy relative at a family gathering, Modi said the Opposition was behaving like a “naraaz phupa” who remained upset even when others were celebrating progress.

The Prime Minister also criticised what he described as attempts to create an “echo of lies” around India’s achievements.

“Youth’s truth will defeat jhooth ki goonj,” Modi said, asserting that young Indians would ultimately distinguish between facts and misinformation.

“Jhooth ki goonj can’t mislead youth,” he said, adding that “truth will triumph”.

Modi said the younger generation would not be misled by repeated claims that India’s development was fabricated or exaggerated.

The emphasis on youth was central to the Vadodara programme, which was billed as a major outreach to Gen Z and students. The event witnessed a large turnout of students, young people and citizens.

Modi has repeatedly projected young Indians as key drivers of the country’s ambition to become a developed economy, while stressing the need for modern infrastructure, manufacturing capacity and employment opportunities.

The projects unveiled in Vadodara form part of the Centre’s broader push to expand multimodal connectivity and improve the efficiency of freight and passenger movement.

Dedicated freight infrastructure is particularly important for an economy seeking to expand manufacturing and exports, as faster movement of raw materials and finished products can help reduce logistics costs and improve the competitiveness of Indian industry.

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, in this context, is a major component of India’s freight infrastructure network. Its integration with highways, railway links and ports is expected to facilitate smoother cargo movement and support industrial clusters along its route.

While development and infrastructure remained the central themes of the programme, Modi’s political messaging gave the event a sharper partisan edge, with his “naraaz phupa” reference and “jhooth ki goonj” remarks targeting the Opposition’s criticism of the government’s development narrative.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Mumbai after his Gujarat engagements, where he will inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026.