Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Punjab on February 1, 2026, to mark Sant Ravidas Jayanti and inaugurate key aviation projects in the state. During the visit, he renamed Adampur Airport in Jalandhar as Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport, honoring the 15th-century Bhakti saint known for his teachings on equality, compassion, and social justice. The renaming fulfills long-standing demands from community leaders and political groups and coincides with the saint’s 649th birth anniversary.
Modi also inaugurated the civil terminal at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana, which is part of an Indian Air Force base. The new terminal is designed to handle larger aircraft and boost regional connectivity, facilitating easier travel for passengers and supporting economic growth in northern India. Officials highlighted that this terminal will enhance both domestic and potential international air links for the region.
After the airport ceremonies, the Prime Minister visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar, the headquarters of the Ravidassia community. At the dera, he paid respects to the saint and spoke about the government’s efforts to uphold Sant Ravidas’s ideals, including social inclusion, equality, and empowerment of marginalized communities. He linked these principles to broader development goals, emphasizing his administration’s focus on a “Viksit Bharat” or developed India.
The visit drew mixed reactions. While many praised it as a symbolic recognition of the Ravidassia community and an effort to improve state infrastructure, some opposition leaders described it as largely ceremonial, noting that concrete measures addressing Punjab’s economic and agricultural challenges were limited.
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