Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s family members were among the thousands who gathered in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday to witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grand roadshow.
Colonel Qureshi, one of the two women officers who spearheaded media briefings for Operation Sindoor, had her parents, Taj Mohammad and Halima Qureshi, present at the event alongside her brother Sanjay Qureshi and twin sister Shyna Sunsara.
The family walked along with the jubilant crowd on the route from Harni Airport to welcome the Prime Minister's arrival with energetic cultural shows and nationalistic enthusiasm.
Following the event, Shyna Sunsara said she felt proud when talking to the media: "We felt good meeting PM Modi. It is a matter of great honour to meet him. When he held the roadshow, it was a moment of pride. He has done a lot for women's empowerment. It was a different kind of happiness."
Smiling down the lane about their relationship, she further said, "Colonel Sofia Qureshi is my twin sister. She is 15 minutes senior to me. When your sister accomplishes something for the country, it motivates not just me but other people as well. She is no longer my sister but also the country's sister."
Prime Minister Modi was given a rousing welcome in his native state, and people flocked the roads, waved flags, and raised slogans like "Bharat Mata ki Jai", "Modi-Modi", and "Vande Mataram". The roadshow organized under the aegis of the 'Sindoor Samman Yatra' became a show of patriotism and national pride, and floral offerings were showered upon the Prime Minister.
Conveying his gratitude for the spirited response, PM Modi tweeted on X: "Thank you Vadodara! Very happy to be in this grand city. It was a great roadshow and that too in the morning! Thankfulness to all those who showered blessings."
Many in the crowd dressed in outfits honouring India’s Armed Forces and the Prime Minister’s leadership during Operation Sindoor. This visit was PM Modi’s first to Gujarat following India’s recent targeted strikes on terror strongholds in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
As PM Modi waved to the awaiting citizens, loud voices could be heard shouting, "We have won." Many of the attendees captured the historic moment on their phones and took photos and videos to mark the occasion.
Welcome among the awaiting crowd were the African community, carrying placards that read, "Peace was attacked: India roared back with justice" and "India's courage is the light that ends the evil of terrorism."
The Prime Minister's visit also sees the launching and foundation laying of several development projects, worth a total of Rs 82,000 crore, to reform infrastructure and enhance growth in the state.
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