Prime Minister Narendra Modi combined celebration, youth engagement, and development initiatives during Sikkim’s 50th Statehood Day closing ceremony in Gangtok on April 27-28.
In a lively start to the celebrations, the Prime Minister joined local youngsters for a friendly football match on Tuesday morning before attending the main event at Paljor Stadium. Dressed in a blue sports jacket with the tricolour emblem, Modi played with the youths, dribbled the ball, exchanged passes, and scored a goal as spectators cheered.
Sharing photographs and videos from the session on X, Modi wrote, “Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!” He added, “We learnt, we played, we celebrated and above everything else, we enjoyed the game.”
The football session came ahead of the formal closing ceremony marking 50 years of Sikkim becoming India’s 22nd state in 1975. The event reflected the broader theme of “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Sikkim,” focusing on development, youth participation, and national integration.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Gangtok on April 27 and was welcomed by large crowds. He later held a roadshow through the city, greeting supporters gathered along the streets. The visit created a festive atmosphere across the Himalayan state ahead of the golden jubilee celebrations.
On April 28, before proceeding to Paljor Stadium, Modi spent time with young football players in what he described as an “energising” session. Images of the Prime Minister in track pants and football boots alongside local youths quickly circulated on social media.
At the main ceremony, Modi inaugurated, launched, and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore. The projects cover sectors including connectivity, healthcare, tourism, education, urban development, and power.
Among the major initiatives announced were road and railway infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity in the mountainous region. Healthcare projects included new Ayurveda and Sowa Rigpa hospitals that combine modern and traditional systems of medicine.
Tourism-related projects were also announced to strengthen Sikkim’s image as an eco-friendly destination. Education and urban development initiatives focused on youth skill development and sustainable growth.
Addressing the gathering, Modi spoke about Sikkim’s progress over the past five decades. He praised the state’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and hardworking people. He also said development in the state had accelerated under the current central leadership.
The Prime Minister highlighted upcoming railway connectivity projects for Sikkim and described them as a major step forward for the state. He said the projects were part of a larger vision for inclusive growth in the Northeast while keeping environmental concerns in mind due to Sikkim’s fragile ecology.
During the visit, Modi also toured the newly developed Orchidarium, also known as Swarnajayanti Maitri Manjari Park, which showcases Sikkim’s floral diversity and biodiversity. The project is aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and conservation.