In Varanasi, PM Modi says he’s given a guarantee to turn India into economic power in his third term

The prime minister added that the people of Varanasi stood with him and made him strong.

Talking about how he regarded women, the youth, farmers and the poor as the “only four castes”, PM Modi said, “Desh ki nari shakti, yuva shakti, kisan aur har garib ka viskas hona bahut jaruri hain. Mere liye to yeh chaar jatiyan hi sabse bari jatiyan hain… Yeh chaar jatiyan shashakta ho gayi to pura desh sashakta ho jayega (Development of the country’s women, youth, farmers and the poor is very important. For me, these are the four caste… If these four castes become strong, the country will become strong),” he said in Varanasi, where he arrived on Sunday.

Listing his government’s projects and welfare schemes, Modi said that while the “Purvanchal region” was neglected for decades, “Modi apki sewa mein juta hua hai” (Modi is working in your service) “with the blessing of Mahdev”.

Earlier in the day, as the prime minister inaugurated Swarved Mahamandir, which is claimed to be the world’s largest meditation centre, he said cultural symbols of the country were targeted during the “period of slavery”. He said that it was unfortunate that even after Independence, these symbols could not be rebuilt and that even the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple was opposed.

PM Modi also talked about how Ram temple construction would be complete in the next few weeks and how work was going on for the development of the Ram Circuit.

“During the period of slavery, the tyrants who tried to weaken India were the first to target these symbols of ours. It was necessary to rebuild these cultural symbols after independence. If we had respected our cultural identity, the sense of togetherness and self-respect within the country would have been strengthened. But, unfortunately, that did not happen. After Independence, even the reconstruction of the Somnath temple was opposed,” he said.

PM Modi said the country was now giving the message of declaring “freedom from the mentality of slavery” and “taking pride in its heritage” from the Red Fort.

“Jo kaam Somnath se shuru hua tha woh ab ek abhiyan ban gaya hai (The work that started from Somnath has become a campaign now),” said the prime minister.

He then said the grandeur of Vishwanath Dham in Kashi was “singing the saga of India’s imperishable glory” and that “Kedarnath Dham is touching new heights of development”. With the development of the Buddha Circuit, the country is inviting the world to “Tapobhumi of Buddha”, he said, adding that while the rapid development of the Ram Circuit was going on, “agale kuch hafton mein Ram Mandir ka nirman pura hone ja raha hai” (in next few weeks, the construction of Ram Temple is going to be complete)”.

PM Modi placed nine pledges before the gathering. One of them was for rich people to go for destination weddings in the country rather than abroad.

He also asked people to make others aware about water conservation, digital transactions and online payments; to work towards ensuring cleanliness in villages and cities; and to promote local, made-in-India products.

As the fifth pledge, PM Modi asked people to first roam within the country. One should not feel like visiting another country until one has visited the entire country, he said. Adding that this would provide income to the locals, he went on to say, “Main ajkal bare bare dhanna sethon ko bhi kehta hun ki videsh mein jakar ke shadi kyon kar rahe ho bhai” (These days I ask rich people why they are getting married abroad)”.

“Wed in India (India mein shadi karo),” he said he would tell the rich.

His other pledges included making farmers aware about organic farming, including millets in food, making fitness, yoga or sports integral parts of life and helping at least one poor family, adding that it was necessary to remove poverty in India.

Curated For You

Kapil Sharma admits facing pressure from Netflix on The Great Indian Kapil Show: ‘Hisaab dena hota hai’

At 10.2°C, Kolkata records coldest January day in 12 years: Here’s what IMD forecast for Bengal says

Shark Tank judge Mohit Yadav raised Rs 1 cr by mortgaging house, built business worth Rs 2955 cr: ‘Feared my family won’t even have a home’