Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Varanasi. The PM launched the Varanasi-Prayagraj highway project. He will participate in Deepotsav celebrations later in the day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi on Monday afternoon -- his first visit to his parliamentary constituency amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier in the day, addressing a public meeting in the city, PM Modi tore into the opposition over the protests against the new farm laws. He accused the opposition of spreading rumours and tricking the farmers.
The attack comes when thousands of farmers are gathered at the entry points of the national capital, seeking the repeal of the three laws. FARMERS PROTEST LIVE UPDATES HERE
PM Modi, flanked by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
At Varanasi, PM Modi inaugurated the widened Handia-Rajatalab section of National Highway 19. The 73-kilometre stretch of the newly widened and six-lane NH-19, build with a total outlay of Rs 2,447 crore, is expected to reduce the travel time between Allahabad and Varanasi by an hour.
Here are Live Updates on PM Modi's visit to Varanasi:
8.07 pm: PM Modi tweets a video of him enjoying the laser lights and sound show in Kashi.
He also tweeted a video of him greeting the people of Kashi.
8 pm: PM Modi at Ravidas Ghat, offers floral tributes to Sant Ravidas.
7.40 pm: Sound and laser lights show ends at Chet Singh Ghat, PM Modi heads to Sant Ravidas statue at Ravidas park, to offer 'Pushpanjali'.
7.25 pm: Laser lights and sound show starts in Kashi's Chet Singh Ghat, PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath watch from a cruise on river Ganga.
6.55 pm: "Just as river Ganga flows in this city of Kashi magnificently, development will also continue here for years to come, I take this promise with me as I go back to Delhi," says PM Modi as he signs off with 'Har Har Mahadev' chant.
6.50 pm: "When development work started for Kashi, the protesters protested only for the sake of protest. When Kashi had decided that Vishwanath Corridor would be built till Baba's court, the protesters had said a lot about it too. But today the glory of Kashi is being revived by the grace of Baba. Centuries ago, the direct connection of Baba's court to Maa Ganga is being re-established," says PM Modi.
6.48 pm: "Today, we talk about reforms, but in society and order, Guru Nanak Dev himself was the biggest symbol of reforms. We have also seen that when there are changes in the society and the national interest, the voices of unintentional opposition definitely arise. But when the significance of those reforms comes to the fore, everything goes well. This is the lesson we get from the life of Guru Nanak Devji", says PM Modi.
6.44 pm: PM Modi continues his outreach to farmers, says new farm laws have given farmers freedom from middlemen.
6.39 pm: "People of Kashi are live Shiva and Devi. Today, these lamps are also lit for those who have surrendered their life for the country. On the occasion of Dev Deepawali, I pay my tributes to all those who have laid their lives for the nation. The nation is giving a befitting reply to the expansionist forces, those trying to infiltrate into India or be it those trying to break the country from within," says PM Modi.
6.30 pm: "Statue of Maa Annapurna's statue which was stolen from India over 100 years ago is coming back to India. This is a fortunate moment for Kashi. If this effort had been done earlier, many such statues would have been brought back to India. However, some people's thinking is different. For us, inheritance means heritage. For some inheritance means their own family," says PM Modi.
6.25 pm: PM Modi greets Varanasi with 'Har Har Mahadev' chant and wishes Guru Nanak Gurpurab with 'Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal'.
6.22 pm: "PM Modi has united Kashi Vishwanath to Maa Ganga through the infrastructure project," says UP CM Yogi.
6.15 pm: "I welcome PM Modi to Kashi which is his first visit to this holy place after the sacred moment of the ground-breaking ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple. He realised the Ram Mandir dream," says UP CM Yogi at Raj Ghat.
6.10 pm: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi addresses gathering at Dev Deepavali Utsav celebration, welcomes PM Modi by saying, "He comes to Kashi at a time when India is achieving new heights".
6.00 pm: PM Modi lights the first lamp at Raj Ghat for Dev Deepavali Utsav. Watch:
5.56 pm: PM Modi has reached Rajghat for Deep Daan- first lamp to be lit by PM.
5.50 pm: Glittering laser light show in Varanasi shortly.
5.40 pm: Lamps or diyas being lit up at Assi Ghat to welcome PM Modi.
5.30 pm: PM Modi leaves from Kashinath Corridor to Rajghat on his cruise.
Dashwashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi lights up as evening descends.
5.21 pm: PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath visit the site of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project. PM Modi will light the first diya at the temple on the occasion of Dev Deepavali Utsav. As many as 15 lakh diyas are expected to be lit up.
5.03 pm: PM Modi and UP CM Yogi reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple, offer prayers.
4.54 pm: PM Modi has reached the Lalita Ghat. An approximately over 50-feet corridor will directly connect Ganga’s Manikarnika and Lalita Ghat to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple
4.53 pm: UP CM Yogi welcomes PM Modi
"On the occasion of the inauguration of the Six Lane High-Way connecting Varanasi and Prayagraj, I welcome PM Modi to Baba Vishwanath's city Kashi on behalf of all citizens of Uttar Pradesh", tweeted CM Office of Uttar Pradesh.
4.41 pm: PM Modi visits Kashi corridor with UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
The Centre’s ambitious 'Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Vistarikaran-Saundarayakaran Yojana' (Kashi Vishwanath Temple Extension and Beautification Plan), or Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, is a Rs 600-crore project to decongest the area providing relief to devotees visiting Lord Shiva's shrine.
4.25 pm: PM Modi's chopper lands at Khajuri helipad. PM Modi is expected to attend an NHAI program here.
3.56 pm: PM Modi said, "I am confident, farmers who have some doubts on agricultural reforms today, will also take advantage of these agricultural reforms in future and increase their income".
3.48 pm: Rumours have become basis for opposition, says PM Modi in Varanasi.
"There's new trend now, earlier decisions of govt were opposed, now rumours have become basis for opposition. Propaganda is spread that although decision is right, it can lead to other consequences, about things that haven't happened or will never happen. Same is with farm laws," news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
He added that people have certain apprehension that is based on the past track record of the previous government.
"We implemented Swaminathan commission report by providing increased MSP. We purchased pulses at Rs 49,000 Cr, which is 75% increase from the previous govt. We purchased 2.5 fold more wheat on MSP. They (Opposition) spread canard in the name of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna," he said.
Indirectly targeting the West Bengal government, PM Modi alleged that one state didn't allow PM Samman Nidhi Yojna. "But whenever our government will be formed in that state, we'll implement that scheme there," he said.
3.38 pm: New agricultural reforms have given farmers new options and legal protection: PM Modi in Varanasi
3.32 pm: PM Modi mega farmer outreach
"When connectivity in a region improves it also benefits the farmers there. Recently, a fund of Rs 1 lakh crores was constituted to establish cold storage facilities for farmers & other agriculture infrastructure," says PM Modi in Varanasi.
3.26 pm: PM Modi lauds UP CM Yogi Adityanath: "Infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh has improved since Yogi Adityanath has become the Chief Minister: Today work is underway on the development of 12 airports in the state, PM Modi said in Varanasi.
3.17: PM Modi says new highway a gift to people Kashi. "Varanasi is getting improved infrastructure on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti and Dev Deepawali. This will benefit both Varanasi and Prayagraj," PM Modi said in Varanasi
3.13 pm: PM Modi speaks after unveiling Kashi highway
3.07 pm: PM Modi inaugurates Handia-Rajatalab section of National Highway 19.
3.02 pm: PM arrives in Varanasi
PM Modi in Varanasi
The Prime Minister will later undertake a site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project, the Sarnath Archaeological Site and later attend Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
The prime minister will light an earthen lamp at Raj Ghat in Varanasi to mark the beginning of the celebrations that is held on every 'poornima' of the Hindu month of Kartik. Eleven lakh earthen lamps with be lighted on both the banks of the Ganga.
The prime minister will undertake a site visit of the under-construction Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project to review its progress. He will also watch a light and sound show at the archaeological site of Sarnath, which was inaugurated by him earlier this month.
Source: IndiaToday & ANI
0 Comments