Blitz Bureau
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on August 2 laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, while also releasing the 20th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring over Rs 20,500 crore to more than 9.7 crore farmers across India.
Addressing a gathering in the holy city during the auspicious month of Sawan, PM Modi emphasised the Government’s commitment to transforming the lives of farmers, boosting their income, and reducing farming costs, stating, “We stand with farmers from seed to market.”
Reflecting on his deep emotional bond with Varanasi, PM Modi expressed gratitude to its residents and offered greetings to families across the city. He highlighted the significance of his visit, his first to Varanasi following the success of Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. He dedicated the operation’s success to Lord Mahadev, asserting, “Whoever attacks India will not be safe even in hell.”
He praised the operation for showcasing India’s indigenous weaponry, including BrahMos missiles and drones, which demonstrated the strength of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. PM Modi also announced that BrahMos missile production would soon begin in Lucknow, with major defence companies setting up plants in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor.
The Prime Minister criticised opposition parties for questioning the operation, accusing them of trivialising the bravery of India’s armed forces by calling it a “tamasha” and engaging in vote-bank politics. PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for key infrastructure projects in Varanasi to enhance connectivity, education, healthcare, tourism, and cultural heritage. These include the widening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi and Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar roads, a railway overbridge at Hardattpur to ease congestion, and multiple rural and urban road corridors. He also launched power infrastructure projects worth over Rs 880 crore under the Smart Distribution Project and the undergrounding of electrical infrastructure.
To boost tourism, PM Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront kuccha ghats, development works at Kalika Dham, beautification of the pond and ghat at Rangildas Kutiya in Shivpur, and water purification at Durgakund. He laid the foundation stone for the restoration of Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and development works at Karkhiyaon, the birthplace of several freedom fighters. Additionally, he announced initiatives to preserve the legacy of Munshi Premchand and the construction of a homeopathic college in Varanasi.
