Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the third term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be a “guarantee of Modi” to carry the nation to a new height in the world and become the third largest global economy.
He asserted the NDA would win all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP.
“The third term will bring the nation’s capabilities to the forefront of the world and India’s economic, social, strategic and cultural sectors will be at new heights,” the prime minister remarked.
Addressing an impressive public meeting at Banas Dairy Complex premises here on Friday, the prime minister mentioned leapfrogging to the fifth largest economy in the world from eleventh in the last ten years. He added that India would become the third largest economy in the next five years.
The prime minister launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without taking his name for his recent “drunk men” on Varanasi roads remarks, saying those who were not in “hosh” (senses) themselves were calling the youth “nasheri” (intoxicated).
“A member of Congress ‘shahi-parivar’ is calling the youth of Varanasi ‘nasheri’ (intoxicated),” he said, without naming Gandhi.
“Till date these ‘frustrated’ opposition leaders were mainly attacking Modi but now due to declining political popularity they have started targeting even the people, especially the youths because they fear that if the youth become self-reliant and strong, they would raise voices against their decades long policies of parivarvad (dynasty), appeasement and casteism," Modi said.
Modi affirmed the belief that developmental works such as Digital India, widening of roads, modernised railway stations, and Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains would be accelerated in the next five years.
“Modi’s guarantee is to make eastern India the growth engine of Viksit Bharat,” he said while pointing out that the region had been deprived of development.
Speaking about the inauguration of the first phase of the six-lane highway from Varanasi to Aurangabad, the prime minister said that the completion of the Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway in the coming five years would reduce the distance between UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
“In future, the travel time from Banaras to Kolkata is going to be almost halved,” he added.
Recalling the foundation stone laying of Banas Dairy two years ago, the prime minister said that the guarantee given on that day was in front of the people today. He said Banas Dairy was a good example of creation of jobs through the right investment.
Banas Dairy collects about two lakh litres of milk from Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur and Rae Bareli. Under the project, new milk mandis will come up in more than 1,000 villages in Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Gazipur and Azamgarh districts.
Prior to this, Modi paid obeisance at the Ravidas Temple in Seer Govardhan on the second day of his two-day visit to Varanasi.
Speaking at a function to commemorate the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, the prime minister said India was moving rapidly on the path of development by adopting the messages of the great Dalit saint.
During this, along with unveiling the bronze statue of Sant Ravidas, he also gifted facilities worth Rs 100 crore to the followers of the great Dalit saint of medieval and Bhakti period.
The prime minister also hit out at the opposition 'INDIA' bloc, claiming that its members were exploiting people in the name of casteism.
“They care for the well-being of their families, and cannot think about the welfare of Dalits and tribals,” he added.
While paying tribute to saint and social reformer Gadge Maharaj on his birth anniversary, the prime minister said, “Today is also the birth anniversary of great saint and social reformer Gadge Baba. Like Sant Ravidas, Gadge Baba had done a lot of work to free the society from stereotypes and for the welfare of the Dalits and the deprived.
“Baba Saheb Ambedkar was himself a great admirer of him. Gadge Baba too was also greatly influenced by Baba Saheb. Today, on this occasion, I also pay my respects at the feet of Gadge Baba,” he said.
Earlier, during the day, the prime minister unveiled the booklet on Kashi Sansad Pratiyogita and a coffee table book at the prize distribution ceremony held at Swatantrata Bhawan in Banaras Hindu University.
Addressing the gathering, the prime minister said India would become a model of development in five years, terming it a “Modi guarantee”, and cited the Kashi example to say the world was witnessing how modernity was developed around culture and tradition.
“Kashi is now being seen as a model of development and heritage across the world. The world is witnessing today how modernity is developed around culture and tradition,” he said.
He lauded the efforts of the young generations in strengthening the identity of the ancient city. “It is a matter of pride and contentment that the youth of India will take the country to new heights in the Amrit Kaal. Kashi is the capital of eternal knowledge,” the prime minister said, underlining that it was a matter of pride for the entire nation that the capabilities and the form of Kashi erre regaining its glory.
Referring to the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol in Ayodhya, the prime minister said, “Today, the world is seeing that after the installation of Ram Lalla’s new grand idol, Ayodhya is flourishing like Kashi.”
Similarly, the sites associated with Lord Buddha are being developed and an international airport has been constructed in Kushinagar, he added.
The prime minister also praised the Sanskrit language and said it played a key role in the development of knowledge, science and spirituality.
