National president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Amit Shah said that Varanasi would be developed as a model city and a leading spiritual centre in the next five years and a blue print and budget for the overall development of this lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be announced soon.
He was addressing an impressive gathering of BJP workers and leaders at the inaugural function of Modi’s parliamentary office here on Wednesday. Earlier, he opened the office equipped with all latest facilities in posh Ravindrapuri Colony amidst chanting of Vedic mantras and offering of coconut.
“BJP has pledged to make this city a ‘model’ smart city and we will do it without denting its ancient spiritual values,” Shah said. “Varanasi will be developed as a leading spiritual centre in the coming years so that whenever tourists across the world visit here they will feel satisfaction and happiness,” he added.
According to him, Modi would return here to seek support from voters again after five years and by the time, the city would see a complete makeover. “The office opened here will work as a bridge between the Prime Minister and the people and their grievances will be heard on priority basis,” he said, adding that the ghats would be renovated and cleanliness drive would be launched. He appealed to the people to wait and see the changes.
lauding the Prime Minister as an able administrator and leader, the BJP president said Modi was made Gujarat Chief Minster after he was elected as Maninagar MlA for the first time. Similarly, Modi was selected the Prime Minister after he became an MP for the first time.
“The development graph of Maninagar (in Gujarat) can be witnessed from before Narendra Modi was elected MlA from there and afterwards, the same way people will be able to see the development of Kashi after five years,” Shah said.
The BJP president said Modi held a meeting in Delhi with local MlAs of Varanasi to discuss and create a blueprint of development of the temple town few days ago.
He added that the office was not a political platform. He highlighted the personality of the Prime Minister and challenges of the party in the state in the coming years. He expressed his happiness over remarkable and enthusiastic welcome given to him between Babatpur airport and Ravindrapuri. He was accorded warm welcome on his first visit since he became the BJP president. later, Shah held a meeting with senior party leaders at Surya Hotel and discussed about the party’s organisation, forthcoming Rohania Assembly byelections and next Assembly elections.
Earlier, on the issue of entry into the parliamentary office of Modi, BJP workers clashed with local mediapersons, especially cameramen, in which several photographers sustained minor injuries. The meeting was conducted by Sudhir Mishra while regional party chief (Kashi Pranth) laxman Acharya welcomed the guests. The vote of thanks was proposed by district president Azad Singh Gautam. Important among those who were present were MPs Virendra Singh Mast (Bhadohi), Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur), Chote lal, Kharvar (Robertsganj), Bharat Singh (Ballia) and Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey (Chanauli), mayor Ram Gopal Mhaley, MlAs Shyam Dev Raichaudhary, Jyotsna Srivastava, Ravindra Jaiswal and Sushil Singh, MlC Kedar Nath Singh, City chief TS Joshi and former MlC Ashok Dhawan.