life in this holy city virtually came to a standstill for two-and-half hours on Thursday as unmindful of the scorching summer sun, people came out in large numbers in support of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who filed his nomination from the Varanasi lok Sabha constituency amidst much fanfare.
The massive road show held by Modi on going to file his papers was truly memorable as the people said they had never seen such a grand show in Kashi.
The sea of humanity in the road show, nearly two-kilometre-long, took the temple town by storm. The show was marked by enthusiasm as people showered marigold petals on Modi’s motorcade. The yellow and saffron hues made the show an event to be remembered. Modi also waved out to the ‘Kashivasis’ in approval.
The road show was perceived as a show of strength as it made BJP’s political opponents speechless.
Soon after filing his nominations after the mega road show, Modi said Mother Ganga had called him and vowed to make this temple town on the banks of Ganges the world’s spiritual capital.
Conch shells were blown and marigold and rose petals were showered on him as the 63-year-old Modi, riding atop an open truck, waved to cheering people thronging the three km route from lahurabeer to Kachhari.
People donning Modi T-shirts, Modi masks and holding BJP flags lined up the arterial roads and thronged balconies and rooftops in sweltering heat to have a glimpse of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
As Modi’s convoy made its way through Muslim-dominated Nadesar, several people from the minority community also greeted the BJP leader who has been challenged in the electoral battle by Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal besides others.
“After coming here, I felt neither BJP has sent me nor I have come here. I am here because Mother Ganga has called me. I am feeling like a small boy coming to mother’s lap. I pray to God to give me strength so that I can serve this city,” Modi, who is also contesting from Vadodara in Gujarat, said after the three-hour-long road show.
Thanking people for showering love and affection on him, Modi promised to ensure well being of all section of society including the weavers. “I am overwhelmed by support and love of people here,” he said.
Modi, who was flanked by party leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Amit Shah and Ravi Shankar Prasad, filed his nomination papers to District Collector.
Madan Mohan Malaviya’s grandson, Giridhar Malaviya, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court and Padma Vibhushan winner Chhandu lal Mishra, a noted classical singer of Varanasi, were among the four proposers of Modi. Both Malviya and Mishra accompanied Modi during filing of the nomination.
Earlier, Modi was given a rousing welcome at Benaras Hindu University (BHU) where he paid floral tributes at the statue of Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder for the renowned educational institution.
The Gujarat Chief Minister also garlanded statues of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Kashi University complex and Swami Vivekananda near the Kachheri. Modi often refers to Sardar Patel and Vivekananda in his speeches.
Talking to reporters, Modi said there was need to rid Ganga of pollution and he would make sincere efforts in this regard. He also invoked lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi and said he would try to make Banaras a better city.
Touching on weavers’ community of Varanasi, he said there was a need to introduce modern technology in the sector which could be made renowned world over. “It (silk industry) is our pride. I think there is a need to upgrade technology, design and marketing.”
At the District Magistrate’s office, Modi had to wait for around 20 minutes to file his nomination as an Independent was filing his papers.
The road show caused massive traffic snarls across the city as police erected barricades as part of the security drill.
Amit Shah, a close aide Modi and BJP’s UP in-charge, said the road show had proved that the “Modi wave has turned into a tsunami”.
“The large crowd at Varanasi has reflected that the Modi wave in Uttar Pradesh has turned into a tsunami. The defeat of Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party is certain in Uttar Pradesh. The impact of the support will be felt in Bihar and other neighbouring states,” Shah told reporters.
After garlanding the statue of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, Modi let in his helicopter to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth helipad.
From Maldahiya crossing near MGKV, Modi started his road show for Mint House from where he went to Collectorate for filing his papers after garlanding the statue of Swami Vivekananda. The distance of nearly two kilometre from Maldahiya to Mint House was covered in more than 1:15 hours.
Contrary to expectations and to avoid any controversy Modi opted for a white kurta.