Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the success of Operation Sindoor in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, declaring that the operation had avenged the loss caused by the Pahalgam terror attack with the blessings of Lord Mahadev.
Addressing a public meeting during his 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, PM Modi dedicated the success of the military operation to Lord Mahadev.
“This is the first time I have come to Kashi after Operation Sindoor. Twenty-six innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam… My heart was full of sorrow. I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters’ sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev. I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor to the feet of Mahadev,” PM Modi said.
Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7, to avenge the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April, which killed 26 people.
The Prime Minister also praised the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, describing visuals of Shiva devotees carrying Ganga water in Kashi as “divine”. “Especially, when our Yadav brothers take the Ganga water from Gauri-Kedareshwar, it is a wonderful sight,” he said.
Modi added that he did not offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple this time to avoid causing inconvenience to devotees. “I dearly wished to be able to offer prayers to Baba Vishwanath in the holy month of Sawan. But if I go there, other devotees will face inconvenience and will not be able to offer prayers, so I bow down before Bholenath and Maa Ganga from here,” he said.
During the visit, PM Modi released the 20th instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring more than ₹20,500 crore to the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers. He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth around ₹2,200 crore in Varanasi.
Among the major infrastructure projects, Modi inaugurated the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi road and Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar road, as well as a railway overbridge at Hardattpur to ease traffic on the Mohan Sarai-Adalpura road.
He laid the foundation stone for extensive road widening and strengthening across urban and rural corridors, including Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, Gangapur and Babatpur, and new railway overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.
Strengthening Varanasi’s power infrastructure, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for various works under the Smart Distribution Project and undergrounding of electrical systems worth over ₹880 crore.
In a push to boost tourism, Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront Kuccha Ghats, development works at Kalika Dham, and beautification of Rangildas Kutiya’s pond and ghat at Shivpur. Restoration and water purification works at Durgakund and Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple were also launched.
He also laid the foundation stone for development at Karkhiyaon, the birthplace of several freedom fighters, and for City Facility Centres at Sarnath, Rishi Mandvi and Ramnagar Zones.
Redevelopment of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral house in Lamahi and an upgrade of the associated museum were announced too.
Modi unveiled plans for an Urban Miyawaki Forest at Kanchanpur, the redevelopment and beautification of Shaheed Udyan, and 21 other parks.
Several culturally significant water bodies, including Ramkund, Mandakini and Shankuldhara, will undergo purification and maintenance, along with the installation of four floating pujan platforms.
To ensure access to safe drinking water, the Prime Minister inaugurated 47 Rural Drinking Water Schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Reinforcing his vision for quality education, Modi inaugurated the upgradation of 53 school buildings within the municipal boundary and laid the foundation stone for new educational projects, including a district library and rejuvenation of Government High Schools at Jakhini and Lalpur.
In the health sector, he inaugurated advanced medical facilities at Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, including robotic surgery and CT scan installations.
A new Homoeopathic College and Hospital, an Animal Birth Control Centre and an associated Dog Care Centre were also unveiled.
Follow us
