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Tag: PM Modi in Varanasi

  • Timeline of events: PM Narendra Modi’s Varanasi visit

    By Express News Service

    Inaugurating phase I of his dream project of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi on Monday, PM Narendra Modi had a number of things lined up during the day.

    Timeline of PM Modi’s visit to Varanasi:

    11.00 am: PM Narendra Modi lands at Lala Bahadur Shastri airport. Leaves straight for Kaal Bhairav, also known as Kashi Kotwal temple, accompanied by UP CM Yogi Adityanath
    11.30 am: PM Modi welcomed by people with flower petals and slogans all through the streets. The prime minister stops his convoy to accept, head gear, shawl from crowd.
    11.40 am: PM arrives at Khirkiya Ghat along with CM Yogi.
    11.55 am: The PM takes a cruise ride in river Ganga to visits Lalita Ghat to fetch Gangajal for offering Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva on the newly constructed premises of Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor
    12.00 pm: PM Modi takes a holy dip while chanting shlokas, fetches a ‘Kalash’ full of the holy waters of Ganga before entering the Kashi Vishwanath temple while CM Yogi and deputy CMs reach Mandir Chowk
    12.30 pm: PM reaches Kashi Vishwanath temple premises
    12.50: Enters sanctum sanctorum of the temple, performs ‘Shivarchan’ marked by Jalabhishek by the waters of Ganga he had fetched in the Kalash.
    13.00: Inaugurates Phase-I of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor by removing the curtains on the plaque
    13.15: Showers the construction workers with flower petals, converses with them, poses with them
    13.30: Addresses seers and gathering of other dignitaries at Mandir Chowk, the courtyard of the corridor
    14.30: Joins the construction workers on lunch along with CM Yogi
    14.45: PM and CM take cruise ride back from Lalita Ghat to Ravidas Ghat
    15.00: PM offers obeisance at Sant Ravidas temple
    17.30: PM and CMs of BJP-ruled states take a ‘Ro-Ro’ boat ride to Dashashwamedh Ghat to witness the Ganga Aarti and decorated ghats illuminated with 11 lakh diyas
    The inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor comes just months ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath is aiming to retain its rule for a second consecutive time.

  • PM Modi’s lunch with construction workers of Kashi Vishwanath Dham becomes talking point

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Recreating the images of 2019 Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, where Prime Minister Modi  washed the feet of Dalit sanitation workers ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the PM’s interaction with construction workers of Kashi Vishwanath Dham emerged as one of the main talking points of the inauguration event of the corridor in Varanasi on Monday.

    Before inaugurating the phase I of the corridor, Narendra Modi, after performing the ‘Jalabhishek’ of Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple, went straight to the construction workers, spoke to them and ate with them.

    By virtue of being the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, the PM extended his gratitude to the workers by showering flower petals on them as they worked day in and day out to carve out his dream project within the scheduled time.

    Prime Minister @narendramodi felicitates and had lunch with the workers who worked on the construction of #KashiVishwanathDhamPM also congratulates the UP government, CM @myogiadityanath on the completion of this projectRead: https://t.co/HOG8VTfKIg pic.twitter.com/Cj14xyLs26
    — PIB India (@PIB_India) December 13, 2021
    During his speech in the courtyard of the corridor, the Prime Minister made a special mention of the tireless efforts of the labourers.

    “Today, I would also like to thank all my labourer brother and sisters, who shed their sweat to bring this grand complex to life. Even during the difficult Covid-19 times, they made sure that the construction work went on. Just now, I had the privilege of meeting them and seek their blessings,”  said the Prime Minister.

    Later in the day, the Prime Minister proceeded to share the dining table and have simple ‘desi’ lunch with around 2,500 construction workers on the corridor premises.

    ​ALSO READ | If an Aurangzeb comes, a Shivaji also emerges, says PM Modi at ‘immortal’ Kashi

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also joined Prime Minister Modi and the construction workers during the meals, which included daal, rice, mix vegetable, roti and papad.

    The political pundits feel the gesture of the Prime Minister to acknowledge the efforts of the construction workers and the honour extended to them was significant as it would pay dividends to the ruling party in the coming electoral battle.

    PM Modi also thanked others involved in building the complex. “I also thank artisans, civil engineers, officials from the district administration, as well as families who had houses on the land on which the corridor was constructed,” he said.

    The PM also congratulated Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and the state government, who, he said, worked tirelessly to complete the project in time.