'Kashi's People Have Elected Not Just An MP, But A PM For The Third Time': Modi In Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. At around 5 PM, he participated in the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan in Varanasi. Following this, at around 7 PM, he is scheduled to witness the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Later, at approximately 8 PM, he would perform pooja and darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, his office said in an official statement.

"More than 31 crore women voters have participated in this election. This is the highest number of women voters in the world. This number is close to the entire population of America. This beauty, this strength of Indian democracy attracts and influences the whole world," PM Modi said while addressing the gathering.

"I thank every voter of Varanasi for making the festival of democracy a success. The people of Kashi have not only elected an MP but also a PM for the third time. The mandate given by the people of the country in this election is truly unprecedented. This mandate has created a new history. It is rarely seen in the democratic countries of the world that an elected government returns for the third consecutive time. But this time the people of India have also done this. This happened in India 60 years ago. Since then no government in India has scored a hat-trick like this," he added.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan felicitated PM Modi in Varanasi.

While addressing the gathering, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Becoming the Prime Minister for the third time with such a majority and the mandate given by the people is unprecedented in itself. On behalf of all the farmers of the country, I welcome PM Modi and congratulate him."

"Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and the farmer is its soul and the BJP believes that farmers are God and serving farmers is worship of God. It is our commitment towards farmers and farming that if PM Modi signed any file after becoming the Prime Minister, it was the Kisan Samman Nidhi," he said.

After being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time, Modi signed his first file authorising the release of the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi, as per the statement.

The installment amounted to more than Rs 20,000 crores, to around 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) through Direct Benefit Transfer.

During this event PM Modi also granted certificates to more than 30,000 women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis. The Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program (KSCP) aims to empower rural women such as Krishi Sakhi, providing training and certification for Para-extension Workers.  This aligns with the objectives of the "Lakhpati Didi" program.

On June 19, at around 9:45 AM, the Prime Minister will be visiting the ruins of Nalanda in Bihar. At around 10:30 AM, he will also inaugurate the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar, and address the gathering on the occasion.

The University is a joint collaboration between India and East Aisa Summit (EAS) countries. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by several key figures, including the Head of Missions of 17 countries, as per the official statement.