Heartfelt Thanks, Kashi! Honored to Serve as Your MP and Prime Minister for a Third Term: PM Modi.

“Double congratulations to the people of Kashi, you have not only elected me as your MP but also as your Prime Minister for the third consecutive term: PM Modi”

Varanasi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, after the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday. During this visit, he disbursed the 17th installment of Kisan Samman Nidhi directly into the bank accounts of farmers nationwide at the Kisan Samman Sammelan held there.

Addressing the public gathering, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the people of Kashi for electing him as their Member of Parliament and Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. He remarked, “I thank every voter of Banaras for making this festival of democracy successful. With the blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Ganga, and the immense affection of the people of Kashi, I have had the honour of serving as the Prime Minister of our country for the third time.”

He continued, “The people of Kashi have blessed me by electing me as their representative for three consecutive terms. They have not only chosen me as their MP but also as the Prime Minister for the third time. So, I extend double congratulations to all of you. Now even Maa Ganga seems to have adopted me and I have turned local for Kashi.”

On this occasion, PM Modi also gave certificates to the Krishi Didis who had come from all over the country.

Expressing his gratitude to the people of Kashi, PM Modi stated, “I am deeply thankful to you, I am indebted to you. The mandate given by the people of our country in this election is truly unprecedented. This election has marked a historic moment. It is rare in the democratic nations of the world to witness a government being re-elected for a third consecutive term.”

He continued, “This last occurred in India 60 years ago, and now you have bestowed this good fortune upon your servant Modi. In a country like India where youth aspirations are so high, if a government returns to power after 10 years of reign, it is a massive victory and a huge vote of trust. And this trust of yours is my biggest capital and keeps me energized for taking the country to new heights.”

He highlighted that over 64 crore people across the country had participated in this election, making it the largest election in the world. “Even if we combine the voters of all the G7 countries, the number of voters in India is one and a half times more than them. Even if we combine all the voters of the European Union, the number of voters in India is two and a half times more than them.”

PM Modi highlighted the high participation of women voters, amounting to more than 31 crore, and said that it is the highest number of women voters in the world. He added that it is close to the entire population of the USA. “The power and beauty of India’s democracy not only attracts the entire world but also leaves an impact”, PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister reiterated the importance that he accords to farmers, Nari Shakti, youth and poor as pillars of developed India and recalled that the first decision of the government after formation was about farmers and poor families. These decisions regarding 3 crore additional households under PM Awas Yojna or instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi will help cores of people, said the Prime Minister.

Asserting that today’s program is pivotal in strengthening the path towards a developed India, PM Modi stated, “Just a while ago, Rs 20,000 crore from the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of millions of farmers across the country. Additionally, a significant step has been taken today towards empowering three crore sisters as Lakhpati Didis. The new role of sisters as Krishi Sakhis will not only bring them respect but also provide them with new sources of income.”

“PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has emerged as the world’s largest direct benefit transfer scheme”, the Prime Minister said, highlighting that more than Rs 3.25 lakh crores have been transferred into the bank accounts of crores of farmers, including Rs 700 crores to the families in Varanasi alone.

The Prime Minister lauded the use of technology in taking the benefits to the eligible beneficiaries and also credited the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra which enabled more than 1 crore farmers to register themselves under PM KISAN scheme. 

He further added that rules and regulations have been simplified to increase accessibility. “Work related to farmer’s welfare takes place at a fast pace when intentions and beliefs are in the right place”, Modi added.

Dwelling upon the role of the agri-ecosystem in making India the world’s third-largest economy in the 21st century, PM Modi stressed the need for a global outlook and urgency for self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds. 

He said, “Today, Banaras’ Langra mangoes, Jaunpur’s radishes, and Ghazipur’s ladyfingers are reaching international markets. With the establishment of One District One Product initiatives and export hubs at the district level, exports are rising, and production is becoming export-quality. We now need to elevate our country to new heights in the global market for packaged food.”

He further mentioned, “I dream of the time when at least one Indian food product is there on every dining table across the world,” emphasizing the importance of the Zero Defect-Zero Effect mantra in agriculture. 

He also said that through Kisan Samiddhi Kendras, a huge network is being created to support millets, herbal products and natural farming.

Noting the presence of women in large numbers, the Prime Minister underlined their importance and support in agriculture and mentioned expanding the scope of agriculture to boost their contributions. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Krishi Sakhi program is a step in this direction similar to the Drone Didi program. Underlining the contribution of women as Asha workers and Bank Sakhis, the Prime Minister said that the nation will now witness their capabilities as Krishi Sakhis. 

“Today more than 30,000 SHGs have been given certificates as Krishi Sakhi. Right now, this scheme has started in 12 states and in the coming time, thousands of women groups will be linked to it across the country. This campaign will also help in creating three crore Lakhpati Didis.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the devotion of the center and the state government towards the welfare of farmers of Kashi and Purvanchal. The Prime Minister said, “Banas Dairy has changed the fortunes of farmers and cattle rearers in and around Banaras. Today, this dairy is collecting about 3 lakh liters of milk every day. More than 14 thousand cattle-rearing families of Banaras alone are registered with this dairy. Now Banas Dairy is going to add 16 thousand more cattle rearers of Kashi in the next one and a half years. After the arrival of Banas Dairy, the income of many milk producers of Banaras has increased by up to 5 lakh rupees.”

Throwing light on the work done by the government to improve the income of fish farmers, the Prime Minister mentioned PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and the benefits of Kisan Credit Cards. He also mentioned the construction of a modern fish market in Chandauli at a cost of about Rs 70 crores to assist those involved in fish farming in Varanasi.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojna is thriving in Varanasi. Around 40 thousand local people have registered under the scheme and 2,500 houses have already got solar panels and work is ongoing for 3,000 houses, he informed. 

Highlighting the work done in the last 10 years towards furthering connectivity in Varanasi and nearing villages, the Prime Minister mentioned the country’s first city ropeway project in Varanasi reaching its final stages, ring road connecting the cities of Ghazipur, Azamgarh and Jaunpur, completion of flyovers in Phulwaria and Chaukaghat, a new look to the Kashi, Varanasi and Cant Railway Stations, Babatpur Airport helping ease air traffic and business, development along the Ganga Ghats, new facilities in Banaras Hindu University, renovated Kunds of the city,  and new systems being developed in various places in Varanasi. 

“With the blessings of Baba Vishwanath, this new saga of development of Kashi will continue uninterrupted,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Bhagirath Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Legislative Council member and BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary, other ministers of the state government and public representatives were present in the program.