Kashi’s Vow: Indian PM Modi Dedicates ₹2,200 Cr Projects in Varanasi, Calls for Swadeshi Renaissance and Shiva’s Blessings
Under the divine gaze of "Baba Vishwanath", amid the sacred rhythm of Sawan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to his karmabhoomi, Kashi (Varanasi) as "a son seeking blessings" and fulfilling a solemn vow.
The air carried the resonance of damrus and the scent of wet earth; chants of “हर हर महादेव” rang louder than protocol. This was Prime Minister Modi's first homecoming after the execution of Operation Sindoor -- an operation he linked to the honour of India’s daughters and the spiritual vow taken in front of Mahadev himself.
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| Image Source: UP CM Yogi Adityanath |
Operation Sindoor, he declared, was a sacred offering at the feet of Lord Shiva -- its success sanctified by divine will and national resolve.
This message was delivered against a vibrant canvas of development. Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for over ₹2,200 crore worth of projects that spanned infrastructure, education, power, heritage conservation, healthcare, tourism, and sports.
Among them, the beautification of Kunds like Ramkund and Shankuldhara, redevelopment of riverfront ghats, modernisation of Varanasi’s school infrastructure, creation of the Kashi Urban Miyawaki Forest, restoration of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral home, and expansion of digital power grids were symbolic as expressions of Kashi’s timeless identity blending with futuristic governance.
He connected Varanasi’s divine character with its developmental vision, saying that as Ganga flows, so must progress -- uninterrupted, sacred, and inclusive. Every project, he said, was not just about concrete and steel, but about pride, dignity, and legacy.
“When development flows from Kashi,” Modi declared, “it becomes prasadam.”
The Prime Minister took direct aim at the opposition, accusing them of downplaying India’s military operations and mocking the sanctity of sindoor.
“They called it a tamasha,” he said, visibly emotional, “but is sindoor ever a spectacle?” He condemned their attempts to undermine the military and questioned the audacity of those who expressed sympathy for slain terrorists.
“This is the new India,” he warned, “which bows to Mahadev and rises as Kaal Bhairav when evil crosses its threshold.”
He didn’t stop at spiritual symbolism or military assertions. There was economic strategy at the heart of this visit. He announced the 20th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring over ₹21,000 crore to 9.7 crore farmers nationwide.
In his words, the money sent from Kashi “becomes prasadam,” reinforcing his message that this was a karmakshetra, not a constituency.
He reaffirmed that close to ₹3.90 lakh crore had been deposited directly into farmers' accounts since the scheme began, without “cut, commission, or bichauliya.”
In particular, Modi highlighted how Uttar Pradesh farmers had received over ₹90,000 crore and Varanasi alone had received ₹900 crore, all without leakages.
He contrasted this with the previous regimes, accusing them of deception, delays, and dereliction in farmer welfare. “Earlier, even one announcement would never materialise,” he said. “But today, the Modi guarantee runs without a break.”
Introducing the newly approved Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana -- with an outlay of ₹24,000 crore -- the PM focused on the revival of agriculture in backward districts, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
He said the mantra of this government is simple but uncompromising: “Jo jitna pichhda, usko utni prathmikta.”
He laid out the government’s robust commitment -- from seed to market -- reiterating how lakhs of crores were being spent on irrigation, fair MSPs, godowns, crop insurance (₹1.75 lakh crore already paid), and farm mechanisation.
Notably, he mentioned how the “Drone Didi” and “Lakhpati Didi” initiatives had already empowered over 1.5 crore women -- and how the target of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis was well within reach.
“This is not welfare,” he said. “This is national wealth-building.”
The PM reflected on the deeper Swadeshi ethos that binds economic reform with cultural pride. Recalling his recent pilgrimage to the thousand-year-old Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Tamil Nadu, where he offered Gangajal from Kashi, Modi said that even a millennium ago, Shaivite traditions had united the North and South.
“Rajendra Chola carried Gangajal to the South to say: we are one. Today, we carry his dream forward through Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and national unity.”
The Prime Minister underlined the urgency of prioritising India’s national interest.
“When the world chooses its interests first, so must India,” he said. He asked Indians to embrace the ‘Vocal for Local’ spirit with discipline. “What comes into our homes,” he said, “must be made by Indian hands, crafted with Indian sweat.”
He urged shopkeepers and traders to resolve that only Swadeshi goods will be sold during the festival season.
“This is not protectionism,” he clarified. “This is patriotism.” Referencing the rise of “Wed in India” as a cultural-economic choice, Modi said even families are now shifting weddings from abroad to Indian destinations, supporting local tourism and artisans. “We won’t let the wealth of India leak abroad anymore,” he said.
He saluted India’s defence manufacturing sector -- especially BrahMos -- and announced proudly that the missile will now be manufactured in Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor, he said, would soon become the backbone of India's military strength.
“Let Pakistan know,” he thundered, “that if it makes another mistake, it is the missile made in UP that will silence it.”
Addressing youth, he cited skill-building through Kashi Sansad Pratiyogitas -- from photography to tourism guide competitions -- and praised the administration for innovating youth engagement models.
Finally, he spoke of Jan Dhan accounts -- 55 crore strong -- and called on everyone to complete their KYC as part of a renewed push towards inclusion.
He thanked banks for reaching rural gram panchayats and said such outreach was essential to ensuring that financial empowerment reached even the most remote corners of the nation.
“Bharat is rising,” he said, “and this time, the world is watching not with amusement but with awe.” The crowd echoed back the only response it could: “हर हर महादेव!”