- By Ashutosh Jha
- Mon, 27 May 2024 08:37 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Lok Sabha election has peacefully concluded in 428 seats across India. The 58 seats in six states and two Union Territories (UTs) in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha elections recorded over 60 per cent voter turnout on Saturday. Now the election has reached a stage where the star campaigner himself is in the field, on whose name and image not only BJP but also many candidates of NDA ally parties are pinning their hopes of winning. The Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, for which the stakes are indeed high, will be voting to elect its representative in the last phase on June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is BJP’s candidate from here. INDIA bloc has fielded Congress' Ajay Rai against PM Modi.
Amid the vehement campaign, PM Modi answered wide-ranging questions in an exclusive interview with Dainik Jagran’s Political Editor Ashutosh Jha.
Excerpts from the interview:
Que- You have been actively involved in political campaigns. Is it because you like being in public or it is your responsibility to ensure victory for the party?
Elections play a very important role in a democracy. It is essential in a democracy that the elected representatives reach out to the people, inform them about their work, take their feedback, and then resolve to work according to the needs of the public. For the first time, the people of the country are seeing a government that goes to the public with its report card. For us, every single vote is the public's endorsement of our work. For ten years, this country had a Prime Minister who was not an elected Prime Minister. Therefore, for him, elections, asking for votes, and meeting people did not hold any importance. Now, what I am doing seems new to people. I am the Prime Minister, but I am also a leader of the BJP. As a BJP leader, it is my duty to fulfil the responsibilities that the party assigns to me.
Que- Your are holding public meetings across India but when you campaign in your own constituency Varanasi, how is it different from other areas?
Banaras is special. Just as no matter where you go, when you reach your home, when you reach your mother, you feel a different kind of peace. In the same way, Banaras is like a mother to me, and there is also Mother Ganga there. Whenever I go to Banaras, I feel a unique sense of belonging. I receive a different kind of affection. I am the representative of that place, I ask people for votes, people support me, and they vote for me. All this keeps happening, but my relationship with Banaras goes beyond this.
Kashi is a city of multiculturalism. When you pass through different neighbourhoods during a roadshow, you get to see various cultures. Recently, I went to file my nomination. The roadshow started near BHU, where many families from Bihar and other parts of Eastern India reside. Moving ahead, there is Assi Mohalla, where you will find many monasteries and ashrams associated with South India. On this route, there is the Kanchi Kamakoti Math. At Kedar Ghat, there are temples built in the style of Uttarakhand. There are also ghats built by the kings of Rajasthan.
In a 4-5 kilometre roadshow, someone performs an aarti, someone stands with a picture of Shivaji Maharaj, someone is dressed in a Bengali sari, while another is in South Indian attire. The roadshows and gatherings in Kashi are a confluence of the entire culture of India. For me, this is the most powerful representation of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, Great India). That is why Kashi is unique, connecting everyone together.
Que- Everyone is talking about ‘Bhavya Kashi, Divya Kashi’ (Divine Kashi, Grand Kashi). You changed the entire infrastructure of this city in last 10 years. How difficult task it was?
Look, the work that has been done in Kashi, I was merely an instrument for it. All this happened under the command of Baba Vishwanath. And when the development of a city is ordained by Lord Shiva himself, it indeed becomes divine and grand. Yes, I will tell you a few things about the development work that has taken place. The Varanasi model is unique in the world. It's a city of about 7 million people, and now around 500,000 tourists come here every day. Over the past 10 years, we have transformed the city based on different models to accommodate such a population. We addressed the problems of the local people and the needs that arose due to the growth in tourism, working on both fronts.
For the local people, we planned and implemented several changes such as cleaning the streets, upgrading the old sewage system, widening the roads, developing markets on the heritage model, improving the street lighting system, and addressing the issues of local vending zones. By establishing a command centre in Banaras, we improved traffic management. This was the first step in Kashi's urban infrastructure model.
As many as 15 flyovers have been constructed in the city, significantly reducing traffic congestion. A ring road has been built in the outer areas of Varanasi. The airport is being developed, and Kashi's railway station is being made future-ready. This makes it easier for tourists to visit Kashi and benefits the residents as well. For those coming for medical treatment, a cancer hospital and a super-speciality hospital have been established. The BHU hospital has undergone significant upgrades. This benefits not only millions of people in Purvanchal but also in Bihar. Additionally, crores of rupees have been spent on the city's electricity, water, and waste management systems.
Que-Kashi is recognized as the spiritual capital of India, but until ten years ago, pilgrims faced many inconveniences while visiting the city. The list of works you have undertaken to preserve and enhance the ancient heritage of Kashi is long. Can we call this period the golden era of eternal Kashi?
Kashi is the city of India's spiritual grandeur. It is not only a pilgrimage site for Lord Shiva but also a city associated with Buddha. Here lies the sacred seat of Sant Ravidas and a series of ghats along the river Ganges. Devotees have been coming here for centuries to seek blessings from these divine entities. However, the arrangements made earlier became inadequate with the increasing population, leading to inconveniences. Despite this, the residents of Kashi never compromised on their hospitality. The governments that ruled Uttar Pradesh or the country never really thought about the development of Kashi. The streets, roads, and temples remained the same. Some were damaged, and some were on the verge of collapsing. There was a time when people used to stand in long lines for a glimpse of Baba Vishwanath, with overflowing sewage in the streets. Any event in Sarnath or Seergovardhan would cause traffic jams throughout the city. The transportation facilities via roads, trains, and air routes were not adequate for the pilgrims coming to Kashi.
But in the last 10 years, we have changed things. We have developed 101 temples in the city. We have cleaned and restored the ponds where Kashi's rituals used to take place. Reconstruction is underway at the Manikarnika Ghat, where people from Purvanchal and Bihar come for funeral rites. The stages of the Panchkroshi Yatra have been improved. We have ensured that these developments align with the culture and grandeur of Kashi, giving it the utmost attention.
Que- Being satisfied yet not wanting to stop is indeed a good thing. But how satisfied does the magnificent construction of Shri Vishwanath Dham make you feel? The restoration of the Vishwanath Temple has fulfilled the centuries-long wait of millions and millions of devotees of Lord Shiva. You talk about both heritage and development. Does it seem like this is being fully achieved?
The magnificent construction of Baba Vishwanath Dham was like a dream project for me. I feel connected to my inner self through this temple. Whenever I sit on the banks of Baba's Argha, it feels like I have connected with another energy. The construction of Vishwanath Dham happened with this same energy. Today, Baba Vishwanath's sanctum sanctorum in the Dham is adorned with gold. The form of the Dham has become grand. The Dham is connected to the banks of the Ganges. Arrangements have been made for thousands of devotees to stand together. Along with Baba's Dham, the ponds of all the neighborhoods of Kashi have also become grand. The joy of the lakhs of pilgrims visiting Kashi has also increased. Baba Vishwanath is the biggest source of all-inclusive development.
Que- When you came to Varanasi ten years ago, you said that Mother Ganga had called you. Recently, you said that Mother Ganga has embraced you. You become emotional when talking about your connection with Mother Ganga and Kashi. What would you say about the influence of Kashi on your life?
Kashi has something that cannot be expressed in words. It's the city where the Ganges flows incessantly, where Baba Vishwanath offers fearlessness, and where Mother Annapurna bestows abundance. When I came here, I was a representative of the people. Now I am a representative of the family. That's why I say that Kashi has made me a Banarsi. Whenever I come to Kashi, I meet people with a sense of intimacy. Kashi feels like a family. Mother Ganga called me to Kashi ten years ago, but today it feels like she has accepted me as her son. Since my mother is not physically with me anymore, Ganga is like my mother. When I come to Kashi, it feels like I've come to my mother's house. It's natural for a son to become emotional when returning to his mother and family.
Que- The BJP couldn't establish strong roots in Punjab. What could be the reason? Are there any hopes this time around?
In Punjab, the BJP has entered without an alliance almost three decades later. Until now, our scope was limited as we were bound by coalition principles. Even then, we didn't shy away from our responsibilities towards public welfare. However, during that time, we didn't get the opportunity for expansion in every district and village of Punjab. In the 2024 elections, the BJP is presenting its vision for the development of the country and Punjab to the people. Over the past 10 years, the BJP-led central government's accomplishments have increased people's trust in the BJP. On one hand, people have seen our 10-year track record, while on the other hand, they have experienced corruption, the problem of drugs, poor infrastructure, and deteriorating law and order under other parties. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are contesting separate elections in Punjab, but they are campaigning together in Delhi and other parts of the country. In this scenario, whatever they say to the people of Punjab, the public knows their reality. There is no credibility in their policies and intentions. This politics of the Indian Alliance is not going down well with the people. In this situation, people have high hopes for the BJP. I believe that the people of Punjab will join hands with the BJP's vision of a developed India and support us for a better future for Punjab.
Que- NDA still talks about the days of ‘Jungle Raj’ in Bihar. Even though the era of Laloo's rule ended 20 years ago. What do you say?
When something bad happens in the world, those memories linger for years. For example, the people of the country still haven't forgotten the terrifying memories of the Emergency. Whenever there's a discussion about how a government can suppress people or crush dissent, the memory of the Emergency immediately comes to mind. Similarly, the bitter memories of the Jungle Raj persist. Even though some time has passed, what people witnessed and endured—looting, murder, dacoity, extortion, crimes against women in broad daylight, and a shattered law and order system—are unforgettable. Because of this, those who fled Bihar 20-30 years ago still keep their distance from the state, yet they can't erase those images from their minds. For those who didn't witness or had forgotten these events, the recent government's actions have reminded them of that era once again. The horrific memories of that time have resurfaced. It has been shown that if they were to regain power, they could commit even more horrifying acts. Within a short period, they have demonstrated the same kind of rule characterized by daily murders, dacoities, lootings, and where there's no rule of law.
Que- As international conflicts escalate, it is being acknowledged that the coming days will be marked by crises and struggles. In such a scenario, how difficult will it be for India to maintain its pace of progress?
We are all witnessing that the world is going through an unexpected phase. First COVID and now two major conflicts are underway. Its impact is being felt in different sectors, especially food, fuel, and fertilizer. Either prices have increased or there is scarcity. This situation is prevalent worldwide. In such times, India has ensured that there is no shortage of fuel, food, and fertilizer. Nor do our people have to pay more for it.
The situation in the world may be tense and challenging. All this is happening at a time when India needs to develop rapidly. Nevertheless, I believe that this is the right time for India's development. It is very important during such times that India maintains the pace of development amidst the conflicts around the world. We need to accelerate this pace even further so that we can fulfil the dream of a developed India. For this, it is crucial to have a stable and majority-supported government in the country.
People have seen that the unprecedented changes in our foreign policy are also due to a stable and strong government with a full majority. Today, on every global platform, India confidently asserts its position. While oil prices are rising worldwide, India purchases oil from Russia without any pressure because India has a stable government. Today, India talks to every country in the world with confidence. The reason for this is also a government with a full majority.