Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday
inaugurated the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor after addressing a
gathering during his two-day visit to Varanasi. The inaugurated corridor was
built at a cost of around Rs 339 crore. PM Modi announced Rs 800 crore project
in 2019 as part of the renovation plan for the congested temple in his
parliamentary constituency Varanasi.
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The Prime Minister also had lunch with
construction workers and expressed his gratitude towards every labourer,
acknowledging that the work to build the corridor did not stop even during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the top 5 quotes from Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s speech
“When you come here, you will not see only
faith. You will also feel the glory of your past here. You will see how
‘pracheenta’ (ancient) and ‘naventa’ (modern) come alive together. This whole
new complex of Vishwanath Dham is not just a grand building. This is a symbol
of the Sanatan culture of our India.”
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“Baba Vishwanath belongs to everyone, Maa
Ganga belongs to everyone, and with the completion of Kashi Vishwanath Dham,
everyone, including the divyangs, will be able to easily come to the temple.”
“Kashi has seen history and its ups and
down. So many sultanates came and went away but this place has been here.
History has seen the torture of Aurangzeb, who tried to kill culture with radicalism.
But in this country an Aurangzeb is matched by a Shivaji.”
Also Read: In picture: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishwanath corridor
“The Vishwanath Dham is full of energy
today and its importance is apparent. The many ancient temples lost in the
vicinity have been restored again. Baba is happy with the seva by his bhakts
and that is why he has blessed us today.”
“When I came to Varanasi I came with belief
on the people of Varanasi. I remember some people used to be suspicious of the
people of Varanasi. I was surprised there was such an opinion about Varanasi.
But ‘kashi is kashi’.”
PM Modi launched the project with an aim of
restoring the “lost glory” of the Kashi Vishwanath temple. According to
officials of the cultural ministry, renovating the Kashi Vishwanath temple has
been Modi’s long-term vision. He wanted to create better conditions for
pilgrims and devotees, who had to endure the infamously congested streets and
surroundings of the temple.
