Mega Farmers Outreach: PM releases 17th tranche of Kisan Nidhi

Varanasi: Days after taking the oath of office again, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Varanasi for the first time after the constituency elected him as its Member of Parliament for the third consecutive term.

Addressing a massive crowd at a Kisan Samman Sammelan, a farmer event, on Tuesday along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others, Modi said the love of the people of Varanasi has made him feel that the Ganga has adopted him. The Prime Minister has also released Rs 20,000 crore as part of the 17th instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support scheme under which farmers get up to Rs 6,000 per year. He also visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple and is now at the Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga aarti (prayer).

Speaking in Bhojpuri for the initial part of his address at the farmer event, Modi said, "I am coming to Varanasi for the first time after winning the elections. Kashi ke janta janardhan ke hamaar pranam (I greet the people of Varanasi).

Thanks to the blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Ma (Mother) Ganga and the love of the people of Varanasi, I have had the privilege of becoming the country’s Pradhan Sevak for the third time. I now feel that Ma Ganga has adopted me and I have become a part of Varanasi.”

“The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha have shown the world the strength, scope and deep-rootedness of India’s democracy. Over 64 crore people voted and an election of this scale does not take place anywhere else in the world. I attended the G7 summit in Italy and the number of voters in India is 1.5 times the figure of all the G7 countries combined,” he added.

Praising the participation of women voters in the country, PM Modi said that it is a matter of pride for the people of Varanasi that they haven’t just chosen an MP but a Prime Minister for the third time. He said the election results are unprecedented because it is rare for a sitting government to return to power for a third time.

“This happened in India 60 years ago and no other government has scored a hattrick like this since then. You gave us this privilege, you gave it to your servant Modi... Your belief in me spurs me on to work hard to serve you and take the country to new heights.

I will work day and night to fulfil your dreams, aspirations and resolutions. I have always seen farmers, youth, women and the poor as a key pillar of a developed India,” he said.