Kashi’s pristine glory restored, appearance transformed in eight years: Yogi Adityanath

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said Kashi (Varanasi), which is represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has seen restoration of its pristine glory as a spiritual and cultural centre of the country in the last eight years, along with transformation of its appearance with better infrastructure, cleanliness, beautification of ghats and renovation of temples.

He was addressing Prabuddha Jan Sammelan (meeting of intellectuals) at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground in Varanasi.

Yogi Adityanath said that it was because of these changes that while earlier, the city witnessed arrival of one crore tourists in a year, now one crore tourists visit the city in a month.

“Till 2016, sewer water used to flow on the roads and there were heaps of garbage on the streets while the condition of the ghats was pathetic in Kashi, but today the change is in front of all of us. Today, Kashi has four-lane connectivity from all sides. Along with this, it is connected through air services to all major cities of the country. Ghats have been beautified and the city cleaned. Besides, the city is emerging as a major educational and health centre.”

The chief minister also emphasised on the upcoming municipal elections saying that if people want development to go on at the same pace, they should ensure BJP’s victory in the municipal elections and strengthen the triple engine model of development, ensuring progress like a bullet train.

He added that as India celebrates Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, India’s global prestige has improved and the country is the fastest growing economy of the world under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

“Today India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, leaving Britain, which ruled the country for two hundred years, behind. Apart from this, India is leading the G20 in Amrit Kaal. G20 countries control 75% of the world’s trade, and have rights over 85% of GDP and 90% patents while 60% of the world’s population lives here. India has got the opportunity to lead these 20 countries,” he remarked.

About employment, Yogi said 10 lakh Agniveers are being recruited across the country under Mission Rozgar who, after retirement, will be given jobs by state governments. In Uttar Pradesh, he said that five lakh government jobs have been given to youngsters while 1.61 crore have got employment through schemes like ODOP and Vishwakarma Shram Samman.

The chief minister also gave gifts worth crores of rupees to the beneficiaries of various schemes run by the Central and State Governments.

He handed over the keys of the houses to the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister’s housing schemes, in addition to distributing tablets to the students. He also provided cheques to industries related to MSMEs.