PM’s address at the launch of multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

28 Apr, 2026

PM's address at the launch of multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Namah Parvati Pataye, Har-Har Mahadev.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, the popular Chief Minister here Yogi Adityanath Ji, my colleagues in Parliament and BJP's National President Shri Nitin Nabin Ji, Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh and UP BJP President Shri Pankaj Chaudhary Ji, District Panchayat Chairperson sister Poonam Maurya Ji, the women councillors and village heads of Kashi present on the stage, other public representatives, and the large number of my mothers, sisters, and daughters who have come here. Namaskar to you all.

Friends,

Our Kashi is the land of divine powers-Mata Shringar Gauri, Mata Annapurna, Mata Vishalakshi, Mata Sankatha, and Maa Ganga. In such a place, this gathering of all you sisters and daughters has made this occasion very divine. On the land of Kashi, I bow to all you mothers, sisters, and daughters of Kashi.

Friends,

Today's occasion is indeed a celebration of honoring and developing women's power, and just a short while ago projects worth thousands of crores of rupees were inaugurated and foundation stones laid here. These include projects connected with every type of development in Kashi. Along with this, there are works to increase connectivity between Kashi and Ayodhya. A short while ago, two Amrit Bharat trains were flagged off. From Kashi to Pune and from Ayodhya to Mumbai, these two Amrit Bharat trains will further improve connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Now people of Mumbai-Pune and the whole of Maharashtra have another modern option to reach Ayodhya Dham and Kashi Vishwanath Dham. I congratulate the countrymen on this inauguration.

Friends,

The mission to make India developed is continuously going on, and when I speak of a developed India, its strongest pillar is India's women power. Today in this program, I have come to seek blessings from all you sisters and daughters for the beginning of a great yajna. As the Member of Parliament from Kashi, as the Prime Minister of the country, I need your blessings for the achievement of a big national goal, and that big goal is-to implement reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies. Just a few days ago, because of parties like SP and Congress, our effort did not succeed in Parliament. But I again assure all you sisters, I will leave no effort undone to ensure that your right to reservation is implemented.

Friends,

When a woman is empowered in the home, the whole family gains strength, society becomes stronger, the country becomes stronger. In the past, sisters and daughters had to struggle a lot. You sisters of Kashi have also seen many difficulties, you have faced many challenges. Daughters often had to go through many kinds of questions-what will you do by doing this? Why do you need this? What will you do, what need do you have, keep quiet, this work cannot be done by you. And many times questions were not even asked, direct orders were given-this is not your work.

Friends,

Such circumstances were not only for the sisters of Kashi, most sisters and daughters of the country had such experiences, and this was considered natural. That is why when I became Chief Minister in Gujarat 25 years ago, the first thing I tried was to break such notions. At that time, two big schemes dedicated to daughters were started. One was-Shala Praveshotsav, admission of girls in schools, so that daughters reach schools in greater numbers and do not drop out midway. And the second was-Mukhyamantri Kanya Kelavani Nidhi, to help daughters with their fees.

Friends,

Since then till today, in our government's policies, women's welfare has been given the highest priority continuously. In 2014, when you gave us the opportunity to serve, more than 12 crore toilets were built in the country, "Izzat Ghars" were built. More than 30 crore sisters' bank accounts were opened. Electricity connections were given in more than 2.5 crore houses. Water from taps reached more than 12 crore houses. That is, sisters and daughters were kept at the center of many big schemes.

Friends,

Two years ago here in Banaras, a very big campaign connected with Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana was run. At that time, in just one month, 27 thousand daughters' Sukanya Samriddhi accounts were opened here in Kashi, and 300 rupees were also transferred into each daughter's bank account. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is playing a big role in daughters' education and better future. This scheme has strengthened daughters' studies, and the Mudra Yojana has ensured daughters' earnings. At the same time, Matru Vandana Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Yojana have arranged for sisters' and daughters' medicines.

Friends,

Along with education, earnings, and medicines, for the first time crores of sisters have had property registered in their names. Most of the houses under PM Awas Yojana are also in the names of sisters. Today our mothers and sisters have truly become the owners of their own homes.

Friends,

Our government's entire focus has been on the convenience and security of sisters. These two things are what strengthen the foundation of empowerment. You have seen with your own eyes how conditions have changed here in Uttar Pradesh. A few years ago, when the Samajwadi Party government was here, it had become difficult for daughters even to step outside their homes. But now, under the BJP government, anyone who harbors wrong thoughts against daughters knows very well what the consequences will be.

Friends,

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has also given sisters and daughters a new assurance of security. Under this, speedy decisions are being delivered in serious crimes against women. Similarly, the network of women police stations and counseling centers is continuously expanding. Today here also, work has started on a building for a women's police outpost and counseling center. Such steps give daughters a guarantee of security.

Friends,

When women's economic power increases, their voice in the home also becomes stronger. Therefore, along with giving assurance of convenience and security, we have emphasized increasing sisters' economic participation. In the past 11 years, about 10 crore sisters in the country have been connected with self-help groups. In Kashi too, about 1.25 lakh sisters are connected with such groups. These groups are receiving assistance of lakhs of rupees, through which sisters are doing their work. Through such efforts, 3 crore sisters have already become "Lakhpati Didis"-3 crore Lakhpati Didis-and among them are thousands of sisters from Banaras.

Friends,

In giving momentum to the Lakhpati Didi campaign, our dairy sector also has a big role. Here, lakhs of sisters connected with Banaskantha Dairy are doing excellent work. Today these sisters have directly received 106 crore rupees as bonus. I heartily congratulate all these sisters. I say to the women connected with the dairy sector in Kashi-this is just the beginning, Banaras will grow, Banaskantha Dairy will grow, and this bonus will also keep increasing.

Friends,

The BJP-NDA government is making sisters self-reliant and also giving them leadership in the campaign to make India developed. In advancing digital payments, thousands of "Bank Sakhis" have a big role. In work connected with insurance, "Bima Sakhis" are leading. In advancing natural farming, "Krishi Sakhis" are playing a big role. And in the drone revolution coming in farming, our "Namo Drone Didis" are leading. In the past decade, new opportunities have been given to daughters in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. For the first time, the doors of Sainik Schools and the Defence Academy have also been opened for daughters. That is, the BJP-NDA government means-empowerment of women, upliftment of women, making women's lives easier.

Friends,

Today in every field, on every front, India's daughters are doing such excellent work, so naturally, in policy-making and in decisions connected with the nation's future, the role of sisters and daughters must increase further. The country needs this very much today. Work is being done honestly for this too. One big reason behind building the new Parliament was also the idea of women's participation. When the new Parliament was built, the first work we did was to give 33 percent reservation to women. For 40 years, this right of sisters was stuck and hanging. Therefore, in 2023, we got the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed in Parliament.

Friends,

After a law is made, it is necessary to implement it. Now it is necessary that this law be implemented as soon as possible. Therefore, in recent days, discussion was held in Parliament regarding this. We brought a law for constitutional amendment. This amendment was such that after it, more sisters would reach Legislative Assemblies and Parliament.

But friends,

Parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK once again betrayed the women of the country. Such parties had put a brake on women's reservation for 40 years. Now the Samajwadi Party has again shown it the red flag.

Friends,

The real matter is that all these family-based and appeasement-driven parties are afraid of women's power, afraid of all of you. These family-based parties do not want the daughters of the country to reach Legislative Assemblies and Parliament, daughters who are giving leadership on their own strength everywhere from college campuses to panchayats and local bodies. They know that if daughters working on the ground rise up, their control will end, questions will be raised on their power. That is why these family-based parties were at the forefront of the opposition in Parliament.

Friends,

I am satisfied that the sisters and daughters of the country have recognized their devious intentions. You are seeing, in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, sisters have voted in record numbers. The parties opposing women's reservation do not realize that this vote of sisters has been to punish these anti-women parties.

Friends,

The BJP-NDA government has only one mantra-Nagrik Devo Bhava. The education, earnings, medicines, irrigation, and hearing of the country's citizens are our priority. With this spirit, today the development of Kashi has also been expanded. With the construction of the signature bridge on the Ganga, the connectivity of Purvanchal will become even stronger.

Friends,

In the past decade, Kashi has emerged as a major health hub for North and Eastern India. A 500-bed multi super specialty hospital will further strengthen Kashi's healthcare ecosystem. In addition, the foundation stone has been laid for a 100-bed critical care block. This will add a very large facility in Kashi for the treatment of serious diseases.

Friends,

Whether it is the cleaning of the Ganga, the development of the ghats, the construction of buildings connected with governance and administration, storage facilities for farmers in Harhua and Bhawanipur, old age homes, or women's hostels-these are all proof of the sensitive development of Kashi. From these works, the people of Banaras are benefiting the most.

Friends,

The campaign to strengthen Kashi's heritage and legacy is also continuously going on. The development of Sant Kabir's site and the renovation of Sant Ravidas Park located in Nagwa are part of this campaign.

Friends,

Our Kashi is eternal, it is a city that continues unceasingly. In the same way, this campaign of development is also continuously moving forward. While honoring women's power, once again I express my gratitude to you for giving us blessings, and I extend best wishes for the development works. Say with me-

Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.

Har-Har Mahadev.

देश के नीति-निर्धारण में महिलाओं की भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करने के लिए हमारी सरकार प्रतिबद्ध है। वाराणसी में महिला सम्मेलन को संबोधित कर रहा हूं। https://t.co/ibR9RbyYlB

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026

भारत को विकसित बनाने का मिशन अनवरत चल रहा है।

और जब मैं विकसित भारत की बात करता हूं... तो उसका सबसे मजबूत स्तंभ भारत की नारीशक्ति है: PM @narendramodi

- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 28, 2026

कांशी के सांसद के तौर पर... देश के प्रधानमंत्री के तौर पर... मुझे देशहित के एक बड़े लक्ष्य की प्राप्ति के लिए आपका आशीर्वाद चाहिए।

और ये बड़ा लक्ष्य है- लोकसभा-विधानसभा में महिलाओं के लिए आरक्षण को लागू करना: PM @narendramodi

- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 28, 2026

हमारी सरकार की नीतियों में निरंतर महिला कल्याण को सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता दी गई है: PM @narendramodi

- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 28, 2026

सुविधा और सुरक्षा का विश्वास देने के साथ-साथ... हमने बहनों की आर्थिक भागीदारी बढ़ाने पर बल दिया है: PM @narendramodi

- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 28, 2026

वाराणसी के महिला सम्मेलन में हमारी नारीशक्ति की सहभागिता अत्यंत प्रेरणादायक रही। pic.twitter.com/HzJ1J8Fg88

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026

हमारी सरकार की नीतियों के केंद्र में बहनों-बेटियों को रखा गया है। काशी में महिला सम्मेलन का अवसर भी नारीशक्ति के वंदन और विकास का उत्सव है। pic.twitter.com/50CCe34wK4

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026

उत्तर प्रदेश में बनास डेयरी से जुड़ी लाखों बहनें बहुत ही शानदार काम कर रही हैं। आज इन बहनों को सीधे उनके बैंक खातों में बोनस मिले हैं। मैं इन सभी बहनों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई देता हूं। pic.twitter.com/xQHGYUpUOf

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026

देश की बहनें-बेटियां महिला आरक्षण पर ब्रेक लगाने वाले परिवारवादी और तुष्टिकरण में डूबे दलों की कुटिल मंशा को पहचान गई हैं। असम, केरलम, पुडुचेरी, बंगाल और तमिलनाडु में रिकॉर्ड मतदान इन्हें सजा देने के लिए ही है। pic.twitter.com/gSCbNC684g

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026

कनेक्टिविटी हो, हेल्थकेयर इकोसिस्टम हो या फिर काशी की विरासत का संरक्षण, यहां के लोगों का जीवन आसान बनाने के लिए हम कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/uJUJT4vser

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2026