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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, while also releasing the 20th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring over Rs 20,500 crore to more than 9.7 crore farmers across India. Addressing a gathering in the holy city during the auspicious month of Sawan, PM Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming the lives of farmers, boosting their income, and reducing farming costs, stating, “We stand with farmers from seed to market.”
Reflecting on his deep emotional bond with Varanasi, PM Modi expressed gratitude to its residents and offered greetings to families across the city. He highlighted the significance of his visit, his first to Varanasi following the success of Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. PM Modi dedicated the operation’s success to Lord Mahadev, asserting, “Whoever attacks India will not be safe even in hell.” He praised the operation for showcasing India’s indigenous weaponry, including BrahMos missiles and drones, which demonstrated the strength of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. PM Modi also announced that BrahMos missile production would soon begin in Lucknow, with major defense companies setting up plants in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor.
The Prime Minister criticized opposition parties for questioning the operation, accusing them of trivializing the bravery of India’s armed forces by calling it a “tamasha” and engaging in vote-bank politics. He contrasted the current government’s decisive action against terrorism with past regimes in Uttar Pradesh, which he claimed had given clean chits to terrorists and withdrawn cases against those involved in bomb blasts.
On the agricultural front, PM Modi highlighted the government’s unwavering support for farmers, noting that the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme has transferred Rs 3.75 lakh crore directly to farmers’ accounts since 2019, with Rs 90,000 crore benefiting 2.5 crore farmers in Uttar Pradesh alone. Varanasi farmers have received nearly Rs 900 crore under the scheme. He also announced the recently approved Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, with an allocation of Rs 24,000 crore to uplift backward agricultural regions, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.
PM Modi underscored efforts to reduce farming risks, citing the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, which has disbursed over Rs 1.75 lakh crore in claims to farmers facing weather-related challenges. He also emphasized initiatives to ensure fair prices through record increases in Minimum Support Prices for crops like rice and wheat, alongside the construction of thousands of new warehouses to safeguard harvests.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s focus on women’s participation in agriculture, noting that the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign has enabled over 1.5 crore women to achieve financial independence, with a target of creating three crore such women. The “Drone Didi” initiative, he added, has significantly boosted women’s incomes. PM Modi also spoke of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, conducted in May and June 2025, which connected with over 1.25 crore farmers to bring modern agricultural research to the fields.
Beyond agriculture, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for key infrastructure projects in Varanasi to enhance connectivity, education, healthcare, tourism, and cultural heritage. These include the widening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi and Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar roads, a railway overbridge at Hardattpur to ease congestion, and multiple rural and urban road corridors. He also launched power infrastructure projects worth over Rs 880 crore under the Smart Distribution Project and the undergrounding of electrical infrastructure.
To boost tourism, PM Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront kuccha ghats, development works at Kalika Dham, beautification of the pond and ghat at Rangildas Kutiya in Shivpur, and water purification at Durgakund. He laid the foundation stone for the restoration of Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and development works at Karkhiyaon, the birthplace of several freedom fighters. Additionally, he announced initiatives to preserve the legacy of Munshi Premchand and the construction of a homeopathic college in Varanasi.
PM Modi urged citizens to complete KYC verification for Jan Dhan accounts, noting that a nationwide campaign launched on July 1, 2025, has already reached one lakh gram panchayats. He highlighted that special bank camps are facilitating registrations for schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana, encouraging public participation.
Reflecting on global economic uncertainties, PM Modi stressed that India, poised to become the world’s third-largest economy, must prioritize its economic interests, particularly the welfare of farmers and small industries. He called for a renewed pledge to promote Swadeshi and “Vocal for Local,” urging citizens and traders to embrace “Make in India” products, especially during the upcoming festival season, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and other dignitaries attended the event, with governors, chief ministers, and state ministers joining via videoconference. PM Modi congratulated the Uttar Pradesh government for its development-oriented policies, which he said have transformed the state into an attractive destination for national and international investors.
