Modi’s projects changing the face of Kashi, capital of Hindu spiritualism

Varanasi is one of the most ancient cities in India with its history dating back to over 2,500 years. Therefore, it obviously deserves the kind of development projects that are taking place now. Frankly speaking, this development is long overdue given the religious significance the ancient city carries

I visited Varanasi a few days back. It was my second visit to Kashi, as Varanasi is popularly known among Hindus, in the last five years. And needless to say, it’s the parliamentary constituency represented by Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi. That was the reason why I had visited it before the 2019 General Elections. There is no doubt that Modi’s fan base in the constituency has increased significantly in the last five years. He almost enjoys a cult status there now. This is essentially because of the developmental works he took up in his constituency. That was what my interactions with people there revealed.

As per the information available in the public domain, the central government announced projects worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore for Varanasi’s development since 2014 when Modi was first elected as its MP. Of these, projects worth Rs 18,000 crore have been duly completed. This development is clearly visible across Varanasi now.

More importantly, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project, taken up with Rs 800 crore, is expected to transform the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple complex.

In its first phase of execution, a new ghat that has come up gives devotees direct access to River Ganga from the temple. It is being called NaMo Ghat, which apparently takes origin from NaMo, the popular abbreviation for Narendra Modi. Varanasi has 84 ghats along its river front. This is the newest addition and also the newest attraction for pilgrims. More than 300 properties were acquired and 1,400 people were rehabilitated to make way for the new ghat.

However, more needs to be done around the temple complex. Shops and commercial establishments have turned all access routes to the temple into cramped pathways. They should be removed so that the pilgrims can enjoy a rejuvenating spiritual experience.

Apart from the temple area, development is also taking place around the city and across the constituency. Recently, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for the Varanasi cricket stadium, an international stadium that’s being constructed with Rs 450 crore.

A ropeway for public transport is currently under construction. It is the first such project in India wherein a ropeway will be used as public transport. The Prime Minister launched multiple development projects worth Rs 12,000 crore in July.

All said and done, Kashi is the spiritual capital of Hindus with its history dating back to over 2,500 years. It’s one of the most ancient cities in India. Therefore, it obviously deserves the kind of development projects that are taking place now. Frankly speaking, this development was long overdue given the religious significance the ancient city holds in the hearts of Hindus.

“Modi has changed the face of Varanasi in the last nine years. No one has developed our city the way he is doing now. We need his leadership more than anything else,” an electric auto-rickshaw operator told me.

People say the number of pilgrims to the city increased manifold in the last few years, thereby fuelling the city’s economic growth.

Interestingly, Modi seems to have turned the economy and development into election issues. That’s clearly visible in Varanasi now as most of the people I spoke to talked about development only, not about the government’s welfare schemes. That’s a good sign for the country.

Going by what’s happening in Varanasi, it’s very unlikely that Opposition parties and the so-called I.N.D.I.A block will effectively be able to take on Modi in the 2024 General Elections if they go to polls with just a welfare agenda. Balancing development and welfare agendas are important for political parties to script electoral victories these days. So, the Opposition parties should unveil a vision for the development of the country and convince the electorate about it. This is more important in States like Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha. Furthermore, it’s better for the country if all political contenders incorporate economic growth targets in their poll manifestos. If one political party does this, others will definitely follow suit.

The Indian National Congress (INC) has played a key role in the country’s economic growth, and under the leadership of the Telugu son of the soil P.V. Narasimha Rao, the party played a key role in ushering much-needed economic reforms in the 1990s, which fueled growth of the economy.

However, it failed to cash in on this important role it played on the economic front given its penchant for welfare and secularism agendas. But it should make a course correction and evolve an economic development agenda of its own to take on the BJP. Otherwise, there is no way it can outsmart the saffron party

As things stand, Modi is sitting pretty in Varanasi constituency. His victory in 2024 as the Kashi MP, a third consecutive one, is a foregone conclusion.

But will he create a record of sorts by becoming Prime Minister for the successive third term?

It will depend on whether BJP’s agenda on economy and development bears fruit. We will have to wait till the middle of 2024 by when the real answer to this question would have unfolded.