MODI IN KASHI, MAY TAKE DIP IN GANGA, VISIT KV TEMPLE

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, on late Sunday evening. Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Durga Yadav welcomed Modi at the Lal Bahadur Shastri airport where his plane landed at 10.22pm. The prime minister is likely to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple after taking a dip in the Ganga in the early hours of Monday. He may also visit the Assi Ghat where he launched the Swachh Bharat campaign in the city in 2014 by digging up silt that had accumulated on the steps of the ghat.

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, on late Sunday evening. Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Durga Yadav welcomed Modi at the Lal Bahadur Shastri airport where his plane landed at 10.22pm.

The prime minister is likely to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple after taking a dip in the Ganga in the early hours of Monday. He may also visit the Assi Ghat where he launched the Swachh Bharat campaign in the city in 2014 by digging up silt that had accumulated on the steps of the ghat.

“It is most likely that Prime Minister Modi will take a holy dip in Ganga and attend Mangala Arti at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple,” union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla said while interacting with reporters here. Pandit Prasad Dixit, a trustee of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, said the Mangala aarti begins at 2.45am and concludes at 3.45am.

“The temple administration is ready to welcome the Prime Minister if he makes a visit. Pandits will chant Vedic mantras when the PM offers prayers,” he added. He, however, said that the temple administration was yet to receive any protocol

Locals are eager to see Modi bathing in the Ganga. “I have heard that the PM would take a dip in the Ganga. I would like to go to the ghat when he does that,” said Suresh Gupta, a resident of Teliabagh. He said there was talk that the PM might visit the Kaal Bhairav temple after offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Later on Monday, the PM will visit the Ravidas temple at Seer Goverdhanpur to paritipate in the 639th birth anniversary celebrations of Dalit poet-saint Ravidas and from there go to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to attend its centennial convocation as the chief guest. Modi is making a night halt at DLW guest house which has turned into a fortress with special protection group and other security personnel keeping a tight vigil on the premises.