Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on Saturday to renew contact with his constituents in an early start to the campaign for next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Before travelling to Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi stopped in Ghazipur, where he released a commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev and addressed a public rally. The PM’s rally in Ghazipur is being seen as an effort by the BJP to woo the Rajbhar community there, which revers Maharaja Suheldo.

After reaching Varanasi on Saturday, Modi attended the ‘one district, one product’ regional summit at the Deendayal Hastakala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre & Crafts Museum), and participated in programmes involving beneficiaries of several central and state government schemes. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) on the campus of the National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) in Varanasi.

Here are the updates:

5:15 pm IST Modi slams previous governments for failing to clean Ganga PM Modi accused previous governments of not being able to rejuvenate the Ganga despite spending thousands of crore of rupees and said to keep the river ‘nirmal’ (clean), the intentions also needed to be clean. “For maintaining the ‘nirmaltaa’ (cleanliness) of the Ganga, the power of money is not enough, clean intentions are also needed. We, with full honesty and clean intentions, have undertaken a campaign to clean river Ganga,” Modi said while inaugurating the ‘One District, One Product’ summit here.





5:10 pm IST Digital India is becoming a vehicle for transparency: PM Modi PM Modi said When high-speed intranet will reach all parts of the country, then Digital India will give strength and identity to New India. PM said Digital India is becoming a vehicle for transparency in reducing corruption and government dealings.





5:05 pm IST Business becomes easy when life of ordinary man becomes simple: Modi When life of ordinary man becomes easy and simple, business and trade also becomes easy: PM Modi





5:03 pm IST PM dedicates International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre to nation Prime Minister dedicated the International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) campus to the nation in Varanasi.





5:02 pm IST Entire Punvanchal including Varanasi is the hub of handwork: PM Modi Entire Punvanchal including Varanasi is the hub of handwork. Whether it is related to clothes, carpet or clay or metal utensils, art is present in every particle, said PM Modi. PM said the central and state government is trying everything possible to continue this tradition.





4:55 pm IST In UP, MSME sector is part of tradition, says PM Modi UP is the hub of small businesses. MSME sector employees the largest number of people. In UP, MSME sector is part of tradition, says PM Modi.





4:53 pm IST UP govt’s one district-one product is an extension of ‘Make in India’ campaign: Modi All the projects that have been inaugurated or launched here today, the main principles are ease of living and ease of doing business. The relation between the two is directly related to the success of business. Centre is committed to making ‘Make in India’ campaign stronger. UP govt’s one district-one product is an extension of ‘Make in India’ campaign: PM Narendra Modi.





4:53 pm IST I’m not a guest in Varanasi anymore: PM Modi I’m not a guest in Varanasi. You’ve made me one of your own: PM Modi





4:51 pm IST PM begins address in Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins address in Varanasi.





4:30 pm IST Provided employment to 2.5 lakh youth till now: UP CM Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that they have provided employment to 2.5 lakh youth.





3:43 pm IST PM to inaugurate research centre in Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the research centre in Varanasi. He will also participate in programmes involving beneficiaries of several central and state government schemes.





3:18 pm IST Your ‘chowkidar’ is working hard day and night with honesty and dedication: PM Modi To improve your future, your children’s future, your ‘chowkidar’ is working hard day and night with honesty and dedication, says PM Narendra Modi





2:11 pm IST Be wary of Congress and its lies: PM Modi Be wary of Congress and its lies, says PM Modi





2:05 pm IST Our yojanas aim to empower people: PM Modi Our yojanas are not mere yojanas, but aim to empower people, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.





2:03 pm IST Loan waive was promised in Karnataka. But only 800 farmers’ loan have been waived: PM Modi Loan waive was promised in Karnataka. But only 800 farmers’ loan have been waived. What sort of deception is this, says PM Modi





1:56 pm IST Ghazipur youths will be able to achieve their dreams of being doctors here itself: PM Modi With this medical college’s construction, Ghazipur youths will be able to achieve their dreams of being doctors here itself: PM Modi





1:55 pm IST First time in history that healthcare has been emphasized on so well: PM It is for the first time in history that healthcare has been emphasized on so well , says Prime Minister Narendra Modi





1:53 pm IST Ghazipur and nearby districts will also get facilities with help of this medical college: PM Modi Ghazipur and nearby districts will also get facilities with the help of this medical college, says Prime Minister Modi





1:50 pm IST Ghazipur will get new medical facilities with this medical college: PM Modi Ghazipur will get new medical facilities with this medical college,says Narendra Modi





1:48 pm IST Government is determined to remember contribution of those who had helped in protecting our nation: PM Modi Our government is determined to remember the contribution of those who had helped in protecting our nation, says Prime Minister Modi.





1:39 pm IST Remembering Maharaja Suheldev’s contribution, postal stamp has been released: PM Modi Remembering Maharaja Suheldev’s contribution, postal stamp has been released. These postal stamps will reach every household of the country, says PM Modi





1:33 pm IST Will make Uttar Pradesh a medical hub: PM Modi Will make Uttar Pradesh a medical hub,says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.





1:32 pm IST PM Modi releases commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev .





1:31 pm IST Upcoming generations will remember Maharaja Suheldev: Yogi Adityanath Today commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev is being released. Train operation is being started on his name. This will be remembered by the upcoming generations: Yogi Adityanath





1:27 pm IST PM Modi ensured all round development in Eastern UP and Banaras: Yogi Adityanath Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured all round development in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Banaras, says Yogi Adityanath





1:26 pm IST BJP government worked for development for all: Yogi Adityanath The BJP government did not discriminate on religion grounds and worked for development for all: Yogi Adityanath





1:23 pm IST In the last 4 years, 17 medical colleges have been made: Yogi Adityanath In the last 70 years, 13 medical colleges were made, but in the last 4 years 17 medical colleges have been made, says Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath





1:19 pm IST Grateful to come to Ghazipur to release a postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev: Manoj Sinha I am grateful to come to Ghazipur to release a postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev: Manoj Sinha





1:18 pm IST One can use the railways to go to any part of the country from Ghazipur: Manoj Sinha One can use the railways to go to any part of the country from Ghazipur today. There is even a train to visit Vaishno Devi: Manoj Sinha





1:14 pm IST Maharaj Suheldev was a great warrior: Manoj Sinha Manoj Sinha says Maharaj Suheldev was a great warrior. He killed Ghazi Salar.





1:11 pm IST Rajbhar community people from different parts of the state have gathered here, claims minister Anil Rajbhar Minister Anil Rajbhar claims that Rajbhar community people from different parts of the state have gathered there.





1:08 pm IST BJP respects all and gave great honour to Rajbhar community: Manoj Sinha BJP respects all and a gave great honour to the community, says Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha





12:58 pm IST Matter of joy that postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev is being released: BJP Ghosi MP BJP Ghosi MP Harinarayan Rajbhar says, “It is a matter of great joy that postage stamps in the name of Maharaja Suheldev Rajbhar is being released today.





12:47 pm IST UP minister Anil Rajbhar gifts idol of Maharaja Suheldev to PM Modi Uttar Pradesh minister Anil Rajbhar gifts an idol of Maharaja Suheldev to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.





12:44 pm IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of medical college in Ghazipur Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of medical College in Ghazipur.





12:22 pm IST PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath lands in Ghazipur Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath landed in Ghazipur.





11:49 am IST The corridor will have two pathways around 400-metre-long and 50-feet-wide The proposed corridor between the temple and the banks of river Ganga will have two pathways around 400-metre-long and 50-feet-wide.





11:37 am IST PM Modi to view presentation on Kashi-Vishwanth Corridor Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Saturday, will view a detailed presentation on the proposed 400 metre Kashi-Vishwanath Corridor project, an official said. The Prime Minister will be viewing a 12-minute documentary on the ambitious multi-crore project which envisions a widened and beautified corridor to the fabled temple.





11:32 am IST Arrogant attitude of Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders is insulting weaker sections of society: Apna Dal Apna Dal chief Ashish Patel says,”Arrogant attitude of BJP UP leaders is insulting weaker sections of society,appeal to PM to intervene. Till matter is not solved,will not be part of any Govt progs in UP,even today’s(PM’s event in Ghazipur).Confident that Amit Shah ji will hear us out,” reports news agency ANI. Ashish Patel,Apna Dal Chief: Arrogant attitude of BJP UP leaders is insulting weaker sections of society,appeal to PM to intervene. Till matter is not solved,will not be part of any Govt progs in UP,even today's(PM's event in Ghazipur).Confident that Amit Shah ji will hear us out pic.twitter.com/CT8Xdhc6Vk — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 29, 2018





11:29 am IST Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party to boycott Prime Minister’s program in Ghazipur Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party will boycott the Prime Minister’s program in Ghazipur today where he will release postage stamp of Maharaja Suheldev.SBSP claims invitation sent to party chief OP Rajbhar has Maharaja Suheldev’s incomplete name and that Rajbhar has been deliberately omitted from the name, reports news agency ANI.



