PM Narendra Modi's Varanasi visit: As it happened

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that his government's first priority is to eradicate poverty and make poor people self-reliant shortly after he arrived in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on a day-long visit.

Here is what the PM said:-

• For long we have been talking about public sector and private sector. It's time we must start talking about personal sector: PM Modi.
• I know Ganga cleaning is a difficult task. Huge amount has already been spent on the project. But, we will take up this task and accomplish it: PM Modi.

We are working on cleaning the Ganga and we are working with the CMs of all the concerned states on this: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 18, 2015

• Kashi should move towards development, but at the same time should not forget its culture: PM Modi
• I don't agree that UP govt will try to do injustice with Shiksha Mitras: PM Modi.
• I want to tell my Shiksha Mitras that they should not adopt the route of suicide. When court order comes, I will talk to the UP govt: PM Modi.
• Issue of Shiksha Mitra was being raised a lot in UP. I asked UP Govt to send me the court order when it comes: PM Modi
• I need yours and Lord Shiva's blessings to take the nation on the path of development: PM Modi
• When I'm in Kashi I see wires and cables all over the city. Now the transmission of electricity will be smart in Varanasi. It is the first step towards making Varanasi a smart city. The city will be connected via ring road: PM Modi.
• Due to poor condition of route from airport to Kashi, people feel they have lost their way. We want to change it, so that they feel they are entering a great city: PM Modi.
• The city of wisdom will now provide energy to all: PM Modi
• ​PM begins his address.
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Integrated Power Development Scheme in Varanasi. 
• I don't want young citizens of this country to inherit poverty: PM
• No matter what the circumstances are, educate your children first: PM
• Don't deprive them of education: PM Modi
• I request you to educate your children: PM
• The biggest weapon one can use to fight poverty is education of children: PM
• Every person wants his or her child to lead a life better than what they led: PM
• When tourists come, first interactions they have is with rickshaw drivers: PM
• E-rickshaws will change the future of Varanasi: PM
• Not much has been done for the poor in the last 40 years: PM Modi
• How to make the poor of India self-reliant, that should be our main focus: PM
• I don't want to blame the previous governments for not succeeding to bring about considerable changes in poor people's lives: PM Modi
• My govt’s first aim is to make poor self-sufficient: PM modi
• The speed of removing poverty needs to improve: PM
• Our efforts to remove poverty over the years have not yielded the results we desired: PM
• For years, we have only heard the slogan of 'garibi hatao': PM Modi

Modi, who is on a day-long visit, also distributed cycle rickshaws and e-rickshaws to more than 600 people under the "Jan Dhan Yojana" scheme.

The PM will also launch several schemes and meet agitating contractual teachers during his day-long visit.

PM Modi will also inaugurate passenger reservation facility at Ramnagar Post Office here later today.

The SP government, however, had voiced its objections prior to the visit to distribution of cycle-rickshaws, saying such a move will promote the "inhuman practice" of pulling it. It demanded that Modi cancel the decision to distribute cycle-rickshaws.

The district administration announced that the Prime Minister will meet the representatives of 'shiksha mitras' (contractual teachers) during his visit.

Varanasi District Magistrate Rajmani Yadav and Senior Superintendent of Police Jogendra Kumar at a joint press conference appealed to the contractual teachers to maintain peace as their request to have an audience with the PM has been granted.

A delegation of six persons from the group can meet the Prime Minister on Friday, they said, adding that a confirmation from the PMO regarding the meeting was received by the district administration yesterday.

"Tight security arrangements have been put in place for PM's visit and we are fully prepared to foil any such attempts from the agitating shiksha mitras that would lead to law and order crisis here," they said.

Apparently being upset over the cancellation of regularisation of their service following a recent judgement of the Allahabad High Court, the ad hoc teachers had threatened to stage a protest here, if they were denied an appointment with Modi.

Around 1.72 lakh shiksha mitras are on protest. One adhoc teacher allegedly committed suicide in Kannauj district on Sunday.

The much-awaited visit comes nearly nine months after his previous trip on December 25 last year.

However, his proposed tours were cancelled twice recently because of heavy rainfall on June 28 and on July 16.

The Prime Minister reportedly arrived at Babatpur airport on the outskirts of the city around 11.30 am, from where he was taken to the Cantonment area by a helicopter for distributing e-rickshaws, tricycles and benefits under "Jan Dhan Yojana" to more than 600 people.

Modi would be taken to the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) where he would inaugurate the BHU Trauma Centre through a remote control.

He will launch the ambitious Integrated Power Development Scheme, which aims at providing 24X7 electricity to people across the country and for which the Centre will be providing a budgetary support of about Rs 46,000 crore. Modi is also slated to address a public rally.

(With PTI Inputs)