PM Modi Kicks Off Kashi Visit with Mega Women's Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi Tuesday afternoon for a two-day stay, set to address thousands of women at 4 pm while launching projects worth over ₹6,300 crore, marking his 54th trip to the temple city in 11 years.

Warm Guest House Welcome

Prime Minister Modi touched down at Varanasi airport around 1:40 pm, chopper straight to Bareka Guest House from there. Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeted him on arrival, along with a quick lunch and chats with party leaders. Local traffic in Lahurabir got halted briefly earlier as top BJP figures rolled in, barricades up and crowds held back.

Women's Rally Gathers Steam

By 4 pm, Modi heads to BLW Ground for the big women's public meeting, expecting 25,000 to 40,000 attendees—44 women on stage alone. Initial reports point to discussions around the stalled Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment Act, with the PM likely seeking input from the crowd. BJP sources say he'll highlight women's issues amid Bengal polls buzz, where local Bengali women blew conch shells at Chausathi Ghat this morning in celebration of their side's expected wins.

₹6,332 Cr Projects Lineup

Key moment: foundation stones and inaugurations for 163 development works totaling ₹6,332 crore. Standouts include the Signature Bridge and a super speciality hospital upgrade at Kabirchaura Divisional Hospital, plus UP's first Sowa-Rigpa herbal treatment center. Officials note these push infrastructure and health access in Kashi, with more details during the rally speech.

BJP Brass in Full Force

BJP national president Nitin Nabin landed too, post-Rudrabhishek at Kashi Vishwanath Temple around 2:55 pm—"Har Har Mahadev" chants echoing as Yogi, deputies Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, plus state chief Pankaj Chaudhary joined. Nabin's now at Hotel Rivatas for leader huddles. Deputy CMs and others like MoS Ravindra Jaiswal are on ground, city spruced up with five welcome points marked out.

Kashi's Familiar PM Pulse

This marks Modi's first 2026 Varanasi swing, last one November 2025. The city's decked in festivity despite heatwave grip—temps crossed 42°C lately, though slight relief eyed post-April 28. Ground reports show smooth chopper hops from airport to helipad, then rally site, with party workers managing the buzz.

Beyond the Main Event

Preparations ran smooth Tuesday morning, Pankaj Chaudhary at the airport early. Bengali women's Ghat event added cultural flavor, conches and slogans for Bengal election hopes. Varanasi's alive with security and anticipation, tying into broader UP momentum like recent women's Jan Akrosh rallies CM Yogi joined.

Forward, Modi's itinerary hints at temple visits and more local engagements Wednesday, as Kashi watches its MP deliver on promises amid sweltering April days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong political attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of damaging Bengal’s social and economic fabric during a rally in Bongaon. Addressing a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in North 24 Parganas, Modi said the TMC had betrayed its founding slogan of “Maa, Mati, Manush” and pushed the state into disorder, migration and fear.

Speaking at the public meeting, Modi alleged that the ruling party’s governance had failed women, weakened rural livelihoods and emboldened local syndicates. The rally formed part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign push ahead of the next phase of polling in the Bengal elections.

Women’s Safety In Focus

The Prime Minister placed women’s safety at the centre of his criticism and accused the state government of failing to protect women in Bengal. Referring to recent crimes and the Sandeshkhali controversy, Modi said women in the state had faced injustice while the administration stood with the accused instead of victims.

He alleged that girls were going missing in Bengal and claimed the state government had ignored serious complaints. Modi used the issue to sharpen the BJP’s campaign pitch, framing women’s safety as a key public interest story in the state’s electoral battle.

Maa Mati Manush Jibe

Invoking the TMC’s original slogan, Modi said the party no longer spoke of “Maa, Mati, Manush” because it had abandoned the ideals it once claimed to represent. He accused the ruling party of making mothers suffer, handing over land to syndicate networks and forcing people to migrate in search of work.

The Prime Minister said Bengal’s identity had been weakened under TMC rule and alleged that corruption and political patronage had replaced governance. His remarks were aimed at reinforcing the BJP’s long-running charge that the ruling dispensation had failed to deliver on its core promises.

Welfare Promises Announced

Modi also used the rally to outline a series of welfare promises targeted at women and low-income households if the BJP comes to power in the state. He said women would receive health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh and free screening for breast and cervical cancer.

He also promised financial support of Rs 21,000 during pregnancy, Rs 50,000 for girls upon graduation and annual direct benefit support of Rs 36,000 for women. Modi said women would also receive 33 per cent reservation in government jobs, according to the BJP’s stated welfare roadmap.

Farmers And Poor Targeted

The Prime Minister also addressed farmers and low-income voters, particularly in Bengal’s jute belt. He said the Centre had increased the minimum support price for jute, but alleged that TMC-backed syndicates were hurting mill operations and limiting gains for farmers.

On welfare delivery, Modi said the Centre’s free ration scheme had helped poor families save up to Rs 10,000 annually. He added that women without permanent housing would receive Rs 1.5 lakh for home construction and Rs 80,000 for rooftop solar installations under proposed Government Updates.

Poll Battle Intensifies

The Bongaon rally came as the BJP intensified its campaign for the next phase of polling in West Bengal. Modi claimed voters had already begun rejecting the TMC in the first phase and said the second phase would produce a stronger mandate for the BJP.\

He told supporters that a BJP government in Bengal would act against those accused of corruption and violence after the election process. The remarks reflected the BJP’s attempt to convert local grievances into a broader anti-incumbency campaign in one of India’s most politically contested states.

SC Flags Bengal SIR Risks Before Polls

The Supreme Court on Monday grilled the Election Commission over West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), questioning outcomes if victory margins shrink to 2% with 15% voters sidelined ahead of the state Assembly elections. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard arguments in New Delhi, highlighting voters trapped between authorities as EC defended the process.

The bench posed stark hypotheticals during the hearing. What if a candidate wins by just 2% but 15% of electors fail to vote due to deletions, they asked. Sources indicated the Court stressed election integrity, urging clarity on SIR's potential fallout in tight races.

Justice Bagchi remarked sharply that this isn't a state versus EC fight. Voters stand squeezed between constitutional bodies, he observed, after EC noted tribunals rejected 47% of challenged notices. Courts intervene to enable polls, not halt them, the judge clarified.

EC published Bengal's SIR list on April 9, axing 90.83 lakh names from 7.66 crore voters recorded in October 2025. Now, 6.76 crore remain—an 11.85% cut overall. Scrutiny covered 60.06 lakh names, with 27.16 lakh struck off, according to officials.

Deletions peaked near the Bangladesh border. North 24 Parganas shed 3.25 lakh from 5.91 lakh under review, while South 24 Parganas lost 2.39 lakh out of 8.28 lakh. Officials cite rigorous verification drives for the scale.

TMC leaders confronted EC on April 8. MP Derek O'Brien led the delegation to Delhi, later alleging rude dismissal in just five minutes over SIR concerns. EC sources countered that O'Brien interrupted the Chief Election Commissioner and issued threats, escalating tensions.

SIR's second phase swept 12 states and UTs, purging 6.08 crore names from an initial 51 crore, leaving 44.92 crore on rolls. Uttar Pradesh alone saw 2.04 crore cuts, a 13% drop to 13.39 crore, with Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and others following.

These deletions spark fears of widespread disenfranchisement, especially in border districts facing maximum disruption. Critics question the timing before polls, while EC insists clean rolls enhance credibility. Public interest stories like this dominate latest news today across India news updates.

The Court hearing continues as EC weighs safeguards against low-turnout victories. Final voter lists remain frozen, and Bengal Assembly polls push ahead amid national and international news scrutiny from English news portals in India.