Varanasi Day 2: Modi lays foundation for toilet, addresses farmers
What's the story
On his second day in Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation for toilets as part of the Swachhata Mission at Shahanshahpur before addressing farmers at a Pashudhan Arogya Mela. Addressing farmers on the occasion, he said, "'Swachhata' has to become 'swabhav' and it is our collective responsibility to keep our nation clean." "Cleanliness is a way to serve the poor of India."
New India
Every person will get a home by 2022, Modi says
Modi reiterated his calls for a new India by 2022. He said every Indian, whether in rural or urban areas, will get a home by 2022. Animal welfare and innovation in agriculture would be a major part of the plan, he said. For farmers, the government has come up with soil health cards to help them obtain higher yields at lower cost, he said.
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'Country is bigger than party'
Taking potshots at previous governments, Modi said UPA was never interested in bringing development for the poor. He also condemned vote bank politics, saying, "I am of a different mould. I don't think of vote bank. For me, my country is bigger than my party."
Day 1
What else is on Modi's itinerary?
On his first day in his home constituency, Modi inaugurated the Mahamana Express which connects Varanasi to Surat and Vadodara. He also visited the Tulsi Manas and Durga Kund temples accompanied by UP Governor Ram Naik and CM Yogi Adityanath. On this visit, Modi dedicated schemes worth Rs. 1,000cr to Varanasi and inaugurate projects like the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul and Utkarsh Bank.