CAA will not be withdrawn at any cost: PM Modi

Chandauli: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Citizenship Amendment Act was required for the country and it will not be withdrawn at any cost even as the protesters of the Shaheen Bagh were planning to march to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah over their demand to withdraw the contentious legislation.

(Photo: Twitter/BJP)

“CAA was required for the country since long and hence our government brought it. We will not withdraw it at any cost,” the Prime Minister said here after gifting Poorvanchal and Varanasi, projects worth over Rs 1,200 crore here on Sunday.

The Prime Minister further said that his government will continue to take decision which will benefit the country and its people.

He also said that his government was working towards development of the country and now focus has been given to the tier-3 and tier-4 cities, where infrastructure would be developed.

“In the union budget, we have provided Rs 100 lakh crore for infrastructure in which most of the funds will be spent for Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities,” he claimed.

Mr Modi said, “Today, when we talk about 5 trillion dollar economy in India, tourism is an integral part of it. Besides nature, heritage, tourism has a strong role to play in achieving the goal. Also, along with Varanasi, other holy sites are being developed using new technologies.”

Giving a report card of his government at the Centre, he said 36,000 new start ups have been registered in the country in the past 5 years while 5.5 crore have been given loan under Mudra yojgna in which Varanasi accounts for 6.6 lakhs.

“In UP, 2 crore farmers have been given Rs 12,000 crore under the Kisan Smridhi scheme while under Ayushman health scheme, 50 crore people in the country have been benefitted,” he stated.

He inaugurated and laid foundation for around 48 projects, including a 430-bed super specialty government hospital at the Banaras Hindu University(BHU) and dedicated to the nation the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Centre and unveiled a 63-feet tall statue of the BJP ideologue in the adjoining Chandauli district.

It is the tallest statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya in the country.

“This memorial(of Deendayal Upadhyaya) which has been built here and this grand statue which has been installed will continue to inspire generations to come, the ethics and thoughts of Deen Dayal Ji will inspire the young generations, “ he said, adding the goal of the BJP government is to reach out to the last person of the society.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

He also flagged off the third private train “Kashi Maha Kaal Express” operated by IRCTC through video conferencing. The first overnight private train in the country will connect three Jyotirling pilgrim centres of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Ujjain and Omkareshwarin Madhya Pradesh.

The Prime Minister claimed that Varanasi has turned into a medical hub of the Poorwanchal. He inaugurated a 74-bed psychiatry hospital at BHU.

He said that Varanasi has identified itself as a centre of development in the country and Poorvanchal as projects worth over Rs 25,000 crores have been invested in the region.

Mr Modi also inaugurated a two-day ‘Kashi Ek Roop Anek’ event at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Hastakala Sankul, showcasing products from all over Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, Mr Modi participated in the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Jagadguru Vishwaradhya Gurukul. (UNI)