Lok Sabha Polls LIVE: In his address, PM says Kashi has given him strength to answer terrorists

He will file his nomination papers for Varanasi seat on Friday, in the presence of senior NDA leaders including JDU president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Background

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a grand rally in his Lok Sabha Constituency Varanasi on Thursday in the afternoon, a day before he is scheduled to file his nomination.He will be holding a seven kilometer long road show in the afternoon today, which will be followed by the traditional Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.The road show is slated to start from the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's statue and end at Dashashwamedh Ghat, according to a party press release issued on Wednesday.As per the itinerary, Modi is likely to begin his roadshow at 4: 15 pm from Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya’s statute. The roadshow will then cover the areas of Lanka, Assi, Bhadaini, Sonarpura, Madanpura, Godowlia and will end at Dashashwamedha Ghat"After the roadshow, the Prime Minister will participate in the Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. After that, at 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris," the BJP said.

25/04/2019 21:56:27

They killed 40 of our soldiers in Pulwama but after this incident we have killed 42 terrorists in the same region. This is our way of working: PM Modi said while concluding his speech in Varanasi.

25/04/2019 21:53:16

No matter what, I will only think about India's well being. Be it Pulwama or the incident of Uri or else any other trouble in my life, I have only one mantra and will always be the same - India First: Narendra Modi

25/04/2019 21:50:51

In the past five years, India has not seen any terror attacks in cities or holy places. Country enjoyed such a huge Kumbh Mela with peace and harmony. Terrorism is now limited to a very little area of Jammu and Kashmir: PM Modi in Varanasi

25/04/2019 21:41:06

There were continuous terror attacks from 2005 to 2014 at our centres of faith including the Sankat Mochan temple. The Government of that time did nothing except indulging in talks after every attack: PM Modi

25/04/2019 21:40:52

Kashi has not only blessed me as an MP, but given me the strength of confidence of 130 crore Indians. It has given me the strength to answer the terrorists in their own language: PM Modi said during his speech.

25/04/2019 21:40:21

After performing the Ganga aarti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the gathering in Varanasi's Dasgasgwamedh Ghat.

25/04/2019 20:33:39

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks blessings as he preforms Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat a day before filing his nomination from Varanasi for Lok Sabha Elections 2019. He is accompanied by BJP President Amit Shah.

25/04/2019 20:21:02

Accompanied by several senior BJP and NDA leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow gains a massive support from people of Varanasi in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. PM Modi will file for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat tomorrow.

25/04/2019 19:47:12

Prime Minister Narendra along with BJP President Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Aditya wait near Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi to perform aarti.

25/04/2019 19:35:06

Further taking dig at Congress and Gandhi family, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said: The Gandhis must introspect the plight of Amethi and Raebareli in the last forty years and compare it to what the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has done in Varanasi in the past five years. Even a casual visitor to Varanasi would tell you the difference.

25/04/2019 19:28:15

Covering a distance of 6-kilometre from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus gate to Dashashwamedh Ghat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow has come to end. Here the PM will take part in the Ganga aarti.

25/04/2019 19:25:38

Reportedly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Dashashwamedh Ghat where he will perform 'Ganga aarti'.

25/04/2019 19:16:06

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with other leaders of the state have reached Dashashwamedh Ghat to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

25/04/2019 19:13:54

The roadshow vigour has also hit microblogging site Twitter as thousands of BJP and Narendra Modi supporters are sharing pictures and videos of the rally. Even Varanasi and Modi supportive hashtags are trending on the social media site.

25/04/2019 19:10:56

Narendra Modi's rally will shortly arrive Dashashwamedh Ghat where special arrangements have been made to welcome the Prime Minister.

25/04/2019 19:09:35

The roadshow which started around 2 hours back continues with more and more people joining the rally and cheering for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With very slow speed, PM's cavalcade has reached Shivala area.

25/04/2019 18:48:22

The roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now reached Shivala area of Varanasi. His supporters are showering flowers at him and raising slogans in his support.

25/04/2019 18:41:57

Slogans of 'Chowkidar Zindabad' are also being raised by Modi supporters during his roadshow. Rahul Gandhi has been targeting Modi over alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jet deal. He has often used the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' slogan while accusing the PM of wrongdoings in the deal. Modi had launched the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' (I too am a watchman) campaign to blunt the Congress chief's jibe at him. He had prefixed his Twitter handle with 'chowkidar' and all BJP leaders followed suit.

25/04/2019 18:23:35

Streets of Kashi are packed to the brim with enthusiastic supporters who were waiting for hours for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some trying to capture the moment with their mobile cameras, while others showering flowers at him.

25/04/2019 18:14:59

The prime minister’s cavalcade is now moving at a snail’s pace as people turned out in large numbers, almost blocking the road. ‘Modi, Modi’ slogans are being raised by the supporters as Modi waving at them.

25/04/2019 18:02:24

People also climbed up terraces, hotel roofs to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many waiting on both sides of the road to get his glimpse.

25/04/2019 17:44:21

A sea of supporters can be seen flooding the streets of Varanasi as Modi carcade passes through. It's almost 40 degree Celsius in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh but the enthusiasm of Modi's supporters seems unbeatable.

25/04/2019 17:36:15

As the frenzied crowds chant his name, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through sun-roof of his SUV, waves at his supporters who were waiting for him.

25/04/2019 17:18:25

PM Modi begins his roadshow by garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

25/04/2019 17:14:57

It will be Modi's 20th visit to his parliamentary constituency after becoming prime minister. Modi is visiting Varanasi after conducting around 80 rallies across the country for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

25/04/2019 17:12:04

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's a show of strength that will include Union ministers, state chief ministers, senior BJP leaders and also celebrities.

25/04/2019 17:10:29

Earlier on Thursday, the Congress had cleared the candidature of Ajay Rai in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, scotching speculation that General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi may be fielded there to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ajay Rai had also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi and had ranked third with over 75,000 votes, behind AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

25/04/2019 17:07:16

The roadshow, which is about to begin, will end at about 7 pm at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the most prominent of Varanasi's ghats, where Modi will take part in the evening prayers.

25/04/2019 16:57:54

The people of Varanasi have gathered in thousands, waiting for their parliamentarian to arrive in the temple city. Chants of ‘Modi-Modi’ can be heard from a distance as elated supports of prime minister are ready to welcome him.

25/04/2019 16:47:50

Modi is re-contesting from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. He will file his nomination papers on Friday. Modi won the seat in 2014 by defeating Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Ajay Rai of the Congress. Varanasi goes to the polls on May 19 in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

25/04/2019 16:46:29

The road show of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will cover Assi Ghat, Bhadaini, Sonarpura, Madanpura, Jangambadi, Godowlia before concluding at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

25/04/2019 16:45:31

'After bumper rallies in Darbhanga and Banda, I am heading to beloved Kashi. There are a series of programmes lined up, which would give me another excellent opportunity to interact with my sisters and brothers of Kashi. Har Har Mahadev,' Modi tweeted ahead of Varanasi roadshow.