Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 4,000 crore Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, news agency PTI reported. Speaking at the ceremony, PM Modi stated: "Sant Ravidas memorial will enrich the country's tradition. Sant Ravidas will give me an opportunity to inaugurate the temple as well after 1-2 years."
"Sant Ravidas was born in Mughal era of instability, excesses and atrocity; he created awakening against social evils," PM Modi further stated.
PM Modi laid the foundation stones for Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial. According to the government release, the Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial in Sagar district will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore over a sprawling area of 11.25 acres.
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The monument will include a museum and an art gallery devoted to Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas' life, philosophy, and teachings. The monument will also contain facilities for visiting devotees such as Bhakt Niwas and Bhojanalay.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the project marking the completion of the expansion of the Kota-Bina rail route. The project, which has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,475 crore, passes through Kota and Baran districts in Rajasthan, and Guna, Ashoknagar and Sagar districts, in Madhya Pradesh.
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The additional rail route will also help boost mobility and improve the train speed.
It is to be noted that the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections are likely to be held later this year.
In the 2018 polls, the BJP had put up a good show in the impoverished Bundelkhand region consisting of six districts - Sagar, Chattarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh, and Panna. It accounts for 26 assembly seats.