LIVE: PM Narendra Modi's address from Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Breaking from tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is today attended the historic Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow, seen as yet another attempt to connect to the people of poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Here are top 10 quotes from the Prime Minister's address:

• Communalism, casteism, nepotism are forms of evil inside us, need to get rid of these 'Ravanas', says PM Modi.

• Today is the International Day of the Girl Child. There is a need to end discrimination based on gender: PM

• Everyone has to speak in one voice against terrorism. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity

• Who was the first to stand against terrorism? Was he a warrior? Ramayana is witness that Jatayu was the first to fight against terrorism. He fought for a woman's honour.

• Terrorism does not have any boundaries. It is bound to destroy all...a need has arisen to root out those who spread terrorism. Those who help terrorists and provide shelter to them can no longer be spared

• Terrorism is against humanity. The entire world is being destroyed...if you think that we are insulated against terrorism, then we are wrong. It is a virus affecting our societies. All forces across the world have to talk in one voice and end it. It will not be possible to save humanity without eradicating terrorism.

• This is the nation of 'Chakradhrai Mohan and the land of Buddha. We believe in peace, but if needed we can fight against the evil as well," said Prime Minister Modi. If you think that we are free from terrorism, then you are wrong. It is a virus affecting our society.

• The uniqueness of this nation is- our traditions have been kept alive, generation after generation.

• This land has given us Shri Ram and Shri Krishna. Am fortunate to have come here to join the Vijaya Dashmi celebrations

• We burn Ravan every year, what does it teach us? Everytime we do that we should promise to kill the Ravan within ourselves & the society.

  Usually, the Prime Ministers have celebrated the festival in the national capital. The Aishbagh Ramlila is also seen as a symbol of pluralistic culture, also called 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb', as Muslim rulers patronised it and allotted it space equal to Eidgah, which is situated right next to it. It is believed that Ramleela was started in Aishbagh after Tulsidas completed theRamcharitmanas in 1576. Later, the Nawabs of Awadh patronised the event. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was Lucknow MP five times, provided financial help to the Aishbag Ramleela committee but never attended the event. Modi's visit assumes an added significance because of assembly polls due next year in Uttar Pradesh where the saffron party is making a concerted bid to come back to power after a gap of 15 years and is up against ruling Samajwadi Party and main opposition Mayawati-led BSP. In the absence of strong regional leaders, BJP is again banking on Modi's appeal to power its campaign in the state, which it swept in the Lok Sabha polls riding on a national wave in his support but where it is perceived to have slipped since.