"Our (BJP) politics is not for votes, our culture is different. In politics, people do only that task which yields votes, but our character is different. Some politicians work only when it fetches them votes. But we have been brought up in a different culture. ... For us, the nation is above all and it is our top most priority, not votes," Modi said.
Modi also targetted the erstwhile Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh for not providing to the Centre the list of homeless requiring houses in the state.
"The previous government had no interest in giving homes to the poor. After mounting pressure, they gave a list of only 10,000. But the current (Yogi Adityanath) government has given a list of lakhs of people to avail benefit," Modi said.
PM Modi today addressed a gathering at Shahanshahpur in Uttar Pradesh and reiterated his pledge of providing a home to every Indian by 2022.
20:04 PM Modi has now left Durga Kund Mandir in Varanasi.
19:39
19:34 PM Modi is now addressing the gathering, following the postal stamp launch.
19:30 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a postal stamps based on Ramayana.
19:24 PM Modi is expected to release a postal stamps on Ramayana.
19:23
19:21 PM Modi has reached the Tulsi Manas Temple in Varanasi.
17:45 Next up: Prime Minister will visit the Tulsi Manas Temple and release a postal stamp on Ramayana.
17:32
17:30 PM Modi ends his address by congratulating UP CM Yogi Adityanath for the taken up by the state government in the last six months.
17:28 PM Modi says, 'we are taking decisions on projects which had been stalled for 20-25 years'.
17:25 PM Modi says that he is happy about connecting Vadodara and Varanasi through the Mahamana Express.
Remember, the prime minister had contested the two Lok Sabha seats during the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
17:21 The prime minister is speaking about poverty alleviation.
17:18 The museum will help boost Varanasi's tourism sector, says PM Modi.
'It will be a new center for economic activities,' he adds.
17:17 The prime minister praises the Bunkar artists and says that the Rs 300 crore Deendayal Hastakala Sankul will help the community.
17:14 PM Modi lauds UP CM Yogi Adityanath for taking up projects that had been delayed.
17:11 PM Modi says that the government has set the ball rolling for projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore, today.
17:08 Prime Minister Modi is now addressing the gathering.
17:03 PM Modi has now flagged off the Mahamana Express between Varanasi and Vadodara.
17:02 PM Modi has also inaugurate banking services of the Utkarsh Bank.
16:58 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off 17 projects.
16:55 UP CM Adityanath talks about the various schemes implemented by the government.
16:51 Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath is speaking now.
16:45 Minister of Textiles, Information & Broadcast Smriti Irani speaks next. The minister lauds establishment of the Deendayal Hastakala Sankul.
16:41 UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya is speaking first. He lauds work done by the Centre.
16:35 Short videos explaining various projects such as the Deendayal Hastakala Sankul and the Utkarsh Bank, are currently being played for the audience.
16:30 Prime Minister Modi will be addressing the gathering shortly.
16:25 Both Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi will be addressing a gathering.
16:17
16:00 The prime minister has dedicate the Deendayal Hastakala Sankul to the nation. He is now expected to address the people at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium.
15:55 Here's what PM Modi is expected to do in his constituency:
> The prime minister will inaugurate Deendayal Hastakala Sankul - a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts.
> He will flag off the Mahamana Express between Varanasi and Vadodara.
> PM Modi will inaugurate banking services of the Utkarsh Bank.
> The prime minister will visit the historic Tulsi Manas Temple, release a postal stamp on Ramayana.
> PM Modi will lay foundation stone for development projects and visit Pashudhan Arogya Mela.
15:42 Heavy rains have lashed the venue where PM Modi is scheduled to address the people, media reports suggest.
15:27 PM Modi has arrived in Varanasi.
15:03 PM Modi's visit to Varanasi is his first since BJP's victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
14:32 The Prime Minister is set to leave from Delhi shortly and make the short flight to his constituency.
13:52 On Saturday, the prime minister will briefly participate in a sanitation-related activity in a village of Shahanshahpur.
13:21 The PMO has said that Modi will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the headquarters building of the Utkarsh Bank.
12:59 Meanwhile, Tamil actor Rajinikanth has extended his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign.
12:27 On Saturday, Modi will inaugurate 'Pashu Arogya Mela' in Shahanshahpur on the outskirts of the city. He will also address a gathering of farmers there. He will also distribute loan waiver certificates to some farmers, whose loans have been waived by the BJP-led Uttar
Pradesh government.
11:59 The Mahamana Express with plush interiors -- built under the Make in India initiative -- currently runs on two routes of Varanasi-New Delhi and Bhopal-Khajuraho.
The new weekly train will run from Varanasi every Friday and from Vadodara every Wednesday.
The 1,531-km journey between the two cities will take 27 hours 30 minutes at an average speed of 55.7 km/hr, ministry officials said.
11:35 The Mahamana Express will be flagged off via video link.
10:55 The prime minister will dedicate to the nation a community kitchen (‘Annakshetra’) near the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn said.
10:35 "I look forward to praying at the historic Tulsi Manas Temple & Durga Mata Temple. A postage stamp on the Ramayana will also be released," Modi said in another tweet.
10:20 Here's all you need to know about the Mahamana Express from Varanasi to Vadodara which the Prime Minister will flag off today.
10:10 Modi will inaugurate nearly 17 infrastructure projects, including the Ramnagar-Samne Ghat bridge and the Balua Ghat bridge, and lay the foundation of nearly six projects including Ramna Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), said Sanjay Bhardwaj, the BJP's eastern Uttar Pradesh media in-charge.
09:59 The Prime Minister will visit the historic Tulsi Manas Temple this evening and release a postal stamp on Ramayana.
09:54 He will also inaugurate banking services of the Utkarsh Bank.
09:45 Modi will inaugurate Deendayal Hastkala Sankul – a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts during his Varanasi visit.
09:40 "Tomorrow I begin my Varanasi visit, during which various development works will be launched," Modi tweeted last night.
09:35 Among the highlights will be the flagging off of the Mahamana Express train which will connect Varanasi with Surat and Vadodara in Gujarat.
09:30 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Friday for a two-day visit during which he will inaugurate several projects covering sectors like infrastructure, railways, financial inclusion and sanitation.
