Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a massive gathering at a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore, while strongly emphasising women’s empowerment and seeking support for the implementation of women’s reservation in legislatures.
Highlighting the significance of the event, PM Modi said, “Today’s occasion is indeed a celebration of honoring and developing women’s power,” adding that projects spanning multiple sectors had been launched alongside efforts to improve connectivity between Kashi and Ayodhya.
Describing women as central to India’s development journey, the Prime Minister said, “The mission to build a developed India continues relentlessly; and when I talk about a Viksit Bharat its strongest pillar is India’s Nari Shakti.”
Seeking public support for a key legislative goal, PM Modi said, “As the Member of Parliament from Kashi and as the Prime Minister of the nation, I seek your blessings to achieve a significant goal in the national interest and this major goal is implementing women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.” He added, “I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring your reservation right becomes reality.”
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of women’s participation in governance, saying, “Our government is committed to ensuring women’s participation in the country’s policy-making.” He further stressed, “Our government’s policies have consistently accorded top priority to women’s welfare.”
Recalling past challenges faced by women, PM Modi said, “When a woman is empowered in the household, the entire family gains strength, which in turn strengthens society and the country.” He added that social barriers and discrimination against women had long been normalised and needed to be dismantled.
Reflecting on his earlier initiatives, PM Modi said, “From then until today, women’s welfare has been given the highest priority in our government’s policies continuously.” He highlighted key welfare schemes, noting that toilets, bank accounts, electricity and tap water connections had been extended to crores of households, placing women at the centre of development.
The Prime Minister also stressed economic empowerment, stating, “Alongside ensuring convenience and security, we have laid emphasis on enhancing the economic participation of women.” He noted that nearly 10 crore women have been linked to self-help groups, with “3 crore sisters so far have become Lakhpati Didis.”
Highlighting sector-specific benefits, PM Modi said, “Today our mothers and sisters are truly becoming the owners of their homes,” referring to housing schemes. He also congratulated women associated with Banas Dairy, saying, “This is just the beginning, Banaras will grow, Banas Dairy will grow, and this bonus will also keep increasing.”
On safety and legal reforms, PM Modi said, “Anyone with wrong intentions toward daughters now knows very well what their fate will be,” citing strengthened laws and institutional mechanisms for women’s protection.
He also underlined expanding opportunities, stating, “Our government means women’s empowerment, women’s upliftment, and making women’s lives easier,” while noting increased participation of women in sectors like defence, agriculture, digital services, and entrepreneurship.
Taking aim at opposition parties, the Prime Minister said efforts to pass legislation enabling greater representation of women in legislatures had faced hurdles, adding that some parties had “once again betrayed the women of the country.”
PM Modi also highlighted infrastructure and connectivity initiatives, including the flagging off of two Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Varanasi to Pune and Ayodhya to Mumbai. He said, “This will further improve connectivity between UP and Maharashtra, giving people another modern option to reach Ayodhya Dham and Kashi Vishwanath Dham.”
PM Modi further noted that development projects in Varanasi include healthcare, tourism, urban infrastructure, and connectivity works, adding, “All these projects directly benefit Banaras’s residents and reflect our commitment to sensitive, people-centric development.”
Emphasising the city’s growing importance, PM Modi said, “In the past decade, Kashi has emerged as a major health hub for North and Eastern India.” He highlighted the addition of a 500-bed multi-super speciality hospital and a 100-bed critical care block.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister drew a parallel between the city’s legacy and ongoing development, stating, “Our Kashi is imperishable and runs continuously, similarly, this campaign of development is also continuously dynamic.”
