
Caste, economic inequalities must end for India to develop, says Yogi
Adityanath was in the temple town to inaugurate the new 'Satsang Bhawan' of the Sant Ravidas temple, which has also been renovated.
Addressing the gathering, Adityanath said: 'Ayodhya was neglected after independence. But today, this city of the Suryavansh is emerging as the country's first solar city and creating a new identity for itself.'
'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India draws inspiration from Sant Ravidas, whose dream of a just and inclusive society forms the foundation of true national progress,' the CM added.
'Only by ending caste and economic inequalities, India can become truly developed.'
Recalling the medieval period, Adityanath stated when Sanatan Dharma was under threat during foreign invasions, it was Sant Ravidas in Kashi who guided the society towards unity and harmony.
'He challenged hollow rituals and superstitions and placed karma (action) above all. 'Main changa to kathauti mein Ganga' (if the mind is pure, than the Ganga can be found in a small bowl) is relevant even today,' said the CM.
On the occasion, the CM also spoke about the ongoing development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
He said over the last 10 years, Seer Govardhan in Kashi had been beautifully restored, and now similar efforts were transforming Ayodhya.
He highlighted the construction of four-lane roads, the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, a food distribution center named after Mata Shabari, a rest house named after Nishad Raj, and the beautification of Ram Ki Paidi and Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya.
Adityanath assured saints from the Pasi community, Kabir Math, and Rajak community of the government's commitment to inclusive development.
Among the prominent people present were Mahant Banwari Pati Brahmachari Ji Maharaj of Sant Ravidas Ji Temple, general secretary of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust Champat Rai, mayor Mahant Girish Pati Tripathi, Yogi Balknath Ji Maharaj, and Ramanujdas Ji Maharaj.
'No compromise on quality of dev projects'
Stressing on their timely execution, the chief minister directed officials to complete all development projects within deadlines without compromising standards.
He also issued specific instructions to maintain law and order and strengthen security, given Ayodhya's rising prominence.
Underscoring his commitment to Ayodhya's transformation, CM called for regular monitoring of all projects and swift action wherever delays or issues arise.
The meeting was attended by MLAs, the city mayor, the divisional commissioner, the district magistrate and other senior officials in the district.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
Talks on Ganga Water Treaty renewal with Bangladesh yet to begin: Govt
Bilateral discussions for the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh are yet to begin, the government informed Parliament on Friday. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements have also been received from all stakeholders, including from the government of West Bengal, which have been taken into account while formulating the government's views, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response. He was responding to a query on whether the governments of India and Bangladesh have initiated high-level technical discussions for the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty, which is set to expire in 2026. "With regard to the Ganga/Ganges Water Treaty signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh, bilateral discussions for its renewal are yet to commence between the two countries," Singh said. Under the framework of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), technical-level meetings continue to be held with Bangladesh on all water-related issues of mutual interest and the last such meeting was held in March 2025, providing a structured platform for data sharing and joint monitoring, he added. The government of West Bengal is "regularly consulted" by the Union government in preparing for the aforementioned discussions, Singh said. The minister said, An authorised representative from the government of West Bengal took part in inter-ministerial discussions held on the matter on October 30, 2023, March 15, 2024, May 31, 2024 and also on March 26, 2025, where a collective view was formulated. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements have also been received from all stakeholders, including from the government of West Bengal, which have been taken into account while formulating the government's views," the MoS said.


The Print
a day ago
- The Print
India's enemies will be eliminated by Bundelkhand's Defence Corridor: Adityanath
He said that Lord Ram had taken a pledge from this soil to free the Earth from demons and the Defence Corridor in Bundelkhand is being developed in this spirit. Addressing a public gathering in Rajapur during his visit to Chitrakoot, Adityanath said, 'I always said that if Pakistan dared to act aggressively, the tanks built in Bundelkhand would deliver such a blow that it would be forced to rub its nose on the ground.' 'And this time, the BrahMos missile broke Pakistan's back in such a way that it was left shouting for help globally, but no one came forward,' he added. Chitrakoot (UP), Jul 31 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the BrahMos missile 'broke Pakistan's back', leaving it to 'cry before the world' while no one came to its aid. 'The task of eliminating India's enemies will be carried out by Bundelkhand's Defence Corridor, with the youth forming a strong wall in the nation's security,' the chief minister said. During his visit to Rajapur on the occasion of Goswami Tulsidas's birth anniversary, Adityanath highlighted the region's cultural and spiritual significance. He said Chitrakoot is set to emerge as a hub of faith, security and self-reliance. The chief minister offered prayers at Tulsi Janmkutir and viewed the handwritten manuscript of the Shri Ramcharitmanas at Manas Mandir. He also attended the Tulsi Sahitya Sammelan at Tulsi Resort, where he met spiritual leaders Murari Bapu and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. In his address to seers, he reiterated Chitrakoot's proud spiritual legacy and said the area would become a model of religious devotion, safety and self-reliance. Later, at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ganiwan, Adityanath unveiled a statue of Goswami Tulsidas and planted Harishankari saplings to promote environmental awareness. He also visited exhibitions by the Agriculture Department and interacted with children at the Parmanand Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya, distributing chocolates and posing for photographs. During his address to the public gathering he reminded them that Lord Ram had spent more than 11 years in Chitrakoot and noted that it had been the 'karmabhoomi' of revered figures like Goswami Tulsidas, Maharishi Valmiki and social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh. Adityanath also outlined ongoing government initiatives, including development of the Ram Van Gaman Marg, the Bundelkhand Expressway, the Defence Corridor and integrated tourism infrastructure in Chitrakoot. He announced a proposed riverfront along the Yamuna to boost tourism and local employment. He said the region had seen a significant increase in crop production — particularly pulses, oilseeds and maize — and assured continued support for farmers through soil testing and crop insurance. The chief minister said Chitrakoot today is a place free from fear and rich in spiritual energy. He highlighted ongoing development of pilgrimage and educational sites such as Gramodaya University, Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya, Valmiki Ashram, and Kamadgiri. Earlier in the day, Adityanath paid tributes to Goswami Tulsidas on his 500th birth anniversary, praising his unwavering devotion to Lord Ram amid the political complexities of his time. 'Five hundred years ago, when this village might have been grappling with a lack of resources and hardships, a divine soul was born and, in his childhood, dedicated himself to the feet of Prabhu Shri Ram,' he said. Drawing a contrast with the Mughal era, he said that while the court of Emperor Akbar attracted those seeking power, Tulsidas chose not to serve any courtier but dedicated himself solely to spiritual devotion. 'Tulsidas emerged as a wonderful confluence of devotion, power, and awakening public consciousness choosing the path of defiance not through the sword, but through Ramlila and Ramcharitmanas,' he said according to a statement. He further remarked, 'Akbar presented a soft face of his rule, but the cruelty behind it is still visible to us today. The tradition of saints at that time firmly resisted it.' Recalling his visit to Mauritius, Adityanath said that during the era of slavery, when Indians were taken there as labourers, the Ramcharitmanas was their only solace. 'They were uneducated but preserved their culture through the Manas. Today, their descendants are heads of state and Ramcharitmanas is still worshipped in their homes,' he said. Criticising efforts to malign seers, Adityanath said those who try to make saints controversial are themselves surrounded by controversies. He concluded that while such people would continue to create obstacles, there must be a collective effort to protect Sanatan Dharma and preserve India's rich heritage, without being deterred by such attempts. PTI CDN NAV OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Tripartite river management project between West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand in the works: West Bengal Minister
The Minister of Irrigation and Waterways in West Bengal, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, on Thursday (July 31, 2025), announced that West Bengal is planning a 'mega river management project' with Bihar and Jharkhand, for the Gangetic plains of Malda and Murshidabad districts. 'A coordination meeting was held between Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) in Patna on July 24 this year. GFCC estimated that the brunt of the river lies 80% on West Bengal, 15% on Jharkhand and the rest on Bihar. They asked the three States to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for erosion abatement. West Bengal is ready,' Mr Bhunia said on Thursday. He added that West Bengal has planned a project worth ₹610 crores, particularly in the Malda and Murshidabad districts, through which the Ganga enters West Bengal and takes a southward turn to the Bay of Bengal as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River. 'The Ganga flows down from north India, passes through Bihar and Jharkhand, and slams against the Ratua 1 block of Katahadiara in Malda district with heavy flow and momentum. The land here is getting increasingly engulfed by the river. The lives and livelihoods of people are threatened,' Mr Bhunia said. The Minister explained that the proposed project would include measures for erosion abatement, flood management, dredging, and strengthening of the embankment, and aims to start with bank protection work and building five spurs in a 5 km stretch in Ratua from December this year. 'The idea is to control the velocity and momentum of the Ganga by draining out some portion of the river from the more vulnerable left bank in Bihar and West Bengal, to the more stable right bank towards Jharkhand, and reduce its impact particularly on Ratua block,' Mr Bhunia said. He added that the GFCC advised Jharkhand and Bihar to accord West Bengal 'no objection' to carry out dredging in a 15 km area in Jharkhand's Sakrigali. West Bengal losing land According to the Irrigation Minister, the problem of extreme river erosion and flooding in this State has existed since India's independence, with around 3,394.8 hectares of land in West Bengal being engulfed by the Ganga between 2005 and 2024. 'The entire stretch of river spanning 163.5 km through Malda, Murshidabad, and Nadia districts is very prone to erosion. The abatement of river erosion cannot be handled by West Bengal alone. It is a national problem,' Mr Bhunia said. The West Bengal government carried out anti-erosion work in Malda and Murshidabad earlier, with six different activities ongoing for a total length of 6.83 km for ₹58.77 crores. The Chief Minister had earlier written to the Prime Minister in 2022 about the severe extent of erosion, particularly in Malda's Manikchak block.