Modi salutes Varanasi's mandate for change(Update/varanasi)

Saluting the land of Varanasi, NDA prime minister-designate Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the people of the city by voting for him, have given a decisive mandate for change.

"I was barred from speaking to my voters but they still made me win by a huge margin. I thank the people of Varanasi for giving me so much support," Modi said this while apparently criticizing the local administration and the Election Commission for denying him permission for an election rally and another event in the city on May 10.

He credited party president, Rajnath Singh, for being the most successful party president and expressed his indebtedness for making him contest from here.

NDA prime minister-designate also invoked Mahatma Gandhi and said that cleanliness was never compromised by him and gave a clarion call for cleaning India right from Varanasi.

"Mahatma Gandhi never compromised was cleanliness. Can we not fulfill this wish from Kashi? Let the country see this. If we have to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary we have to clean India. we have to begin cleaning India from Varanasi. Cleaning our surrounding is also one way of serving Mother India. It's with small chores that big goals are accomplished. From now on we won't let Varanasi kept unclean," Modi thundered.

He also committed himself to restore the lost glory of Varanasi and making the city a tourist hot-spot and added that we should all resolve to live for the country.

Modi reminded the people that for the first time the country have elected a prime minister who was born after Independence.

Modi said the performance of the Congress was so bad that it is finding it hard even to be the main opposition party.

He stated that there was a talk among opposition parties to form an alliance for an opposition which was unheard of.

"We heard about coalitions to form government but now we have a situation where they need alliance for an Opposition," Modi added.

NDA prime minister-designate Narendra Modi arrived at Dashashwamedh Ghat to take part in the Ganga Aarti.

Prominent leaders of the BJP like party president, Rajnath Singh, and Modi-right-hand man, Amit Shah were also seen accompanying him at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Earlier, Modi landed at Varanasi's Babatpur Airport and then headed to perform 'rudrabhishek puja' of Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Heavy security was deployed at the 'Ghat' to tame the huge crowds who had assembled to watch the proceedings.

There was a bomb explosion in the area in 2010 which had killed two persons and left several others injured.