‘Avenged my daughters’ sindoor’: PM Modi dedicates Operation Sindoor to Mahadev in Varanasi; releases 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Aug 2) during his visit to Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi dedicated Operation Sindoor to Lord Mahadev. Addressing crowds during the 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi noted that this was the first time he was visiting Varanasi after India carried out the cross-border operation. He said that he has fulfilled his pledge to avenge his "daughters' sindoor". The PM said that "26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters' sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev. I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor at the feet of Mahadev."

Modi releases 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi

On Saturday, the PM also released the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring an amount of more than Rs 20,500 crores into the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers. As per ANI, with this release, the total disbursement achieved under the scheme has risen to over ₹3.90 lakh crore. He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi.

He inaugurated the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi and Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar roads, along with a key railway overbridge at Hardattpur to ease traffic on the Mohan Sarai–Adalpura route. Foundation stones were also laid for a slew of other road upgrades across both rural and urban stretches—Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, Gangapur, Babatpur, among others—as well as new railway overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.

In the energy sector, the Prime Minister launched projects worth over ₹880 crore to upgrade power infrastructure, including smart distribution and underground cabling works. Tourism and cultural heritage also saw a major push as Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront ghats, beautification of Rangildas Kutiya pond and ghat in Shivpur, and water purification work at Durgakund. He also laid the foundation stone for restoration at Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and the development of Karkhiyaon—birthplace of several freedom fighters.