The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Varanasi): On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination from Varanasi, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh demanded answers regarding the Ganga river’s pollution and the condition of the villages Modi had adopted. Ramesh accused Modi of failing to deliver on his promises to purify the Ganga and improve the adopted villages in Varanasi.
Ramesh’s post on X questioned why the Ganga remains polluted despite the Rs 20,000 crore spent on the Namami Gange project. He noted that the number of polluted river stretches has increased from 51 to 66, with 71% of monitoring stations reporting dangerous bacteria levels up to 40 times higher than safe limits. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have also been found in the river. “Where has the Rs 20,000 crore in taxpayer money gone? How much has been siphoned off in corruption and mismanagement?” Ramesh asked.
Highlighting Modi’s promise from 2014, when he said “Maa Ganga ne mujhe bulaya hain” (Mother Ganga has called me), Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of failing to honor his commitment to purify the Ganga. Ramesh also criticized Modi for abandoning the eight Varanasi villages he had adopted. A March 2024 ground report indicated no significant progress in these villages, despite promises of “smart schools,” health facilities, and housing.
Ramesh provided specific examples, such as Domri village, which lacks proper housing, and Nagepur village, which has poor roads. He mentioned that Dalit communities in Jogapur and Jayapur lack toilets and water, while the flagship Nal Se Jal Scheme has not reached Parampur village. “The condition of Mr. Modi’s adopted villages tells us a lot about his sense of duty, or lack thereof, towards serving his constituents. Why has the PM abandoned his ‘adopted’ villages? Is this the true face of ‘Modi ki guarantee’?” Ramesh asked.
Ramesh further alleged that Modi’s ideology aligns more with Nathuram Godse than Mahatma Gandhi, accusing him of destroying the Sarwa Sewa Sangh, an institution founded by Acharya Vinobha Bhave and associated with prominent figures like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Jayaprakash Narayan. The Sarwa Sewa Sangh had been operating on 13 acres of land near Varanasi Railway Station before being evicted in August 2023. The land was taken over by Indian Railways, leaving only a corner occupied by the Gandhi Vidya Sansthan, which had already been captured by the RSS.
“Why does the PM persist in his hypocrisy of praising Gandhiji abroad while destroying Gandhian institutions at home? Can he openly admit his admiration for Godse over Gandhi?” Ramesh questioned.
