Modi govt wants to make money by converting religious places into tourist spots: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday attacked the BJP over the launch of world's longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, and inauguration of a Tent City, saying that Modi government's sole motive is to earn money by converting religious places into tourist spots.
Yadav also alleged the BJP of wasting money in such programmes while it should have been used to clean the river Ganga under the Ganga Action plan.
"People visit Varanasi in the last phase of their lives or for spirituality and getting knowledge. BJP is making this arrangement (there) for earning money by promoting tourism. What are the nishads (there) who used to steer boats getting out of it. Will only the big industrialists and other traders get facilities," Yadav said while speaking to reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the cruise, and inaugurate a 'Tent City' on the banks of the Ganga river in Varanasi on January 13 via video conferencing.
MV Ganga Vilas will begin its journey from Varanasi and sail around 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, traversing across 27 river systems in the two countries.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Yadav questioned the BJP about the real motive behind the cruise and the Tent City.
"Now will the BJP take away the jobs of the sailors as well? BJP's policy of earning money by making religious places tourist places is condemnable. People from all over the world come to experience the spiritual splendor of Kashi, not for the luxury. BJP will no longer be able to cover the darkness of real issues with external glare," he had said in the tweet.
Yadav also referred to the cleaning of river Ganga under the Ganga Action plan' and said that it is seen that the efforts made so far have not been able to clean 'Maa Ganga'.
"Thousands of crores of rupees have been cleaned but not Maa Ganga," Yadav said.
On Global Investors Meet being organised by the Uttar Pradesh government in February, Yadav asked what happened on the ground to the MOUs signed earlier and what incentives are being given to bring more investments.
He termed the summit as nothing but preparation for the next elections to betray the people of the state.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
West Bengal exit polls: People’s Pulse projects TMC lead, others predict BJP surge
Kolkata: Exit polls for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 have shown different projections, with some surveys indicating a lead for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), while others suggest an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to People’s Pulse, the TMC+ alliance is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
The BJP is estimated to secure between 95 and 110 seats, while the Left Front+ is predicted to win up to one seat. The Congress (INC) is likely to get between one and three seats, and others are projected to win between one and two seats.
Matrize projections indicate a different trend, with the BJP projected to win between 146 and 161 seats, crossing the majority mark of 148, with a vote share of 42.5 per cent. The TMC is estimated to win between 125 and 140 seats with a vote share of 40.8 per cent.
P-MARQ has also projected a BJP lead, estimating the party to win between 150 and 175 seats, while the TMC+ alliance is expected to secure between 118 and 138 seats. The same survey projects Congress to win between 2 and 6 seats.
Poll Diary estimates suggest the BJP may win between 142 and 171 seats, while the TMC could secure between 99 and 127 seats. Other parties are projected to win between 5 and 9 seats.
Chanakya Strategies has projected the BJP to win between 150 and 160 seats, while the TMC is estimated to get between 130 and 140 seats. Others are expected to secure between 6 and 10 seats, while Congress and Left are projected at zero.
ABP projections estimate the BJP to win between 146 and 161 seats, while the TMC is expected to secure between 125 and 140 seats. Others are projected to win between 6 and 10 seats.
Polls in the state were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
