Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cancelled his proposed visit to Varanasi — the second such cancellation.
The BJP said Mr. Modi had decided to cancel his visit “only” because a labourer was electrocuted on Wednesday night while working on decorations for the stage at his rally venue.
However, sources involved in the arrangements in Varanasi told The Hindu that it had been raining heavily in the city since Thursday morning and conditions were not favourable for the VVIP visit.
“The sole reason for the Prime Minister to cancel his visit is that Devnath, a labourer, died due to electric shock at the rally venue. The PM has said a labourer who was trying to earn a livelihood has died in an unfortunate incident so I won’t attend the programme today,” Uttar Pradesh BJP chief L.K. Bajpai told The Hindu .
Ex gratia announced
Later during the day, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal held a press conference and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 7.5 lakh to the family of the deceased labourer.
“The State government has been directed to investigate his death and constitute a magisterial probe into the matter,” Mr. Goyal said. Earlier on June 28 also the Prime Minister had to cancel his visit to the temple town due to heavy rains which flooded the Diesel Locomotive Ground, the rally venue. This time around, Mr. Bajpai claimed the arrangement was “foolproof.”
More wait for crucial projects
The cancellation of the visit has increased the wait for several crucial projects to be launched in Varanasi. Among other things, Mr. Modi was expected to launch a scheme which would ensure 24x7 power supply to his constituency. The Prime Minister was also expected to inaugurate a Rs. 300-crore ring road project and the Rs. 453-crore four-lane National Highway-56, besides the 324-bed Trauma Centre of BHU.
