In Pics: Narendra Modi files nomination after mega road show in Varanasi

Varanasi: Narendra Modi today filed his nomination for the high-profile electoral battle here after a mega road show, saying “Mother Ganga” has called him and vowed to make this temple town on the banks of Ganges the world's spiritual capital.Conch shells rang through the air and rose petals were showered on him as 63-year-old Modi, riding atop an open truck, waved to cheering people thronging the three km route from Lahurabeer to Kachhari.People donning Modi T-shirts, Modi masks and holding BJP flag lined up the arterial roads i and on balconies and rooftops in sweltering heat to have a glimpse of the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate.As Modi's convoy made its way through Muslim-dominated Nadesar, several people from the minority community also greeted the BJP leader who has been challenged in the electoral battle by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal besides others. “After coming here, I felt neither BJP has sent me nor I have come here. I am here because Mother Ganga has called me. I am feeling like a small boy coming to mother's lap. I pray to God to give me strength so that I can serve this city,” Modi, who is also contesting from Vadodara in Gujarat, said after the three-hour-long road show.Thanking people for showering love and affection on him, Modi said he will try to make Varanasi the spiritual capital of the world and would make sincere efforts to ensure well being of all section of the society including the weavers. “I am overwhelmed by support and love of people here.” After the road show, Modi, flanked by party leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Amit Shah and Ravi Shankar Prasad, filed his nomination papers to District Collector.Modi also sought to reach out to the weaver community of Varanasi (also called Banaras), which makes up a sizeable section of the population in this constituency and many of them are muslims.He said if he becomes the Prime Minister, he would provide encouragement to them in various ways so that their business could grow and expand.“I can say about the weavers here. This is a valuable ‘amanat' (legacy). Technological upgradation, marketing, branding, designing will be provided...If we create all these support bases, I don't see any reason why Kashi weavers would not be able to take on Chinese competition,” he said. To buttress his point, he said after he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had provided encouragement to poor muslims engaged in kite business and their commerce had grown manifold.“I did some research. Though no state government would pat attention to kites, I studied and found kites used to travel to 24 places before it could be produced,” Modi said. After taking certain steps, the kite industry, which was worth Rs 35 crore in 2002, has now grown to Rs 700 crore. “And all the poor muslim brothers-sisters sit in their huts and produce kites,” he added.He also said that there is talk about holistic healthcare across the world and such products were in demand. These require global marketing.He also spoke of his intention to work for the improvement of river Ganga saying and highlighted his work on Sabarmati river front.“The way Mahatama Gandhi got to be known as ‘Sabarmati ka Sant'....I had a chance to work on Sabarmati. And even if you watch on the internet, you will get to see what kind of work can be done. God should give me strength to work and the whole should hail Mother Ganges and Kashi,” he said. “I have got a chance to serve this land where Buddha had goven this message, this land of Varnasi Sarnath, this land of ‘Bhole Baba', this land where the powers of ‘sankatmochak' are limitless and my mind says Mother Ganges has called me here,” the BJP leader said.Modi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election also from Vadodara in Gujarat, kept waving to the crowds amid roaring slogans hailing him. Roads were jammed and Modi admirers virtually took over the streets.Varanasi residents who spoke to IANS said they were confident of the Gujarat chief minister's victory from Varanasi."Modi is sure to win here. There is no scope for (AAP leader Arvind) Kejriwal," said a professor at the Banaras Hindu University from where the BJP veteran began his show of strength.Praful Krishan, a BHU scholar, said he had no particular political leanings but would vote for Modi "as I don't see any other alternative and the Congress has ruined the country".Another Varanasi resident, Ram Mehta, was emphatic: "No one can challenge Modi. He is our future prime minister. And Varanasi will be proud to be represented in parliament by its prime minister."Modi's main opponents here are Kejriwal and Ajay Rai of the Congress. With around 1.6 million voters, Varanasi will go the polls May 12 -- the last round of the staggered general election.