Varanasi, March 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign in Varanasi ahead of the last and seventh phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017 on consecutively third day on Monday. While addressing a rally in Rohaniya region of Varanasi, the PM said that by 2022, no family in India will be homeless. “Our government is working towards it. By 2022, the income of India’s farmer will be doubled,” he said. The Prime Minister also spoke about the benefits of soil health cards and promised to provide certified seeds to the farmers.

Earlier in the day, on his third day in Varanasi, the Prime Minister visited the Garhwaghat Ashram where he went on the stage but, left without addressing the gathering. The PM also visited the home of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri in Varanasi and paid a floral tribute to his photo at his residence. He was also felicitated by Shastri’s family on Saturday.

Here are the key highlights of PM Modi’s address:

– Prime Minister raised the issues faced by farmers in Uttar Pradesh. He promised to double up the income of the farmers by 2022 and vowed to provide soil health cards to them in order to promote their produce.

– Narendra Modi also said that if BJP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, the party and its workers will work day and night to transform the face of Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency.

– Taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi says it doesn’t care about the farmer or development. “Only this state didn’t welcome the schemes on farmer welfare. If we want, our farmer can reap gold by adding water to the soil,” he added.

– While counting the benefits given to the farmers, the PM speaks about Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and informs how it is proving to be helpful for the farmers.

– “We promise to provide LPG gas connections to over 5 crore families. I know about the troubles poor families and the females have to deal with while cooking food. I belong to a poor family and have faced all those troubles and problems,” the PM said.

– The Prime Minister attacks the Samajwadi Party government over corruption in the employment opportunities, says the poor and the eligible are not getting jobs in Uttar Pradesh whereas, the ones who are not capable are entering into the job sector easily.

– Hardening the attack further on the Uttar Pradesh government, PM Modi accused it of turning the police stations in the state into the offices of the Samajwadi Party.

– He also targeted BSP supremo Mayawati and the Congress party, asks people whether any ‘bua’, ‘bhatija’ or ‘yaar’ has helped in the development of Uttar Pradesh.

– Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people to not give another chance to Akhilesh Yadav to destroy Uttar Pradesh as he promises to waive off the farmer loans in the first Cabinet meet after forming government in the state.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister carried out a roadshow in Varanasi and also addressed a public meeting. Modi also visited the Kaal Bhairav temple and Kashi Vishwanath temple where he offered prayers. His cavalcade passed from Madanpura, a Muslim-dominated area in Varanasi, where he was welcomed with flowers and shawls which he accepted by stopping his car.

On Sunday, Modi hit out at the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party after he concluded his roadshow. Modi addressed a public rally in Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in Varanasi where he said, “Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress Party believe in ‘kuch ka saath kuch ka vikas‘. Whereas BJP’s principle of governance is ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’.

“When other governments were in power at the Centre, questions were asked – How much money was lost (in the scams), now people ask a question to me – What has come back,” Modi questioned.

The seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017 began on February 11. The last phase will be held on March 8. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth phase of polls were held on February 11, 15, 18, 23, 27 and March 4, respectively. The first four phases of the polls witnessed over 60 per cent of voter turnout whereas, the fifth phase recorded a turnout of 57.4 per cent and sixth witnessed 57.03 per cent turnout. The counting of votes in the state will be held on March 11. (For full election coverage