Kashi Tamil Sangamam played valuable role in promoting national integration: EAM Jaishankar

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, organised annually by the Union government’s Ministry of Education, had played “a valuable role” in promoting national integration.

“The Kashi Tamil Sangamam has played a valuable role in promoting national integration. Fostering the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ will take our nation forward, ” Jaishankar posted on X after meeting representatives of the Tamil community and others at Kanchi Kamakoti temple in Varanasi on Sunday.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19, 2022, seeks to rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.

Jaishankar was in Varanasi to campaign for PM Modi who is contesting from there for the Lok Sabha seat for the third time.

Earlier in the day while talking to ANI, Jaishankar exuded confidence in BJP’s victory in Varanasi, saying that much election campaigning was not required here and that the people here were proud of India’s global stature under the leadership of PM Modi.

“I have experienced this in this election campaign that people wish to know more about the country’s foreign policy. They feel proud of where PM Modi has taken this country,” Jaishankar said.

He highlighted the Modi government’s tradition of seeking feedback from citizens, reflecting a commitment to participatory governance. “It’s the Modi government’s tradition to ask for feedback from people… We don’t need to do much election campaign here in Varanasi,” he added.

“We celebrated G20 like a festival in about 60 cities across the country… I think tourism will definitely increase here in the coming days… We want to promote Kashi. We want to create its international image,” he also said.

Jaishankar’s schedule in Varanasi included interactions with educators and intellectuals, where he emphasised the pivotal role of education in shaping India’s future.

During a session titled “Empowerment with Education for Better Tomorrow” at a local school, Jaishankar delved into the multifaceted dimensions of education, emphasising its relevance in a modern, technological era and a globalised world.

He further stressed the importance of education in fostering inclusivity and nurturing India’s civilisational power, a sentiment resonating deeply in the ancient city of Kashi.

Reflecting on Varanasi’s unique position, Jaishankar noted the city’s minimal need for extensive election campaigning, attributing it to the populace’s inherent pride in India’s achievements on the global stage.

Varanasi is the stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party and PM Modi. This will be the most anticipated contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi won the constituency with resounding majority in both the 2014 and 2019 general polls.

Congress has pitted Ajay Rai against PM Modi. Rai is the Opposition INDIA bloc’s joint nominee against the Prime Minister. The UP Congress chief, Rai, was also fielded by the Congress against the PM in Varanasi in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but he finished third both times.

This is the third time Ajay Rai will face Modi in a Lok Sabha contest. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi won the seat with over 6,74,664 votes and commanded a vote share of 63.6 per cent.

In 2014, Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a clash between Narendra Modi, then the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. PM Modi won the elections with a margin exceeding 3 lakh votes.

In 2014, PM Modi contested two Lok Sabha seats- from Gujarat’s Vadodara and Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.