NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called Kashi Tamil Sangamam forum a testament to the unity and diversity of India, strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
- It is to be held from 17th to the 30th of December 2023 in Varanasi
- TN Guv to flag off the first train on Friday from Dr Puratchithalaivar MGR Chennai Central station in the presence of Union Minister of State L Murugan
- Railways to run 7 special trains from Chennai to Varanasi
- The Kanniyakumari-Varanasi Special will leave from the origin station at 8.55 pm on December 16 (Saturday) and 20 (Wednesday), reaching Varanasi at 4.30 am on the fourth day
Kashi once again is preparing to welcome people for Kashi Tamil Sangamam, in a celebration of the rich cultures, Modi further added.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to be held from 17th to the 30th of December 2023 in Varanasi.
Ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to take at least 1,500 people from Tamil Nadu to Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, also referred to as Kashi by many — for the second edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam or KTS 2.0.
KTS 2.0, which “aims to revive the bonds between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu, two important centres of learning and culture in ancient India, via people-to-people connect”, will have the PM in attendance on its launch day in Varanasi Sunday.
“Varanasi is an example of how a city can develop and Tamil Nadu can also become like that when people choose the correct leadership,” said a senior BJP leader.
After the first Kashi Tamil Sangamam in 2022 and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam in April this year, KTS 2.0 is the third cultural exchange programme to be held under Modi government’s ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative.
“At a time when there is a lot of divisive politics going on in the country in the name of north and south, KTS 2.0 is an initiative to talk about the similarities of different states and how we have unity in our diversity as well. BJP karyakartas are working for KTS 2.0 just like for any other initiative of the government, as it is part of party activities meant to take the central government’s initiatives to the people,” said Nachiappan, reported The Print.
Responding to the X post of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, the Prime Minister posted on X;
காசி மீண்டும் ஒருமுறை பழமையான கலாச்சாரங்களின் கொண்டாட்டமான @KTSangamam திற்கு மக்களை உற்சாகமாக வரவேற்க தயாராகிறது. இந்நிகழ்வு இந்தியாவின் ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் பன்முகத்தன்மைக்கு ஒரு சான்றாகவும் 'ஒரே பாரதம் உன்னத பாரதம்' உணர்வையும் வலுப்படுத்துகிறது. https://t.co/dAzKPGbpA2
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2023
There is immense enthusiasm as Kashi once again prepares to welcome people for @KTSangamam, a celebration of rich cultures. This forum is a testament to the unity and diversity of India, strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.’”
“காசி மீண்டும் ஒருமுறை பழமையான கலாச்சாரங்களின் கொண்டாட்டமான @KTSangamam திற்கு மக்களை உற்சாகமாக வரவேற்க தயாராகிறது. இந்நிகழ்வு இந்தியாவின் ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் பன்முகத்தன்மைக்கு ஒரு சான்றாகவும் ‘ஒரே பாரதம் உன்னத பாரதம்’ உணர்வையும் வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.”
Railways to run 7 special trains from Chennai to Varanasi
Southern Railway connects you to the heart of Kasi Tamil Sangamam!
The first train departs December 15th & 6 more follow.
➡️ https://t.co/SmGnf2SLFM #KasiTamilSangamam #SouthernRailway #Trains #CulturalEvent #UnforgettableJourney @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/o7gpgeESjj
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) December 11, 2023
The first trains carrying participants to Varanasi for the event are scheduled to leave Chennai on 15 December and will be flagged off by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Union Minister of State for information and broadcasting,Dr L Murugan, said M Nachiappan, BJP’s state president for spiritual and temple development wing.
Southern Railway will operate seven pairs of special trains to Varanasi from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Kanniyakumari, facilitating attendees of the second edition of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ scheduled to be held from December 17 to 30.
According to a press note, the Chennai Central-Varanasi Special will depart at 10.45 am on December 15 (Friday), 23 (Saturday), and 27 (Wednesday), reaching Varanasi at 4.30 am on the third day. In the return direction, the train will leave Varanasi at 11.20 pm on December 20 (Wednesday), 28 (Wednesday), and January 1 (Monday), reaching Chennai Central at 4.45 pm on the third day.
The Kanniyakumari-Varanasi Special will leave from the origin station at 8.55 pm on December 16 (Saturday) and 20 (Wednesday), reaching Varanasi at 4.30 am on the fourth day. In the return journey, the train will leave Varanasi at 11.20 pm on December 22 (Friday) and December 26 (Tuesday), reaching Kanniyakumari at 11.50 am on the fourth day.
The Coimbatore-Varanasi Special will depart from Coimbatore at 4.30 am on December 19 (Tuesday) and 25 (Monday), reaching Varanasi at 4.30 am on the third day. It will start from Varanasi at 11.20 pm on December 24 (Friday) and 30 (Saturday), reaching Coimbatore at 2.30 am on the fourth day.
