Some Leaders Mock Religion, Attack Faith: PM Modi Slams Maha Kumbh Critics

PM Modi inaugurated a 100-bed cancer hospital at Bageshwar Dham and said free treatment will be provided to the underprivileged people.

Chhatarpur:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged that a section of the leaders ridicule religion and divide people with the support of foreign powers that try to weaken country. He criticised those opposing India's religious and cultural traditions.

"Nowadays, we see some leaders mock religion and are engaged in dividing people. Often foreign powers, who support these people, also try to weaken the country and religion. People, who hate Hindus, have been living here for centuries. People with mentality of slavery keep attacking our faith, temples, religion and principles. They abuse our festivals and traditions, attack our religion, divide our society and are breaking unity," PM Modi said.

Hitting out at the Maha Kumbh critics, PM Modi said that the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj will continue to strengthen India's unity. "Millions of devotees have already taken holy dip at the Triveni. The Maha Kumbh has turned into a symbol of unity and continue to inspire our future generations. I congratulate the sanitation workers and police personnel for their hardwork at Kumbh," he said.

PM Modi's praise of Maha Kumbh comes amid some Opposition leaders criticising of mismanagement and lack of arrangement for devotees at the mela. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had termed the mela as 'Mrityu Kumbh' and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had claimed there was discrepancy between data of Uttar Pradesh government and central agencies on quality of Ganga water at Triveni Sangam.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute for Cancer in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. The hospital, worth over Rs 200 crore, will have state-of-the-art machines and specialists. It will provide free treatment to underprivileged cancer patients.

"The hospital will be set up on 10 acres of land. In the first phase a facility of 100 beds will be arranged. I congratulate Dhirendra Shastri for this work and people of Bundelkhand," PM Modi said.

After arriving here, PM Modi first visited Balaji temple and performed puja. During this, Bageshwar Dham head Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri presented Balaji's idol, a book on Sanatan Dharma and a souvenir to PM Modi. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president VD Sharma received PM Narendra Modi at Khajuraho Airport.

He said, "In the next three years, day-care centres for cancer treatment will be opened in government hospitals of the country and cancer medicines will be made cheaper. Everyone has to be cautious about cancer and the important thing is health screening. We are running a screening campaign for people over 30 years of age. If you have any doubt, get yourself checked, this is the best way for prevention."

Addressing the programme, CM said temples should contribute to the development of the country and have a direction in this regard. He said that the proposed cancer hospital will be the biggest gift to Bundelkhand.

Prior to this, Shastri felicitated PM Modi. Shastri has taken a pledge to build a hospital in the temple premises saying, medicine is necessary along with prayers for recovery. He said that the hospital will be upgraded to a medical college.

PM Modi left for Bhopal after attending the programme.

Earlier, SP Agam Jain said, "Nearly 2500 security personnel have been deployed for the programme and additional force has been called from Bhopal."

According to local leaders, the hospital will act as a boon for the residents of 17 districts of Bundelkhand, who are suffering from cancer. The poor will get free treatment at this hospital.

The Kumbh of Bundelkhand started on 19 February and lakhs of devotees are taking holy dip every day. A temporary emergency mini free hospital has been started by the district administration, where a team of doctors has been deployed to provide treatment. All modern equipment and resources have been made available to this team so that the doctors can handle emergency situations. This hospital has 10 ambulance vehicles, 10 beds each for men and women and a temporary ICU. This apart, free medicine has also been arranged. A total of 15 doctors are on duty in two shifts.

During PM Modi's programme, drones have been completely banned here. Also, items like pens, knife, blade, water bottles, inflammable substances, sticks, batons, umbrellas, cigarette, gutkha and other intoxicants have been prohibited at the meeting ground. Barring mobile phones no electronic devices are allowed. The police have also imposed a complete ban on carrying big bags and sacks.