Varanasi: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the resolve of sanyasis to uphold dharma over personal gain and to be ready to defend the nation if required, created the conditions for major religious redevelopment projects, including the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after centuries.Addressing the centenary celebrations of Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Kashi branch, Yogi recalled his visits to West Bengal during the recent assembly elections and narrated an interaction with monks there. He said he had asked whether they felt afraid, to which they responded that they had brought nothing, would take nothing away, and were prepared to live and die for the nation and dharma. Yogi said such courage and steadfastness helped preserve India’s civilisational identity during difficult periods, and without it projects like Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Ram temple “would not have become possible.”He said that when a nation faces crisis, its heritage, spiritual legacy, history, faith and culture also come under threat. Referring to Kashi Vishwanath, Ram Janmabhoomi and Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, he said foreign invaders were able to desecrate sacred sites when society was divided. He added that saints across eras made social awakening part of spiritual practice, and said Swami Pranavanand advanced that mission.Recalling Trinamool Congress govt in West Bengal, Yogi alleged that its conduct towards Bharat Sevashram Sangha monks was akin to threats from figures such as Ravan and Kansa, and said such behaviour indicated political decline. He said Sangha monks met him during rallies and initially stayed away from the stage before joining at his request.Praising the Sangha’s work, he said it had not compromised its values in favourable or adverse conditions, and had made nationalism a life mission by linking self-upliftment with national progress. He noted the Kashi branch was founded in 1926 during colonial rule and reflected Swami Pranavanand’s service and social outreach.Yogi recounted Pranavanand’s early link to Gorakhpur, saying he arrived at Gorakshpeeth in 1912-13 as a young student and was initiated by Siddha Yogi Baba Gambhirnath. He added that in the Sangha tradition, weapons were not merely symbolic and could be borne for national defence if needed.He highlighted welfare initiatives including distributing sewing machines to 100 girls and efforts to support 100 families towards self-reliance, linking them to the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Several ministers, BJP legislators, Sangha leaders, seers and volunteers attended the event.
