Lucknow, June 28: Marking the 500th death anniversary of mystic poet and saint Kabir Das, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Kabir Academy at Maghar in Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar district. The Prime Minister started his speech in Bhojpuri and said he is privileged to come to Maghar.

While addressing a public meeting in Maghar, the Prime Minister said, "I got an opportunity to visit the mazar of Sant Kabirdasji. I bow my head in front of the great saint Sant Kabir who gave the message of unity in diversity hundreds of years ago".  He said saints shaped the conscience of the nation and their ideas are being politicised.

Watch Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath's address in Maghar :

PM Modi said there are some parties which do not want peace and development but unrest as they think if there will be unrest, they will be politically benefitted. "Such people are cut off from their roots. They don't know the nature of this nation of Sant Kabir, Mahatma Gandhi & Baba Ambedkar", he said.

PM Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone of Kabir Academy (Photo Credits: Twitter, @CMOfficeUP)

PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and said the previous government was more interested in their own bungalows. He said the opposition was exploiting the poor for votes.  The Prime Minister said those who imposed emergency are trying to form alliances in the state. He said, unlike Kabir, the opposition doesn't believe in hard work.

Talking about the great saint Kabir, Modi said Kabir did not believe in caste but he believed that everybody is equal. "I feel blessed that I got the opportunity to offer 'chadar' at Sant Kabir's Mazar and lay the foundation stone of Sant Kabir Academy", he said.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Lucknow earlier today, is scheduled to attend multiple events in the state. It must be noted that the Prime Minister has handed a number of projects for the development of Maghar.

The Prime Minister also offered a 'chadar' at Sant Kabir's Mazar in Maghar. The reason why the Prime Minister chose Maghar it is revered by both Hindus and Muslims and stands as an antithesis to Varanasi. Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others attended the inauguration ceremony of the 'Kabir Mahotsav'

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 12:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).