Chhatarpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized leaders who mock Indian religious traditions, calling them people with a "slave mentality" who act against the country’s cultural heritage with foreign backing. Speaking at Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, he termed the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as the "Maha Kumbh of Unity."
Modi was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for the Shree Bageshwar Medical Sciences And Research Institute, which will house a cancer hospital. The hospital, a project of Bageshwar Dham’s head Dhirendra Shastri, will be built on 10 acres at a cost of ₹218 crore.
Taking a dig at critics, Modi stated that some leaders continuously attack religious festivals, temples, and traditions. His comments follow West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s recent remark referring to the Maha Kumbh as "Mrityu Kumbh," citing alleged mismanagement.
The PM emphasized that such critics have tried for centuries to weaken India’s unity. He lauded sanitation workers, police, and doctors for their service at Maha Kumbh, calling it a symbol of national unity. Modi also announced that cancer daycare centers will be set up in every district within three years and highlighted efforts to make cancer medicines more affordable.