Madhya Pradesh: PM's wish to visit Varanasi fulfilled

Varanasi, Mar 15: Remembering his earlier days, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he yearned to visit this holy city since childhood. ''Before the Independence, my father Gurmukh Singh came here for some business related work...on his trip he fell ill at Dashashwamedh ghat,'' the PM narrated, while being on his two day visit here.

''It was then that a 'vaidya' of this holy city not only treated my father, but also provided him shelter at his residence for about a month...it is since then that I carry great respect for people of Varanasi,'' Dr Singh said remembering his childhood days.

Since then, it was my wish to visit the ghat, which was fulfilled today, the PM expressed.

This city carries great potential for culture and civilisation, Dr Singh noted, adding it was moving ahead with its rich traditional values.

UNI