Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a Rs 25-crore Sant Kabir Research Academy at Maghar in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Kabir, the 15th century social reformer had taken his samadhi at Maghar 500 years ago.

Addressing a public rally in Maghar, PM Modi said, “Sant Kabir broke the shackles of cast system in India. It was due to efforts of such great saints that India continued to progress despite facing numeral difficulties.”

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“It’s because of saints like Kabir that India managed to keep its integrity even when we were colonized,” he added.

The prime minister attacked the united opposition claiming that all parties are hungry for power.

READ | Sant Kabir’s story, writings, philosophies and some lesser known facts

“There are some parties which do not want peace and development but unrest. 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 and Baba Ambedkar,” he said.

PM Modi also raked up the episode of Emergency in India saying: “Two days ago, it was 43rd anniversary of Emergency. It is the greed for power that those who imposed and those who opposed Emergency have come together today. They don’t see the welfare of society but only the welfare of themselves and their families.”

Before laying the foundation stone of the Academy, PM Modi had visited Sant Kabir’s Mazar in Maghar and offered a ‘chadar’ at the mausoleum.

The Academy will be built at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The project had got the financial approval on 13 June 2018.

The UP cabinet had decided that the functioning of the Sant Kabir Academy would be governed by the Society Registration Act 1860. It will comprise four departments — governing body, working committee, finance committee and research and development committee.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also visited the mausoleum of revered poet Sant Kabir in Maghar town.