Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assi Ghat in Varanasi this morning and performed 'Ganga Aarti'. He also initiated cleaning of the Ghat and removal of silt from there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today nominated nine imminent persons to carry forward his Swachh Bharat Mission in Uttar Pradesh. They include Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Cricketers – Mohd. Kaif and Suresh Raina, Bhojpuri singer and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, singer Kailash Kher, writer Manoj Sharma, Chancellor of Chitrakut Blind University Ram Bhadracharya and Sanskrit scholar Devi Prasad Dwivedi. After performing shramdaan to remove silt at 'Assi Ghat' on the bank of river Ganga, he hoped that nominated persons would carry forward his 'Swachh Bharat' mission.

Earlier, he performed Ganga Puja at the Ghat. The Prime Minister also visited Sri Maa Anandmayee Ashram and hospital in the city. Mr Modi arrived in Varanasi Friday on a two-day visit to the city. Addressing prominent citizens and intellectuals Friday night, Mr Modi called upon them to create an atmosphere to make Varanasi the cleanest city in the world.