Mangaluru : The first visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dakshina Kannada district commenced by offering prayers to Shri Manjunatha Swamy Temple at Dharmasthala on Sunday. This is Modi’s first visit after becoming Prime Minister to Dharmasthala.

The PM arrived in Air India One, his official and special Air India aircraft, to Mangaluru International Airport around 10.20am and left for Dharmasthala in a special chopper within 10 minutes. At the airport, he was received Mayor Kavita Sanil, minster for civil and food supplies UT Khader, union ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Anant Kumar.

He then was ushered into the temple by D Veerendra Heggade Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, which is one of south India’s most renowned religious landmarks with a history as old as 800 years. Lord Manjunatheshwara is the chief deity of the spiritual abode. He was welcomed by Sri Kshetra Dharmastala dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade and political leader including former chief minster B S Yedyurappa as well other union ministers.

After the prayers and Darshan at temple, which lasted for 15 minutes, he proceeded to address the public meeting at Ujirre where he will distribute RuPay cards to beneficiaries at the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, at Ujire, 8 kms from temple. This aims at enabling the Self Help Groups to begin cashless digital transactions. More than a lakh people have flowed into the temple to town to attend the SKDRDP programme.
Elaborate arrangement for devotees and attendees with drinking water and butter milk.

Special Protection Group and State police including dozens of senior IPS have been overlooking security in around Dharamasthala, Ujire and Mangaluru International Airport. As many as 1,700 police have been deployed across Dharamasthala, Ujire and all other vantage points. Rupak Kumar Dutta, director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) too has arrived to district on Saturday. There are about four IGPs and 15 superintendents of police and other IPS officers.