VARANASI, Feb. 23 -- India will become a model of development in five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Friday, terming it a "Modi guarantee", and cited the Kashi example to say the world is witnessing how modernity is developed around culture and tradition.

Modi reached his Varanasi parliamentary constituency Thursday night and is scheduled to launch several development projects and address public meetings. He interacted with winners of the 'Sansad Sanskrit Pratiyogita' at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here.

"Kashi is now being seen as a model of development and heritage across the world. The world is witnessing today how modernity is developed around culture and tradition," the prime minister said in his address at...