In a significant step for promoting cultural and religious tourism between two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruling neighbouring states -- Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments have signed two crucial agreements during a business summit held in Varanasi on Tuesday.
One agreement was signed between Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust (in Varanasi) and Mahakaleshwar Temple Trust (in Ujjain) and the another between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to promote cooperation in the field of One District-One Product (ODOP) products, according to an official statement.
The development came during the 'Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh Cooperation Conference' held in Varanasi in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and several Cabinet Ministers from the Uttar Pradesh government. Addressing the conference, Chief Minister Yadav said that just as Varanasi holds great religious and cultural significance, Ujjain too has a special spiritual importance.
He added that both the states share geographical, cultural, spiritual and historical ties. Chief Minister Yadav said that recognising immense potential scope for religious tourism in both cities (Ujjain and Kashi), Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated major development works.
Addressing the programme, the Chief Minister added that both states are ushering in a new era of spiritual and religious tourism. "Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are jointly developing a shared religious tourism circuit, which will accelerate tourism and provide devotees with a seamless and enriching pilgrimage experience," he said.
The 'Sammelan' (conference) was organised to provide a common platform for the industrial strengths, traditional crafts, ODOP and GI-tagged products, agricultural and food products, investment opportunities and tourism potential of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
On this occasion, Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Minister Nand Gopal Gupta expressed that the 'Sahyog Sammelan' (Cooperation Conference) was a clear example of deep understanding between these two neighbouring states. He also noted that Baghelkhand, Gwalior–Chambal, and Bundelkhand regions of Madhya Pradesh share close ties with Uttar Pradesh.