Varanasi, April 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his government's policies have consistently accorded the highest priority to women's welfare and "nari shakti" is the strongest pillar of Viksit Bharat.

Addressing the Mahila Sammelan here on Tuesday, PM Modi said the government is committed to ensuring women's participation in the country's policy-making.

"The mission to make India developed continues unabated. And when I speak of a developed India, its strongest pillar is India's 'Nari shakti' (women power)," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the BJP governments have focused on the safety of women.

"You have seen the situation change before your eyes here in Uttar Pradesh. Until a few years ago, when the Samajwadi ...