Noting that India is a country with immense “self-belief and ability”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that Indian soldiers were capable and will always be ready to give “a befitting reply to whosoever makes an attempt to destroy the atmosphere of peace and progress in our nation”.
In his 48th edition of his monthly Maan Ki Baat programme, Modi said: “We are staunch believers of peace. We are committed to taking it forward but not at the cost of compromising our self-respect and sovereignty of nation”.
Talking about the country’s “mighty soldiers”, the Prime Minister said: “There would be hardly an Indian who doesn’t feel proud of their armed forces. Every Indian, irrespective of region, caste, religion, sect or language, is ever eager to express joy and show solidarity with our soldiers”.
“That’s why 125 crore Indians celebrated the Paraakram Parva, the festival of valour, yesterday. We remembered that surgical strike carried out in 2016, where our soldiers gave a befitting reply to the audacity of a proxy war under the garb of terrorism.”
He went on to add that it has now been decided that our soldiers will “give a befitting reply to whosoever makes an attempt to destroy the atmosphere of peace and progress in our Nation”.
Lauding India’s Air Force for its feats over the years, the prime minister said it had emerged as one of the “mightiest and the bravest of the 21st century”. He said: “From the core of my heart, I congratulate those Air Warriors and their families, who rendered service to the nation. In 1947, when Pakistani attackers resorted to an unprecedented attack, it was indeed our Air Force that ensured that Indian soldiers and armaments reached the battlefield promptly. They also serve the nation with same zeal and might in peace time when disasters strike the country”.
Remembering Mahatma Gandhi, Modi said October 2 would be special this year as it marks the start of Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations. He said: “Gandhiji’s Talisman continues to be very relevant even today”.
To “the swelling middle class of the country and its increasing purchasing power; can we remember revered Bapu for a moment while going out for shopping? Can we remember that mantra of Bapu? Can we spare a thought while purchasing anything as to who in my country will be benefited by this purchase? Whose face will sport a smile? Who will be the fortunate one to get a direct or indirect benefit from your purchase? I will feel much happier if my purchase will benefit the poorest of the poor.”
He said: “Keeping this mantra of Gandhiji in mind while making any purchases during the 150th Anniversary of Gandhiji, we must make it a point to see that our purchase must benefit one of our countrymen and in that too, one who has put in physical labour, who has invested money, who has applied skill must get some benefit”.
Thanking people for enthusiastically participating in the “Swachchata Mission”, the prime minister said: “It has become a success story not only in our country but in the whole world and everyone is talking about this movement”. This time India is hosting the biggest sanitation convention of the world so far, “the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention”, he informed adding: “Sanitation Ministers from countries across the world and experts on the subject of sanitation will converge and share their experiments and experiences. It will conclude on 2nd October, 2018 with the commencement of Bapu’s 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations”.
Modi also lauded the contribution made by former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sashtri, whose birthday coincides with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel and Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
