Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said terrorism has become a global threat almost “as a daily routine” and called for efforts by all humanitarian forces to defeat it.
Speaking on his 38th ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme, the prime minister talked on a range of issues, including climate change, and called upon farmers to resolve to reduce the use of urea by half by 2022, the 75th anniversary of the India’s independence.
Modi, in his monthly address, said that 2018 should be heralded with positive thoughts and urged the people to share five of their positive experiences with #PositiveIndia (hashtag Positive India) on the Narendra Modi App or MyGov portal.
Referring to the Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7, Modi said experiences and acts of valour of the armed forces personnel, who were neighbours or acquaintances, can be posted on #armedforcesflagday.
Noting that November 26 is observed as the Constitution Day, Modi said the Indian Constitution is the spirit of the democracy in the country.
“This is the responsibility of all of us to make a new India in the light of the thinking of the Constitution’s makers. Our Constitution is all encompassing – there probably is no area, no aspect of nature, which remained untouched,” he said.
Modi said that equality and sensitivity towards all is the unique characteristic of the Constitution.
“It guarantees fundamental rights to every citizen. It protects their fundamental rights and safeguards their interests. It is our duty that we abide by the Constitution in letter and spirit.
“Citizens and administrators alike must move ahead in accordance with the spirit of our Constitution. The message that our Constitution conveys is that no one should be harmed in any way,” he said.
The prime minister said November 26 may be Constitution Day but terrorists launched an attack on Mumbai nine years ago on this very day.
He said many people across the world were not ready to take terrorism seriously till a few years back, but now that terrorism is knocking at their doors, “every government in the world, those who believe in humanity, governments having faith in democracy, are seeing this as one of the biggest challenges.”
The prime minister said terrorism and extremism were trying to weaken the social fabric.
“Terrorism is bent upon destroying humanitarian forces. So, not only India but all humanitarian forces will have to keep fighting unitedly to defeat the menace of terrorism.”
Modi greeted people on Eid-e-Milad and hoped the occasion will give new inspiration to foster peace and communal amity.
He recalled the contributions of B R Ambedkar, whose death anniversary falls on December 6, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose death anniversary is on December 15.
Ambedkar, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, ensured the welfare of every section of society and Patel, the country’s first home minister, undertook the extraordinary task of uniting India into one nation after independence, the prime minister said.
Modi congratulated naval personnel on Navy Day on December 4. He said the Chola navy was considered one of the strongest in its time and a large number of women played leading roles in it.
He also referred to the navy of Chhatrapati Shivaji and said Kanhoji Aangre took the Maratha navy to newer heights.
Modi referred to the World Soil Day on December 5 and talked about the transformation by farmers of Tohoo village in Himachal Pradesh due to proper soil tests and proper use of bio-nutrients.
He said more than 100mn soil health cards have been issued.
Equating the farmer-soil relationship to that of a mother and son, Modi said: “Can our farmers, sons of our soil, resolve that by 2022 they will cut down urea use to half of what they are using at present?”
Talking of climate changes that were quite visible, he said: “There was a time when the winters set in even before Diwali. And now, December is knocking on our doors, yet winter is advancing at a leisurely pace.”
Modi referred to the efforts of Tushar, an eight-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh with speech impairment, in making his village open defecation-free and 19-year-old Jigar Thakkar from Gujarat, who won 11 medals in the national para-swimming competition despite 80% muscle atrophy.
GULF TIMES
