‘Follow statute in letter, spirit’
Now that, terrorism is knocking at their doors, every government in the world... governments having faith in democracy are seeing this as one of the biggest challenges. NARENDRA MODI, in his Mann ki baat address
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for “equality for all and sensitivity towards all”, asking people to abide by the Constitution in “letter and spirit”.
Modi’s speech in his monthly radio show Mann ki Baat was aimed to spread the message of social justice and unity amid allegations for his political rivals that his party is dividing people for electoral benefits.
“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,” said the PM as he hailed Constitution Day—to mark the adopted of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
As he paid rich tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar, the key architect of Indian Constitution, he also pointed out that, “It (Constitution) guarantees fundamental rights to each & every citizen, whether underprivileged or oppressed, backward or deprived, a tribal or a woman.”
His comments may also assume significance in the backdrop of the Gujarat election, in which issues of the Other Backward (OBC) classes have dominated the political discourse for sometimes and emerged as a key political plank.
The Congress has been able to rope in Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel — leaders demanding quota for Patidars — in a bid to dent the BJP’S clout over the caste-base.
The PM also mentioned the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and mentioned how the perception about terrorism has changed in the world and is now seen as one of humanity’s biggest challenges.
“A few years ago, when India used to talk about the severe threats of terrorism many people in the world were not ready to take it seriously, 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,” he said.
Modi mentioned that “all humanitarian forces” will have to keep fighting unitedly to defeat the menace of terrorism as these forces are trying to weaken and destroy social fabric.
CUT UREA USE BY 2022
In an appeal to farmers to protect fertile soil, Modi asked Indian farmers resolve to cut down current level of urea consumption by half by 2022.
“If the sons of the soil, my farmer brothers, once make this resolve then we will see the health of the earth improve and production will increase. A transformation shall start to usher into the life of the farmer.” BHOPAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mention of a differentlyabled boy’s passion to make his village open defecation free (ODF) in his radio address on Sunday has brought the family of a marginal farmer under the spotlight in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh.
Speech and hearing impaired Tushar Uradae of Kumhari village in Balaghat district, some 450km south east of Bhopal, will turn nine on December 25. He has a younger sister.
“You will be amazed to learn that Tushar, an eight-year-old differently-abled lad from Madhya Pradesh had taken a firm resolve to make his village open defecation free. He was a young boy faced with an enormous task. But his grit and determination were greater and mightier. The eight-year-old is speech impaired, but he used a whistle as an armament,” Modi said.
Talking to Hindustan Times over phone, Tushar’s father Santosh, who is a marginal farmer, said his son was very delighted. “I am getting calls and the villagers are flocking to our house congratulating me and my family. We are all feeling so proud of him.”