Modi: Contribute to ‘New India’
PM says country is committed to partnership with Bangladesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said India was marching from “Swaraj to Su-raj” (independence to good governance) and urged its 1.25 billion people to contribute towards creating a ‘New India’.
In his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, Modi urged all Indians to fight black money and corruption by opting for digital payments rather than cash transactions.
Calling for continuing the war against corruption and black money, Modi said India can see 25 million digital transactions within six months rather than in a year.
“Within two months of its launch, there had been 1.5 crore [15 million] downloads of BHIM app, this is commendable …,” Modi said.
“If 125 crore [1.25 billion] citizens make a resolution, then we can achieve the target of 2.5 crore [25 million] digital transactions within six months and not wait for a year.”
He added that after the November 8 demonetisation of Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes, there had been a huge increase in digital transactions.
“Just make sure you submit school fee of your children, do railway or airline bookings and other transactions through the digital mode,” he said and enumerated government initiatives to promote digital payments.
Modi also wished prosperity for Bangladesh on its Independence Day, on March 26, and recalled Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore, loved by both countries.
He assured India’s commitment to be a strong partner of Bangladesh and asserted the two nations will work shoulder to shoulder in ensuring peace, security and progress.
Modi, who earlier dubbed the March 11 assembly results in five states as the foundation for a ‘New India’, called upon citizens to be more responsible and contribute in their own ways towards realising the dream of a transformed India by 2022 — the 75th year of independence.
“New India is neither a government project nor a manifesto of a political party. It is the joint call and desire of 1.25 billion Indians to transform India.
“Everything is not linked to the budget or government funds. If every citizen pledges to be more responsible, performs his duties, then this dream of a new and transformed India can be easily realised,” Modi said.
“Service is the core of our values. If we obey traffic rules, pledge not to use petrol or diesel once a week, resolve to be more responsible, if we do things step by step, we can achieve a new India,” he said.