Always put 'nation first, always first', says Modi

PM seeks support for Indian athletes in Tokyo with ‘Victory Punch Campaign’

Stressing on ‘Nation First, Always First’ mantra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that as the country enters its 75th year of Independence, every citizen should lead a “Bharat Jodo Andolan” in the same manner as Mahatma Gandhi had led the “Bharat Chhoro Andolan”.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, he noted that as India enters its 75th year of Independence on August 15, Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated throughout the country to mark the year.

The need of the nation is to unite and work towards national progress, Modi said.

“It is our responsibility that we do our work in such a manner that it helps in uniting our country which is full of diversities,” the prime minister said, adding, “We have to move forward with Nation First, Always First.”

Many programmes in connection with Amrit Mahotsav are being run, the prime minister said, adding that the Ministry of Culture has started an initiative to have maximum number of Indians sing the national anthem together.

For this, a website, http://rashtragan.in has been created.

“With the help of this website, you can render the national anthem and record it, thereby getting connected with the campaign. I hope you connect yourselves with this novel initiative. In the days to come, you will get to see many such campaigns and efforts," Modi said.

The Prime Minister urged people to keep encouraging and supporting

Indian athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics.

He called on the people to support the contingent on social media by joining the ‘Victory Punch Campaign’, which has already begun.

“You also share your victory punch along with your team and cheer for India,” Modi said.

Noting that on July 26 the nation will mark Kargil Vijay Diwas, Modi asked people to pay tributes to those who made the nation proud in 1999.

On his Mann Ki Baat programme, he said it celebrates positivity and collectivity. “I am unable to take up all the inputs I receive for Mann Ki Baat, but I do forward many of them to government departments concerned,” Modi said.

In the broadcast, he also cited a study by Mygov to highlight that of those sending messages and suggestions for Mann Ki Baat, close to 75 per cent are below 35.

“I view this as a very good indicator. Mann Ki Baat is a medium which has positivity, sensitivity. In Mann Ki Baat, we talk about positive things; its character is collective,” he said.

Just the way people joined hands for the cause of freedom during the colonial rule, citizens now have to come together for the development of the country, the prime minister said, adding that they can contribute to nation building by supporting local entrepreneurs, artists, craftsmen and weavers should come naturally to us.

Noting that the National Handloom Day falls on August 7, he said handloom products are a major source of income in rural and tribal regions and urged people to purchase them.

With khadi products often finding mention in his monthly radio address, Modi said their demand has gone up manifold since 2014.

In his address, the Prime Minister also spoke of a number of individuals and local developments brought about by groups of people that have made positive contributions to society.

“IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE DO OUR WORK IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT HELPS IN UNITING OUR COUNTRY WHICH IS FULL OF DIVERSITIES...WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NATION FIRST, ALWAYS FIRST” NARENDRA MODI