When the PM Went on AIR

Oct 03, 2014 Tushita Politics 0

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In quest of reaching out to people in every corner of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the countrymen over radio for the first time, giving them a pep talk about how to shed despondency and use their skills for betterment and prosperity of the country.

After launching Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan on Gandhi Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to echo the sentiments of Mahatma Gandhi during the show as he urged Indians to buy at least one khadi product.

He advocated the need for use of khadi products as homage to Mahatma Gandhi and impressed upon the people to generate confidence among themselves, including the specially-abled children. He also appealed Indians to join his Swacch Bharat campaign.

“All of you must be having all types of clothes. But can’t we have one cloth of khadi? At least one… it could be a shirt, a towel, a handkerchief… anything,” he said. It will benefit the poor, he added, by saying that it will help light the lamp of prosperity in the house of a poor person.

He further said, “I want you to pledge we will remove dirt from our lives by joining Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.”

This was the first time Modi used AIR to address people in a programme titled ‘Man ki Baat’, where he had a dialogue with them through questions and answers.

As he greeted people on Vijayadashami, Modi reminded the people that Friday’s festival was a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

Modi seemed to have echoed Gandhi’s philosophy from almost a century ago, where he has insisted that Indians must wear khadi to save and promote the domestic textile industry.

“We need to recognise our internal strengths,” the Prime Minister said while narrating a short story of Swami Vivekananda about how a lion brought up by sheep rediscovered his prowess after coming in touch with another lion.

“If we move ahead with self-respect and right identity, we will emerge victorious,” he said.

Referring to the suggestions he had received through social media and emails, Modi said, “Gautam Pal wrote to me about specially-abled children, suggesting to have some schemes for specially-abled children in civic bodies. I like his suggestion. When I was the CM of Gujarat, I had invited few special children and had interacted with them. I was emotionally touched and we began Khel Mahakumbh for specially-abled athletes.”

Promising to make the radio broadcast a regular affair, Mr. Modi invited ideas from the citizens while noting that he had been receiving a number of suggestions since it was announced that he would be addressing the nation over radio.

Asking people to send him suggestions on various issues, Modi said, “Through emails, a large number of people wrote to me saying children should begin skill development courses at very young age and some wrote to me that we should have more dustbins. These are good suggestions and I want you to keep sending me suggestions. If you send me complaints with proofs, I will look into it.”

Towards the end of the speech, Modi said he was happy talking to listeners through radio and that he could reach all of them through radio, especially the poor in the villages and the youth.

In his 15-minute address, he sought to motivate people to recognise their capabilities and use them. “You know, our scientists have undertaken the Mars mission successfully at minimum expenses. There is nothing lacking in our capabilities. We only have forgotten our strengths. We have forgotten ourselves as if we have become despondent. My brothers and sisters, this cannot be,” he said.

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• Indian news, Modi, Modi in Radio, news, politics, Radio

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