Ahead of his state visit to the United States of America, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 18 addressed a special out-of-turn episode of Mann Ki Baat, where he sought the blessing of the citizens for the trip and also recalled the horrors of Emergency, saying that as the “mother of democracy we can never forget June 25”, the day Emergency was imposed.
The PM said that usually the episode is put out on the last Sunday of every month but that since he was travelling to the U. S. this month, he wanted to speak to the people before that.
In the episode, Mr. Modi hailed the progress that is being made towards a tuberculosis-free India by 2025, spoke of how dairy farming is picking up pace in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla, India’s strong disaster response strategy as seen in the preparations for cyclone Biparjoy, the need to conserve nature through means like rainwater harvesting and afforestation, and the continuous hardwork of the nation’s sportspersons, which was bringing India international laurels.
However, the Congress took the opportunity to take a dig at the Prime Minister’s silence over the ethnic violence in Manipur, where over 100 have been killed, hundreds more injured and tens of thousands internally displaced.
Also Read | One more Mann Ki Baat but ‘Maun on Manipur’: Congress’ dig at PM Modi
Shortly after the episode aired, Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary In-charge Communications of the INC, tweeted, “So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India’s great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made [actually self-inflicted] humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur. Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question.”
In the episode aired on Sunday, the Prime Minister tied the themes of his topics around public participation, citing the role of the people in helping preparations for Biparjoy, their efforts to conserve water, and their active participation in the mission to eradicate TB.
Also Read | Now, India to estimate TB burden using own system
Comparing the people’s efforts to the efforts of a tiny squirrel that helped build the Ram Setu in Ramayana, the PM said, “When the intention is noble, there is honesty in the efforts, no goal remains insurmountable.”
Mr. Modi mentioned the Nikshay Mitra programme, under which social organisations, villages, panchayats and individuals can “adopt” TB patients to help and support and thereby remove the stigma attached to it.
He also praised the efforts of children across the country who were putting in their pocket money and breaking their piggy banks to contribute to the TB-free India campaign, speaking of three children from Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal who had done so. He also praised Raj Bhawans for pitching in as well.
The PM also hailed the efforts of afforestation across the country — especially through the Japanese Miyawaki technique, which was being used by governments and individuals in India now. Mr. Modi spoke of how a Kerala teacher Raafi Ramnath had done the same to build a biodiversity zone with over a hundred tree species.
Reminding listeners that June 25 — the day the Emergency was imposed in 1975 — was nearby, the PM said, “It was a dark period in the history of India. Lakhs of people opposed the Emergency with full might. The supporters of democracy were tortured so much during that time, that even today, it makes the mind tremble. I wish that, today, when we are celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav we must also have a glance at such crimes which endanger the freedom of the country. This will make it easier for today’s young generation to understand the meaning and significance of democracy.”
The Prime Minister also spoke of the sporting achievements of India across the country in the last few weeks, mentioning India’s medal haul at the under-17 women’s Asia Wrestling Championship in Kyrgyzstan. The PM mentioned India’s wins at the hockey Junior Asia Cup, the Junior Shooting World Cup, the Asian under Twenty Athletics Championship, and the Paris Diamond League (long jump).
He credited the consistent hard work of national sportspersons and the “enthusiasm” with which sporting events are held across the country now.
Mr. Modi also highlighted that the International Day of Yoga was upcoming on June 21 and that this year, he would have the opportunity to participate in these celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
“People in every nook and corner of the world are eagerly waiting for the International Day of Yoga. I see that even on social media, there is tremendous enthusiasm about Yoga Day,” he said.
Before closing the episode, the PM also wished citizens for the upcoming Rath Yatra celebrations and hailed the festival as an example of the principle of Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat.
