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Modi's
Independence Day
speech: Full text
Source:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-independence-day-speech-full-text-red-fort/1/377299.html
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts
of the Red Fort on the 68th Independence Day in an hour-long
extempore speech.
Following is the English rendering of the full
speech, delivered in Hindi:
My dear countrymen,
Today, all Indians in the country and also abroad
are celebrating the festival of independence. On this day of sacred
festival of independence, the prime servant of India extends
greetings to all dear countrymen.
I am present amidst you not as the Prime Minister,
but as the Prime Servant. The freedom struggle was fought for so
many years, so many generations laid down their lives, innumerable
people sacrificed their lives and youth, spent their entire lives
behind bars. Today, I pay my respect, greetings and homage to all
those who laid their lives for the country`s independence.
I also pay my respects to the crores of citizens
of this country on the pious occasion of India's independence, and
recall all those martyrs who had laid down their lives in India's
struggle for freedom. The day of Independence is a festival when we
take a solemn pledge of working for the welfare of mother India, and
also for the welfare of the poor, oppressed, Dalits, the exploited &
the backward people of our country.
My dear countrymen, a national festival is an
occasion to refine and rebuild the national character. This National
festival inspires us to resolve ourselves to lead a life where our
character gets refined further, to dedicate ourselves to the nation
and our every activity is linked to the interest of the nation and
only then this festival of freedom can be a festival of inspiration
to take India to newer heights.
My dear countrymen, this nation has neither been built by political
leaders nor by rulers nor by governments.
This nation has been built by our farmers, our
workers, our mothers and sisters, our youth. The country has reached
here today because of generation to generation rigours undertaken by
our sages, our saints, our maestros, our teachers, our scientists
and social workers. These great people and these great generations,
who had worked for the country throughout their lives, deserve our
deepest respect.
This is the beauty of India's Constitution, this
is its capability which has made it possible that today a boy from
small town, a poor family has got the opportunity to pay homage to
the Tricolour of India at the ramparts of Lal Quila (Red Fort). This
is the strength of India's democracy. This is an invaluable legacy
which we have inherited from our architects of the Constitution. I
pay my respects to those architects of the constitution of India
today. PM
Narendra Modi at Red Fort
Brothers and sisters, today if we have reached
here after independence, it is because of the contribution of all
the Prime Ministers, all the governments and even the governments of
all the States. I want to express my feelings of respect and
gratitude to all those previous governments and ex-Prime Ministers
who have endeavoured to take our present day India to such heights
and who have added to the country's glory.
This country has been built on such foundation of
ancient cultural heritage, where we were told of only one mantra
during Vedic period, which is indicative of our work culture, which
we have learnt, we have memorized - "Sangachchhdhvam Samvadadhvam
sam wo manansi jaanataam." We walk together, we move together, we
think together, we resolve together and together we take this
country forward.
 PM
Narendra Modi Having imbibed
this basic mantra, 125 crore countrymen have taken the nation
forward. Yesterday only the first Parliamentary Session of the new
government had concluded.
Today, I can proudly say that the session of
Parliament reflects our thinking and it is a reflection of our
intentions. We are not for moving forward on the basis of majority,
we are not interested to move forward by virtue of majority. We want
to move ahead on the basis of strong consensus. "Sangachhadhwam"
and, therefore, the nation has witnessed the entire session of
Parliament.
Having taken all the Parties and Opposition along
while working shoulder to shoulder, we achieved an unprecedented
success and the credit for this does not go to the Prime Minister
alone, the credit does not go to the people sitting in the
government, the credit for this goes to the Opposition also, the
credit goes to all the leaders of Opposition too and also all the
Members from Opposition.
From the ramparts of Red Fort, quite proudly I
salute all the Members of Parliament, I also salute all the
political parties and by virtue of their strong support, we could
take some important decisions intended to take the nation forward
and yesterday the Session of Parliament had concluded.
Brothers and sisters, I am an outsider for Delhi;
I am not a native of Delhi. I have no idea about the administration
and working of this place. I have been quite isolated from the elite
class of this place but during the last two months while being an
outsider, I had an insider view and I was astonished. It is not a
political platform, rather it is a platform of a national policy
and, therefore, my views should not be evaluated from a political
perspective.
I have already said, I salute all the ex-Prime
Ministers and earlier governments who have brought the country thus
far. But I am going to say something else and it may not be seen
from political point of view. When I came to Delhi and noticed an
insider view, I felt what it was and I was surprised to see it. It
seemed as if dozens of separate governments are running at the same
time in one main government. It appeared that everyone has its own
fiefdom. I could observe disunity and conflict among them. One
department is taking on the other department and taking on to the
extent that two departments of the same government are fighting
against each other by approaching Supreme Court. This disunity, this
conflict among people of the same country! How come we can take the
country forward? And that is why I have started making efforts for
razing those walls; I have started making efforts at making the
government, not an assembled entity, but an organic unity, an
organic entity, a harmonious whole- with one aim, one mind, one
direction, one energy.
Let's resolve to steer the country to one
destination. We have it in us to move in that direction. A few days
back...Nowadays newspapers are full of news that Modi-ji's
government has come, officers are reaching office on time, offices
open in time, and people get there in time. I observed that India's
national newspapers, TV media were carrying these news items
prominently.
As the head of the government I could have derived
pleasure in the fact that everything started going on time,
cleanliness got the attention, but I was not taking pleasure, I was
feeling pained. That thing, I want to tell today in public. And why,
because if government officers arrive office in time, does that make
a news? And if that makes news, it shows how low we have fallen. It
becomes a proof of that, and that's how, brothers and sisters, the
governments have run? Today in the face of global competition, when
we have to realise the dreams of millions of Indians, the country
cannot run on the lines of "it happens", "it goes".
In order to fulfill the aspirations of masses, we
have to sharpen the tool called the government machinery, we have to
make it keen, more dynamic, and it is in this direction that we are
working.
My countrymen, it's not long since I have come
from outside Delhi, but I give you an assurance that the people in
the government are very capable - from the peon to the Cabinet
Secretary, everybody is capable, everybody has a power, they have
experience. I want to awaken that power, I want to unite that power
and want to accelerate the pace of the welfare of nation through
that power and I shall definitely do it. I want to assure the
countrymen that we will achieve that, we will definitely do that. I
could not say this on 16th May, but today after my experience of
two-two and half months, keeping the Tricolour as witness, I am
saying on 15th of August that it is possible, it will be achieved.
Brothers and sisters, time has come to give a
serious thought to the fact that whether we have a duty to create
India of the dreams of those great people who gave us freedom,
whether we have a national character?
Brothers and sisters, can someone please tell me
as to whether he or she has ever introspected in the evening after a
full day's work as to whether his or her acts have helped the poor
of the country or not, whether his or her actions have resulted in
safeguarding the interest of the country or not, whether the actions
have been directed in country's welfare or not? Whether it should
not be the motto of one and a quarter billion countrymen that every
step in life should be in the country's interests?
Unfortunately, we have an environment today
wherein if you approach anyone with some work, he begins by saying
"what does it mean for me?" He begins by saying "what does it
involve for me?" and when he come to know that it does not entail
any benefit for him, immediately he says "why should I bother?" We
have to rise above the feelings of "what does it mean for me?" and
"why should I bother?".
Everything is not for self-interest only. There
are certain things which are meant for the country and we have to
refine this national character. We have to rise above the feelings
of "why should I bother?" and "what does it mean for me?" and
instead we have to think that "I am for nation's interest and in
this field, I am going to lead". We have to inculcate this
sentiment.
Brothers and sisters, when we hear about the
incidents of rape, we hang our heads in shame. People come out with
different arguments, someone indulges in psycho analysis, but
brothers and sisters, today from this platform, I want to ask those
parents, I want to ask every parent that you have a daughter of 10
or 12 years age, you are always on the alert, every now and then you
keep on asking where are you going, when would you come back, inform
immediately after you reach. Parents ask their daughters hundreds of
questions, but have any parents ever dared to ask their son as to
where he is going, why he is going out, who his friends are. After
all, a rapist is also somebody's son. He also has parents. As
parents, have we ever asked our son as to what he is doing and where
he is going? If every parent decides to impose as many restrictions
on the sons as have been imposed on our daughters, try to do this
with your sons, try to ask such questions of them.
My dear brothers and sisters, the law will take
its own course, strict action will be taken, but as a member of the
society, as parents, we also have some responsibilities.
If somebody tells me that those who have taken
guns on their shoulders and kill innocent people are Maoists, are
terrorists, but they are also somebody's children. I would like to
ask of such parents if they had ever asked their children as to why
they were taking a wrong path. Every parent must take this
responsibility; he must know that his misguided son is bent on
killing innocent people. He is not able to serve himself nor his
family nor the country. I want to say to those youngsters who have
chosen the path of violence that whatever they are and wherever they
are, it is all because of mother India only that they have got it.
Whoever you are it is all because of your parents.
I want to ask you to think how green, how beautiful and how
beneficial this earth can become if you shoulder the plough instead
of the gun which spills blood on this land. How long shall we have
bloodshed on this land, how long shall we take the lives of the
innocent people and what have we got after all this? The path of
violence has not yielded anything to us.
Brothers and sisters, I had gone to Nepal
recently. There I said something publicly to draw the attention of
the whole world. There was a time when the Emperor Ashoka who had
chosen the path of wars, got converted to the path of Buddha at the
sight of violence.
There was a time in Nepal when their youngsters
had opted for the path of violence but today I witness that the same
youngsters are waiting for their constitution. The same people
associated with them are framing the constitution. And I further
said that if Nepal could present the best example of moving from the
weapons to the books then it could provide inspiration to the
youngsters in the world to abandon the path of violence.
Brothers and sisters, if Nepal, the land of
Buddha, can give message to the world then why can't India too do
the same? So it's the call of the hour that we renounce the path of
violence and take the path of brotherhood.
Brothers and sisters, for one reason or the other,
we have had communal tensions for ages. This led to the division of
the country. Even after Independence, we have had to face the poison
of casteism and communalism. How long these evils will continue?
Whom does it benefit? We have had enough of fights, many have been
killed. Friends, look behind and you will find that nobody has
benefited from it. Except casting a slur on Mother India, we have
done nothing. Therefore, I appeal to all those people that whether
it is the poison of casteism, communalism, regionalism,
discrimination on social and economic basis, all these are obstacles
in our way forward. Let's resolve for once in our hearts; let's put
a moratorium on all such activities for 10 years, we shall march
ahead to a society which will be free from all such tensions. And
you will see that how much strength we get from peace, unity,
goodwill and brotherhood. Let`s experiment it for once.
My dear countrymen, believe in my words, I do
assure you. Shun all the sins committed so far, give up that way,
follow the way of goodwill and brotherhood, and let's resolve to
take the country forward. I believe we can do that.
With advancement of science, brothers and sisters,
we have a rising feeling of modernity in our mind, but what do we
do? Have we ever thought what the sex ratio in the country is like?
940 girls are born against per 1,000 boys. Who is causing this
imbalance in the society? Certainly not God. I request the doctors
not to kill the girl growing in the womb of a mother just to line
their own pockets. I advise mothers and sisters not to
sacrifice daughters in the hope of son. Sometimes mother-father feel
tempted to have son in the hope of supporting them in old age. I am
a person who has worked in public life. I have come across families
with five sons, each having bungalows, access to fleet of cars, but
parents are forced to live in old-age homes, Vriddhashrams. I have
seen such families. I have also seen families with only daughter as
progeny, that daughter sacrifices her dreams, doesn't get married,
and spends entire life in taking care of old parents.
This disparity points to female foeticide and the
polluted and tainted mind the 21st century has. We will have to
liberate from it, and that is message to us of this freedom
festival.
Recently Commonwealth Games were organised. Indian
sportspersons brought glory to the country. Nearly 64 of our
sportspersons won. Our sportspersons brought 64 medals. But of them
29 are girls. Let's feel proud and clap for them. Girls also
contribute to India's fame and glory. Let's recognise it. Let's take
them along, shoulder to shoulder. This way we can get over the evils
that have crept in social life. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we
have to proceed in that direction as a social and national
character.
Brothers and Sisters, development is the only way
forward for the country. Good governance is the only way. There are
only these two tracks to take the country forward - good governance
and development, we can move forward only by taking them with us. We
wish to move forward with the intent of taking them with us. When I
talk of good governance, you tell me, when I ask a person in private
job, he tells that he does the job; when you ask the same from a
person in government job, he says that I do the service. Both earn,
but for one it is job while for the other it is service. I ask a
question from all brothers and sisters in government service,
whether the word "service" has not lost its strength, its identity?
Persons in government service are not doing "job", they are doing
"service". We have to revive this feeling, we have to take this
feeling forward as a national character; we have to move forward in
this direction.
Brothers and Sisters, whether the citizens of the
country should take steps for the welfare of the nation or not? You
imagine, if these 125 crore countrymen move one step forward, then
the country moves 125 crore steps forward. The meaning of democracy
is not just limited to electing a government, but its meaning is
that 125 crore of citizens work together joining shoulder with the
government to fulfill hopes and aspirations of the country, this is
the meaning of democracy.
We have to create partnership with the people. We
have to proceed under Public-Private Partnership. We have to proceed
along with the participation of the people. But, please tell me why
our farmers commit suicide? A farmer takes loan from the
moneylender, but fails to repay his loans. He takes loan for the
wedding of his daughter, but fails to repay. He will have to suffer
hardships during his whole life. He chooses to commit suicide. Who
will save the poor families of such farmers?
Brothers and sisters, I have come here with a
pledge to launch a scheme on this festival of Freedom. It will be
called Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana. I wish to connect the poorest
citizens of the country with the facility of bank accounts through
this yojana. There are millions of families who have mobile phones
but no bank accounts. We have to change this scenario. Economic
resources of the country should be utilized for the well-being of
the poor. The change will commence from this point. This yojana will
open the window. Therefore, an account holder under `Pradhanmantri
Jan-Dhan Yojana` will be given a debit card. An insurance of
Rs.1 lakh will be guaranteed with that
debit card for each poor family, so that such families are covered
with the insurance of rs 1 lakh in case of any crisis in their
lives.
My brothers and sisters, it is a country of young
people. The 65 percent population of the country happens to be under
the age of 35 years. Our country has the largest number of youths in
the world. Have we ever thought of deriving an advantage out of it?
Today, the world needs a skilled workforce. Today, India also needs
a skilled workforce. At times, we look for a good driver but he is
not available, we look for a plumber, but he is not available. If we
need a good cook, he is not available. We have young people, they
are unemployed but the kind of young people we seek for are not
available. If we have to promote the development of our country then
our mission has to be "skill development" and "skilled India".
Millions and Millions of Indian youth should go
for acquisition of skills and there should be a network across the
country for this and not the archaic systems. They should acquire
the skills which could contribute towards making India a modern
country. Whenever they go to any country in the world, their skills
must be appreciated and we want to go for a two pronged development.
I also want to create a pool of young people who
are able to create jobs and the ones who are not capable of creating
jobs and do not have the opportunities, they must be in a position
to face their counterparts in any corner of the world while keeping
their heads high by virtue of their hard work and their dexterity of
hands and win the hearts of people around the world through their
skills. We want to go for the capacity building of such young
people. My brothers and sisters, having taken a resolve to enhance
the skill development at a highly rapid pace, I want to accomplish
this.
Brothers and sisters, the world has undergone a
change. My dear countrymen, the world has changed. Now India can not
decide its future by remaining isolated and sitting alone in a
corner. The economics of the world have changed and, therefore, we
will have to act accordingly. Government have taken many decisions
recently, made some announcements in the budget and I call upon the
world and call upon the Indians spread world over that if we have to
provide more and more employment to the youth, we will have to
promote manufacturing sector. If we have to develop a balance
between imports and exports, we will have to strengthen
manufacturing sector. If we have to put in use the education, the
capability of the youth, we will have to go for manufacturing sector
and for this Hindustan also will have to lend its full strength, but
we also invite world powers.
Therefore I want to appeal all the people world
over, from the ramparts of Red Fort, "Come, make in India", "Come,
manufacture in India". Sell in any country of the world but
manufacture here. We have got skill, talent, discipline, and
determination to do something. We want to give the world an
favourable opportunity that come here, "Come, Make in India" and we
will say to the world, from electrical to electronics, "Come, Make
in India", from automobiles to agro value addition "Come, Make in
India", paper or plastic, "Come, Make in India", satellite or
submarine "Come, Make in India". Our country is powerful. Come, I am
giving you an invitation.
Brothers and sisters, I want to call upon the
youth of the country, particularly the small people engaged in the
industrial sector. I want to call upon the youth working in the
field of technical education in the country. As I say to the world
"Come, Make in India", I say to the youth of the country - it should
be our dream that this message reaches every corner of the world,
"Made in India". This should be our dream. Whether, to serve the
country, is it necessary for the youth of the country to be hanged
like Bhagat Singh? Brothers and sisters, Lal Bahadur Shastri had
given the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". A soldier sacrifices
himself at the border and protects Mother India. Similarly, a farmer
serves Mother India by filling the godowns with grains. This is also
nation's service. Filling the granary is the biggest nation`s
service that a farmer provides. That is why Lal Bahadur Shashtri had
given the slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan".
Brothers and Sisters, I would like to pose a
question to my youngsters as to why despite them, we are forced to
import even the smallest of things? My country's youth can resolve
it, they should conduct research, try to find out as to what type of
items are imported by India and then each one should resolve that,
through may be micro or small industries only, he would manufacture
atleast one such item so that we need not import the same in future.
We should even advance to a situation wherein we are able to export
such items. If each one of our millions of youngsters resolves to
manufacture at least one such item, India can become a net exporter
of goods. I, therefore, urge upon the youth, in particular our small
entrepreneurs that they would never compromise, at least on two
counts. First, zero defect and, second again zero effect. We should
manufacture goods in such a way that they carry zero defect, that
our exported goods are never returned to us. We should manufacture
goods with zero effect that they should not have a negative impact
on the environment. If we march ahead with the dream of zero defect
in the manufacturing sector then, my brothers and sisters, I am
confident that we would be able to achieve our goals.
Brothers and sisters, the youth of India has
completely transformed the identity of India in the world. Earlier,
in what manner did the world know our country? Till only 25-30 years
back, if not more, there were many people in the world who thought
that India was a country of snake charmers, it was a country which
practiced in black magic.
The real identity of India had not reached the
world, but my dear brothers and sisters, our youngsters, 20-22-23
years old youngsters have mesmerized the whole world with their
skills in computers. Our young IT professionals have given a new
path of making a new identity of India. If our country has this
strength, can we think something about the country? Our dream is,
therefore, of "Digital India". When I talk of "Digital India", I
don't speak of the elite, it is for the poor people.
You can imagine what a quality education the
children in villages will get, if all the villages of India are
connected with broadband connectivity and if we are able to give
long distance education to the schools in every remote corner of the
villages. If we create a network of telemedicine in the places where
there is a shortage of doctors, we can have a clear guideline of the
way in which health facilities have to be provided to the poor
people living in those areas.
The citizens of India have mobile phones in their
hands, they have mobile connectivity, but can we walk in the
direction of mobile governance? We have to move in a direction where
every poor person is able to operate his bank account from his
mobile, is able to demand various things from the government, can
submit applications, can conduct all his business, while on the
move, through mobile governance and if this has to be done, we have
to move towards `digital India` and if we have to move towards
`digital India` then we have a dream.
Today we are importing electronic goods on a large
scale. Friends, you will be surprised that we are bringing in these
televisions, mobile phones, iPads and all these electronic goods. It
is a necessity to import petroleum products, oil, diesel and petrol.
Second to this is the import of our electronic goods. If we move
ahead with the dream of `digital India` to manufacture electronic
goods and become self reliant at least there, how big can be the
benefit for the treasury! Therefore, e-governance is what we need to
take this idea of `digital India` forward.
E-governance is easy governance, effective
governance and also economic governance. E-governance paves the way
for good governance. There was a time when we used to say that the
railways provided connectivity to the country. That was it. I say
that today it is IT that has the potential to connect each and every
citizen of the country and that is why we want to realise the mantra
of unity with the help of "digital India".
Brothers and sisters, if we move ahead with all
this then I believe that a `digital India` will have the potential
to stand with the world on equal footing. Our youth have that
capability, it is an opportunity for them.
Brothers and sisters, we want to promote tourism.
Tourism provides employment to the poorest of the poor. Gram seller
earns something, auto-rickshaw driver earns something, pakoda seller
earns something and tea seller also earns something. When there is
talk of tea seller, I feel a sense of belongingness. Tourism
provides employment to the poorest of the poor. But there is a big
obstacle in promoting tourism and in our national character and that
is - the filthiness all around us. Whether after independence, after
so many years of independence, when we stand at the threshold of one
and half decade of 21st century, we still want to live in
filthiness? The first work I started here after formation of
government is of cleanliness. People wondered whether it is a work
of a prime minister? People may feel that it is a trivial work for a
Prime Minister but for me this big work. Cleanliness is very big
work. Whether our country can not be clean? If 125 crore countrymen
decide that they will never spread filthiness, which power in the
world has ability to spread filthiness in our cities and villages?
Can't we resolve this much?
Brothers and sisters it will be the 150th birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. How do we celebrate 150th
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi? Mahatma Gandhi, who gave us
freedom, who brought so much honour to such a big country in the
world, what do we give to Mahatma Gandhi? Brothers and Sisters,
Mahatma Gandhi had cleanliness and sanitation closest to his heart.
Whether we resolve not to leave a speck of dirt in our village,
city, street, area, school, temple, hospital, and what have you, by
2019 when we celebrate 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi? This
happens not just with the Government, but with public participation.
That's why we have to do it together.
Brother and Sisters, we are living in 21st
century. Has it ever pained us that our mothers and sisters have to
defecate in open? Whether dignity of women is not our collective
responsibility? The poor womenfolk of the village wait for the
night; until darkness descends, they can`t go out to defecate. What
bodily torture they must be feeling, how many diseases that act
might engender. Can't we just make arrangements for toilets for the
dignity of our mothers and sisters? Brothers and Sisters, somebody
might feel that a big festival like 15th August is an occasion to
talk big.
Brothers and Sisters, talking big has its
importance, making announcements too has importance, but sometimes
announcements raise hopes and when the hopes are not fulfilled, the
society sinks into a state of despondency. That's why are in favour
of telling those things, which we can fulfill just within our sight.
Brothers and sisters, you must be getting shocked to hear the Prime
Minister speaking of cleanliness and the need to build toilets from
the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Brothers and sisters, I do not know how my speech
is going to be criticised and how will people take it. But this is
my heartfelt conviction. I come from a poor family, I have seen
poverty. The poor need respect and it begins with cleanliness. I,
therefore, have to launch a "Clean India" campaign from 2nd October
this year and carry it forward in 4 years. I want to make a
beginning today itself and that is - all schools in the country
should have toilets with separate toilets for girls. Only then our
daughters will not be compelled to leave schools midway. Our
parliamentarians utilising MPLAD fund are there. I appeal to them to
spend it for constructing toilets in schools for a year. The
government should utilise its budget on providing toilets. I call
upon the corporate sector also to give priority to the provision of
toilets in schools with your expenditure under Corporate Social
Responsibility. This target should be finished within one year with
the help of state governments and on the next 15th August, we should
be in a firm position to announce that there is no school in India
without separate toilets for boys and girls.
Brothers and sisters, if we proceed with the
dreams, we are in a position to realise them. Today, I wish to tell
one more specific thing. It has its own importance to discuss the
matters and express the views of nation's interest. However, our
Members of Parliament do not get opportunity though they are willing
to do something. They can express themselves, write to the
government, agitate, give memoranda. Still they do not get
opportunity to do something on their own.
Today I have come to you with a new idea. We are
running so many schemes in the name of the Prime Minister in our
country, there are numerous schemes in the name of various leaders.
However, today I am going to announce a scheme on behalf of the
Member of Parliament- Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana. We shall fix some
parameters. I urge upon the Members of Parliament to select any one
of the villages having population of three to five thousand in your
constituency. The parameters will be according to the time, space
and situation of that locality. It will include the conditions of
health, cleanliness, atmosphere, greenery, cordiality etc.
On the basis of those parameters, each of our MPs
should make one village of his or her constituency a Model Village
by 2016. Can't we do at least this? Shouldn't we do this? If we have
to build a nation, we should start from the village. Make a Model
Village. The reason of fixing this target for 2016 is that it is a
new scheme. It takes time to formulate a scheme and then to
implement it. After 2016, select two more villages for this purpose,
before we go for the General Elections in 2019. And after 2019, each
Member of Parliament, during his/her tenure of 5 years must
establish at-least five model villages in his/her area. I also call
upon the Members of Parliament from urban areas to adopt one village
of their choice.
I also urge upon the Members of Parliament from
Rajya Sabha to adopt one of the villages. If we provide one model
village in each district of India then the surrounding villages
shall be automatically inspired to follow that model. Let us
establish a model village, let us establish a village well equipped
with all systems and facilities. The birth anniversary of Jai
Prakash Narayan Ji happens to be on 11th October.
On 11th October, the occasion of birth anniversary
of Jai Prakash Narayan Ji, I will present a complete blueprint of
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (Members of Parliament Model Village
Scheme) before all Members of Parliament and State Governments, and
I urge upon State Governments also that as per the feasibility in
their respective states, all the Members of Legislative Assembly
resolve to establish a model village. You can imagine all the
Members of Legislative Assembly and all the Members of Parliament in
the country establishing a model village. All of a sudden, there
would be a model village in each block of India which could inspire
us to transform the amenities in rural areas and could give us a new
direction and, therefore, we want to move ahead under this Sansad
Adarsh Gram Yojana.
My dear brothers and sisters, ever since our
government has taken charge, there has been a discussion in the
newspapers, on TV channels as to what would happen to Planning
Commission. I believe that when Planning Commission was constituted,
it was done on the basis of the circumstances and the needs of those
times. In recent years, Planning Commission has contributed to the
growth of the country in its own way. I respect that, I am proud of
that, but the prevalent situation in the country is different,
global scenario has also changed, governments are no longer the
centre of economic activities, the scope of such activities has
broadened. State governments have been at the center of development
and I consider this a good indication. If we have to take India
forward, it can happen only by taking the states forward.
India's federal structure is more important today
than in the last 60 years. To strengthen our federal structure, to
make our federal structure vibrant, to take our federal structure as
a heritage of development, a team of Chief Minister and Prime
Minister should be there, a joint team of the Centre and the states
should move forward, then to do this job, we will have to think
about giving the Planning Commission a look. So, I am saying from
the rampart of the Red Fort that it is a very old system and it will
have to be rejuvenated, it will have to be changed a lot. Sometimes
it costs more to repair the old house, but, it gives us no
satisfaction. Thereafter, we have a feeling that it would be better
to construct a new house altogether and therefore within a short
period, we will replace the planning commission with a new
institution having a new design and structure, a new body, a new
soul, a new thinking, a new direction, a new faith towards forging a
new direction to lead the country based on creative thinking,
public-private partnership, optimum utilization of resources,
utilization of youth power of the nation, to promote the aspirations
of state governments seeking development, to empower the state
governments and to empower the federal structure. Very shortly, we
are about to move in a direction when this institute would be
functioning in place of Planning Commission.
Brothers and sisters, today, on 15th August, we
also have the birth anniversary of Maharishi Aurobindo. Maharishi
Aurobindo, being a rebel, moved on to achieve the status of a Yoga
Guru. With regard to the destiny of India, he remarked, "I have a
faith that the divine power and spiritual heritage of India will
play an important role towards the welfare of the world." Such
sentiments were echoed by Maharishi Arvind. I strongly believe in
the words of legends. I have great faith in the statements made by
ascetics, sages & saints and that's why today at the ramparts of Lal
Quila I am reminded of the words of Swami Viveknanda. He had said -
"I can see before my eyes Mother India awakening once again. My
Mother India would be seated as the World Guru. Every Indian would
render service towards welfare of humanity. This legacy of India
would be useful for the welfare of the world". These words were
spoken by Swami Viveknanda ji in his own style. Friends, the words
of Viveknanda ji can never be untrue. The words of Viveknanda ji,
his dream of seeing India ensconced as World Guru, his vision, it is
incumbent upon us to realize that dream. This capable country,
blessed with natural bounty, this country of youth can do much for
the world in the coming days.
Brothers and sisters, our foreign policy is a much
talked about issue. I clearly believe that India's foreign policy
can be multi-dimensional. But there is an important issue to which I
want to draw your attention that the way we fought for freedom, we
fought together; we were not separate at that time. We were
together. Which was the government with us? What were the weapons
available to us? There was a Gandhi, a Sardar and lakhs of freedom
fighters and such a huge empire. Didn't we win in the struggle of
freedom against that empire? Did we not defeat the foreign powers?
Did we not force them to leave India? We were the ones, they were
our ancestors only who showed this might. If the people of India
could remove such a big empire without the power of the government,
without weapons and even without resources, then friends, it is the
need of the hour to eradicate poverty, can we not overcome poverty?
Can we not defeat poverty? My 125 crore dear countrymen, let us
resolve to eradicate poverty, to win against it. Let us move with
the dream of poverty eradication from India. Our neighbouring
countries are also faced with the same problem. Why not get together
with all the SAARC nations to plan out the fight against poverty?
Let`s fight together and defeat poverty. Let us see at-least for
once as to how wonderful is the feeling of being alive instead of
killing and getting killed.
This is the land where incidents from Sidharth's
life happened. One bird was shot with an arrow by one brother and
the other took out that arrow to save it. They went to mother- whose
bird, whose swan? Whether killer's or saviour's, they asked of
mother. The mother replied, saviour's. The saviour has more power
than the killer and that makes him Buddha in future. And that's why
I seek cooperation from neighbouring countries for fighting against
poverty in concert and cooperate with them, so that together with
SAARC countries we can create our importance and emerge as a power
in the world. It is imperative that we work together with a dream to
win a fight against poverty, shoulder to shoulder.
I went to Bhutan, Nepal, all the dignitaries from
SAARC countries took part in oath-taking ceremony; this marked a
good beginning. This will definitely yield good results, it is my
belief and this thinking of India, in the country and the world,
that we want to do well to the countrymen and be useful for the
welfare of the world, India wants such a hand to be extended. We are
trying to move forward with these dreams to achieve them.
Brothers and Sisters, today on 15th August we will
resolve to do something for the country. Let's be useful for the
country, we will move ahead with a resolve to take the country
forward, and I assure you, Brothers and Sisters, as well as my
colleagues in the Government, that if you work for 12 hours, I will
do so for 13 hours. If you work for 14 hours, I will do for 15
hours. Why? Because I'm amidst you not as a Prime Minister, but as
the first servant. I have formed the government not as a ruler, but
as a servant.
Brothers and sisters, I assure that this country
has a destiny. It is destined to work for the welfare of the world,
it was said by Vivekanand ji. India is born; this Hindustan is born
in order to achieve this destiny. One hundred and twenty-five crore
countrymen have to move forward wholeheartedly for the welfare of
the nation.
Once again I feel proud of the devotion, the
sacrifices of the security forces of the country, para-military
forces of the country, all the security forces of the country to
protect Mother India. I say to the countrymen, 'Eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty'.
The army is vigilant, we should also be vigilant
and the country scales new heights, we have to move forward with
this resolution. Speak loudly with me with full force - Bharat Mata
ki jai, Bharat Mata ki jai, Bharat Mata ki jai. Jai Hind, Jai Hind,
Jai Hind. Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!
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