On August 15, recently-elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a major speech (without notes) on
the 68th Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi. He spoke from "the ramparts of the Red Fort," a massive structure in Delhi (where I once witnessed a sound and
light show). The speech, delivered in Hindi, was rendered in English by India
Today.
* * *
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 [a crore is equal to
ten million] 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.
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.
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 at least 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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