Respect each other’s traditions, views: PM

Raipur

Pitching for peace, unity and harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people to respect each other’s traditions and views, saying its absence can obstruct development.

“We are a country with diversity. This is our big strength. Harmony is our strength,” he said while addressing the National Youth Festival here via video conferencing.

Underlining that his government is working for the development of the country, Modi said, “If we do not maintain harmony, a sense of belonging, we will not be able to make progress.

If unity and harmony are not there, if we do not respect each other’s traditions and views, then there can be obstruction in the path of development.”

He said prosperity, wealth and creation of employment will have no meaning if there is no peace, unity and harmony.

“So it is the demand of time that we maintain peace, unity and harmony. These are the guarantee for the country’s progress,” the Prime Minister told the gathering of youth collected for the four-day event to mark Swami Vivekanda’s birth anniversary.

He said India has shown to the world that the country with hundreds of languages, different religions and such diversity can live in peace. “This is our culture… We have grown up in this culture… We have to preserve this,” Modi said and invoked Vivekananda’s teachings in this regard.

“We have to nurture unity and strengthen the bridge of harmony,” he added.

The comments assume significance as these came against the backdrop of ‘intolerance’ debate that was triggered following the killing of a Muslim man in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh few months back over rumours that he had consumed beef.

Talking about the problem of naxalism which Chhattisgarh and other states have been battling against, Modi said human hands should be empowered with some skill rather than being used to kill somebody.

The Prime Minister coined a new term ‘Shramev Jayate’ (victory of labour) while emphasising the importance of “dignity of labour” regarding which he wanted a change in the mindset of the people.

“Chhattisgarh has been battling the menace of Naxalism since past long time but the state has made a significant progress in promoting skill development. I urge youth that your hands are meant for skill not for killing anyone..,” he said.

“Youth of Chhattisgarh are making every possible effort to take their state to a great height. They have proved how goal can be achieved overcoming odds,” he added.

The Prime Minister praised Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for working in direction of skill development in the face of the problem of Naxalism.

He also spoke about his government’s thrust on skill development and pointed out that he will launch the ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ scheme on January 16 to encourage entrepreneurship.

“Unfortunately, the mentality in our country is that whoever works with brain is more superior to those who work with hands. We have to change this mentality. We must inculcate respect for each other,” he said.

The objective for development should be to transform the lives of the poor, and in the villages not just setting up big infrastructure and creating babus , he added.

Stressing that India is a land of opportunities, Modi said, “The entire world’s focus is on India because it has the largest population of youth. It is the youngest of the nations as here 65 per cent population is below the age of 35 years.”

He said the 21st century can be of India if the power of the youth is recognised.

“Our youth have skill and it is the biggest strength of the country… Our people are innovative. We need to encourage this…. We are making every effort to make everyone skilled, whether he is literate or not. We want country s youth to become a job creator instead of a job seeker,” he said while talking about ‘Start-up India’ scheme.

He also spoke about Mudra Bank launched over a year back to help small entrepreneurs with loans, saying Rs 80,000 crore has been disbursed to two crore people under this scheme.

“I have full faith in the youth,” he said.

Noting that the Republic Day is coming up, Modi said people should think not only about their rights but also duties. So far, people have been focussing only on rights, he said.

He urged the youth to think of concrete objectives for the years 2019 and 2022 the 150th anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi, and the 75th anniversary of Independence, respectively.

PTI