New Delhi: From how Gujarat’s Kutch is emerging from the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy to remembering the dark chapters of Emergency, imposed on 25 June 1975, the International Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June, the coming Rath Yatra festival and more, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on a range of issues on the 102nd episode of his Mann Ki Baat address, Sunday.
However, despite a growing clamour from the Opposition for him to speak on the ongoing Manipur violence, he stayed silent on the issue. Opposition leaders from the northeastern state, belonging to 10 parties, and including former CM Ibobi Singh, are camping in Delhi to meet the PM, and said at a press conference Saturday that they were waiting to hear from Modi before he leaves for his foreign tour on 20 June.
Ibibo Singh said that violence — between the state’s Kuki and Meitei communities — was continuing since 3 May and the PM’s “silence” is “hurting” it. Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said the leaders had sent an email to the PM on 10 June and another letter requesting for a meeting was hand-delivered to the PMO on 12 June.
Meanwhile, in his Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi lauded the people of Kutch for the way they handled last week’s Cyclone Biparjoy. “Just two-three days ago, we saw how a big cyclone hit the western part of the country… Strong winds, heavy rain. Cyclone Biparjoy caused a lot of destruction in Kutch. But, the courage and preparedness with which the people of Kutch fought such a dangerous cyclone is equally unprecedented too,” Modi said.
He added, “Once it was said Kutch would never recover from the devastating earthquake two decades ago…Today, it is one of the fastest growing districts of the country. I am sure the people of Kutch will emerge from the devastation caused by Cyclone Biperjoy as well.”
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Raj Bhavans & water conservation
Lauding the governors in various states, the PM said Raj Bhavans in the country are now being identified with social and development work, and were “becoming the flag bearers of the TB-Free India campaign & the campaign related to organic farming”.
With the monsoon arriving in the country last week, Modi spoke about efforts of water conservation made by people across the country. He also mentioned the canal work of Nilwande Dam in Maharashtra which was completed last month. “A few days ago, water was released in the canal during testing…The people of the village were rejoicing as if it were the Holi-Diwali festival!” he said.
Jammu & Kashmir’s Baramulla district also found mention in the PM’s radio show. Calling it a “symbol of a new white revolution”, Modi spoke about how people of Baramulla are fighting the shortage of milk with dairy farming. He mentioned a local resident, Ishrat Nab, and her ‘Mir Sisters Dairy Farm’ which he said was selling 150 litres of milk daily.
“Due to the hard work of such people, 5.5 lakh litres of milk is being produced daily in Baramulla. The district is turning into the symbol of a new white revolution. At least 500 dairy units have come up in Baramulla in the past 2-½-3 years…it is a testimony to the fact that every part of our country is full of possibilities,” he added.
‘Tortures during Emergency’
Speaking a week ahead of 25 June, the day Emergency was imposed in the country by the then Indira Gandhi government in 1975, Modi criticised the move. Calling it a “dark period”, he said, “The supporters of democracy were tortured so much…Many books have been written on these atrocities; the punishment meted out by the police and administration.” He also mentioned the book he wrote at the time of Emergency – ‘Sangharsh Mein Gujarat’.
The PM talked about achievements by sports persons representing the country in the last few weeks. Mentioning Women’s Junior Asia Cup, which India won, the Junior Shooting World Cup, where the country topped the medal tally, and the U-17 Asian Wrestling Championships 2023, where India secured a bunch of medals, Modi said, “Earlier, we would come to know about international events, but, often, there was no mention of India in them. But, today, I am just mentioning the successes of the past few weeks, even then, the list is quite long.”
Other issues that the prime minister spoke about in his Mann Ki Baat included the 350th anniversary of Shivaji’s coronation, celebrated earlier this month, India’s fight against tuberculosis and the International Yoga Day on 21 June.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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