India doesn’t impose its views on anyone: PM

Take fight against blackmoney, graft to next level

27/03/2017
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New delhi, Mar 26: Asking the people to take the fight against black money and graft to the "next level", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged them to use less cash in their daily lives and continue to support the movement towards digital payments started after the note ban.
In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme, he also spoke of building a 'New India', which he said can be achieved when 125 crore Indians take a pledge and unitedly work towards it.
"My dear countrymen, we must take our fight against black money and corruption to the next level. .... We should contribute towards ensuring reducing the use of cash, of currency notes," the Prime Minister said.
Asking the people to pay school fees, buy medicines or items from fair price shops or purchase air and train tickets digitally, he said "we can do this in our day to day lives.
You can't imagine how you can serve the country in this way and become a brave soldier in the fight against black money and corruption."
Observing that the budget had announced that there would be 2500 crore digital transactions this year, he said if 125 crore countrymen can resolve, "they need not wait for a year; they can do it in six months."
Expressing gratitude to the people, Modi said over the last few months the country has witnessed an atmosphere in which people in large numbers have participated in the digital payment, 'Digidhan' movement.
"There has also been an increase in curiosity about cashless transactions. The poorest of the poor are making attempts to learn, and people are gradually moving towards doing business without cash. There has been a surge in various modes of digital payment after demonetisation," he said, adding that the BHIM App, launched about two and a half months ago, has already been downloaded by one and half crore people.
In his address, the Prime Minister also touched upon subjects ranging from building a "New India" to 'Swaccha Bharat', besides greeting the people of Bangladesh on their independence day saying India will always stand with them in the struggle for peace, security and development in the region.
"I hope that Bangladesh marches ahead on the path of progress. I also assure the citizens of Bangladesh that India is a strong partner, and a good friend, and we will continue to work together shoulder to shoulder to contribute towards the peace, security and development of this entire region," the Prime Minister said.
He said it was a matter of pride that Rabindra Nath Tagore, who has authored the national anthem of Bangladesh and India, had given up his Knighthood in protest against the 1919 massacre of people in Jallianwala Bagh by the British.
This had also provided an "inspiration and a mission in life" to a young teenager, who until then had spent his days playing merrily in the fields. This youngster was none other than Bhagat Singh, then 12-years old, to evolve as a martyr.
Modi also referred to the Champaran Satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917, saying "through his demeanour and deeds, he could inspire the poorest of the poor, the most illiterate, to unite and come together out into the open for the struggle against the British Rule.
"This was a manifestation of an incredible inner strength, through which we can experience the vastness of Mahatma Gandhi's great persona," the Prime Minister said.
He said the government of India has taken "a very important decision" to give working women maternity leave of 26 weeks, instead of the earlier 12 weeks, for their pregnancy and delivery.
"There are now only two or three countries in the world that are ahead of us in this matter. India has taken a very important decision for these working women sisters of ours.
The basic aim is to ensure proper care of the newborn, the future citizen of India, from the time of birth. The newborn should get the complete love and attention of the mother."
Talking about "New India", he said it is "not a government scheme or political party's programme. "In essence, every citizen must discharge his civic duties and esponsibilities. This in itself would be a good beginning to the New India."
The Prime Minister said if 125 crore Indians take a pledge and work unitedly towards making a "New India", then it is possible to realise this dream of countrymen.
He also talked about his favourite "Swachch Bharat" drive and said people of the country are getting angry as far as dirt is concerned and this will lead to more efforts towards cleanliness. Modi also talked about wastage of food saying it is unfortunate and an injustice to the poor.
He also spoke at length about depression and how it can be overcome by expressing one's feeling to the near and dear ones and urged the people to help those suffering from it to overcome it.
Talking about the importance of Yoga, he called upon Indians to make the 3rd International Day of Yoga memorable by involving more and more people.
\India does not believe in imposing its views on anyone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today while underlining the country's rich tapestry of diversity.
In an address to a convention of the spiritual organization Brahma Kumaris here via video conferencing, Modi also said the central theme of India s tradition is that God is one .
He said in India, God is not different for the Hindus, Muslims and for Parsis. The truth is one, only different people may express it differently, he said.
We are such a country which does not believe in imposing our views on anyone. We are such people who believe that knowledge has no limits, knowledge has no timing, knowledge is not bound by anything, knowledge does not need any passport, knowledge does not need a visa , the Prime Minister said.
He also talked about India s tradition of preserving nature and referred to the initiatives of his government to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and increase the use of renewable energy sources like solar power.
There is a great challenge of global warming. India has pledged that by the year 2030, which means 13 years from now, our total energy generation from non-fossil fuel sources will be 40 per cent, he said.
By the year 2020, when the country celebrates 75 years of Independence, we will generate 175 giga watts of energy from renewable sources, the Prime Minister said.
He said the more energy India produces from renewable energy, the more the world will benefit.
While talking about the initiatives in the renewable energy field, Modi said 22 crore energy efficient LED bulbs had been distributed under the government s UJALA programme and that it has saved Rs 11,000 crore for the country.
He said if dependence on fossil fuels like kerosene, petrol and diesel is reduced, the country will save crores of rupees which could be utilized for the welfare of the poor people.
Referring to demonetization, the Prime Minister said the fight against corruption has become decisive .
He advocated maximum expansion of digital transactions and minimizing cash transactions. In this regard, he wanted Brahma Kumaris organization, which has lakhs of members, to spread awareness.
Modi also urged the organization to help in the government s 'Indradhanush' vaccination programme for new-born children as lakhs of them suffer from diseases or die for lack of it.
While hailing the social and spiritual work done by the Brahma Kumaris organization, which is marking its 80th anniversary, he urged its volunteers to also spread awareness about proper nutrition.
Modi said his government has taken several steps for the empowerment of women, and in this context referred to increasing maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks (from 3 months to 6-and-a-half months), assistance of Rs 6000 to pregnant women and replacing firewood-based kitchen with LPG for two crore poor households.
He also talked about the Swachh Bharat campaign as part of efforts to fulfil the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi by the year 2019, when the country would be celebrating 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

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