PM's Mann ki Baat: Must move forward with 'nation first, always first' mantra, says Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Stressing on ‘‘Nation First, Always First’’ mantra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that as the country enters its 75th year of Independence, every citizen should lead a “Bharat Jodo Andolan” in the same manner as Mahatma Gandhi had led the “Bharat Chhoro Andolan”. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, he noted that on the coming 15 August, India will enter its 75th year of Independence and highlighted that Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated throughout the country to mark that year. The need of the nation is to unite and work towards national progress, Modi said. “Just like Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) led the ‘‘Bharat Chhoro Andolan’’ (Quit India movement), every Indian must lead the ‘‘Bharat Jodo Andolan (Unite India Movement)’’. It is our responsibility that we do our work in such a manner that it helps in uniting our country which is full of diversities,” the prime minister said. “We have to move forward with Nation First, Always First,” he asserted. Many programmes in connection with Amrit Mahotsav are being run, the prime minister said, adding that the Ministry of Culture has started an initiative to have maximum number of Indians sing the national anthem together. For this, a website, http://rashtragan.in, too has been created. “With the help of this website, you can render the national anthem and record it, thereby getting connected with the campaign. I hope you connect yourselves with this novel initiative. In the days to come, you will get to see many such campaigns and efforts,” Modi said. The prime minister urged the people to keep encouraging and supporting Indian athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics. He called on the people to support the Indian Olympics team on social media by joining the ‘‘Victory Punch Campaign’’, which has already begun. “You also share your victory punch along with your team and cheer for India,” Modi said. Noting that on 26 July the nation will mark Kargil Vijay Diwas, the prime minister asked the people of the country to pay tributes to those who made the nation proud in 1999. Talking about his Mann Ki Baat programme, he said it celebrates positivity and collectivity. “I am unable to take up all the inputs I receive for Mann Ki Baat but I do forward many of them to government departments concerned, Modi said. In the broadcast, he also cited a study done by MyGov to highlight that out of those sending messages and suggestions for Mann Ki Baat close to 75 percent are below the age of 35 years. “I view this as a very good indicator. Mann Ki Baat is a medium which has positivity, sensitivity. In Mann Ki Baat, we talk about positive things; its character is collective,” he said. Just the way people had joined hands for the cause of freedom during the colonial rule, citizens now have to come together for the development of the country, the prime minister said, adding that they can contribute to nation building by supporting local entrepreneurs, artists, craftsmen and weavers should come naturally to us. Noting that the National Handloom Day falls on 7 August, he said handloom products are a major source of income in rural and tribal regions and urged people to purchase them. With khadi products often finding mention his monthly radio address, Modi said their demand has risen manifold since 2014. In his address, the prime minister also spoke of a number of individuals and local developments brought about by groups of people that have made positive contributions to society.