Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the country was saddened to witness the insult of the Tricolour on January 26 in Delhi as he addressed the nation through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
The address came a day ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The radio address also came days after farmers’ protest turned violence on Republic Day.
PM Modi said, “When I do ‘Mann Ki Baat’, it seems as if I am present among you, as a member of your family.”
“Small things, which teach us something sweet and sour, things which can become the inspiration of life – that’s ‘Mann Ki Baat,” he said.
“We have to fill our future with new hope. We showed exceptional restraint and courage last year. This year too, we have to prove our resolve by working hard,” Modi said.
He said, “With the beginning of this year, our fight against Corona has also been completed for almost a year. Our Vaccination program is becoming an example in the world. Today, India is running the world’s Largest Vaccine Drive.”
“We are undertaking Vaccination of our citizens at the fastest speed in the world along with the Largest Vaccine Drive. In just 15 days, India has vaccinated more than 3 million of its corona warrior, while a rich country like America took 18 days to do this work and Britain took 36 days,” the PM said.
“In a recent tweet, the Brazilian President thanked India, How Great every Indian felt, seeing all this! Thousands of of kms away, in the remote parts of the world, people have such a profound knowledge of Ramayana, this is specialty of our culture,” he said.
“’Made-in-India Vaccine’, today is not only a symbol of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, but also of India’s Atma Nirbharta,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said, “India is proud of our freedom fighters, who hail from all parts of India. They sacrificed themselves for our nation. It is important to preserve memories of the battles they fought for us. We should preserve their memories for future generations.”
“I call upon all the countrymen and especially my young colleagues to write about the freedom fighters of the country. Now, as India celebrates 75 years of independence, your writing will be a perfect tribute to the heroes of freedom,” Modi said.
“India is proud of those who have been conferred the Padma Awards,” said the Prime Minister.
