Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 14 September attended the ‘Ashara Mubaraka’, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (the grandson of Prophet Mohammad), at Saifee Mosque in Indore.
The event was organised by the Dawoodi Bohra community, and presided over by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the religious head of the community. Ashara Mubaraka is a ten-day period of the first month of the Islamic calendar and the biggest event organised by the community.
In his address, Modi expressed his gratitude for a chance to be a part of the event. He spoke at length about community spirit, and asserted that the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – gives India a distinguished identity.
“The whole world is like a family to us. We believe in the culture of taking everybody along. This is the thing that makes us different from other countries. We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future.”PM Narendra Modi
Bohras Contributing Towards ‘Vikas’
He also spoke of his old relationship with their community, and remembered the support of Bohras during his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat. Most villages in his native Gujarat have Bohra businesses, he added.
Lauding the Bohra community for their honesty in trade, the Prime Minister said they have set an example for others in terms of contributing to the mission of Vikas.
“In the past four years, the government has proved to be sucessful in doing things, following certain rules. We are encouraging honest workers through the GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The Bohra community is at the forefront for this.”PM Narendra Modi
Modi Hails Bohra Muslims Efforts Towards ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’
The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras for their efforts to make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.
The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched tomorrow and will culminate on 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti, he said.
Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.
“Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the ‘Dandi March’, Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation.”PM Narendra Modi
Make-in-India a Success
Referring to the ‘Make-in-India’ programme, Modi asserted that “the confidence of investors across the world has increased in India. The production of mobiles phones, vehicles and other goods is increasing due to the record investment.”
He said that in the last quarter of the current fiscal, the country has achieved a growth rate of more than eight percent.
“We are eyeing the double digit. I believe that the country can reach to the goal despite all the challenges,” the prime minister said.
Modi also said that his government has given priority to the health and nutrition sectors, and that this was being done for the first time in the country’s history.
The facilities of cheap treatment and medicines are being expanded exponentially, he added.
He said the ‘Ayushman Bharat Scheme’ (national health protection scheme) has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people from the poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.
Modi also said that the government is working to provide a house to every homeless poor person in the country by 2022. Under this scheme, more than one crore people have been given houses so far, he claimed.
He also lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
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