In his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, 26 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about how Mahatma Gandhi associated cleanliness with his 'dream of Independence.
"Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) was a proponent of cleanliness. He made cleanliness a mass movement and associated it with the dream of Independence," PM Narendra Modi said on Mann Ki Baat.
He also encouraged people to buy Khadi products to mark Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October.
In the latest edition of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi paid tribute to Indian rivers on the occasion of World Rivers Day.
"September is an important month, a month when we celebrate World River Day. A day to remember the contribution of our rivers that selflessly provide us with water, I urge the people across the country to mark a 'river festival' at least once a year.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi
He added that “in our scriptures, even a little pollution in the rivers is said to be wrong” and that “rivers are not a physical thing, for us the river is a living entity.”
He also mentioned how people's initiative had helped the Naga river in Tamil Nadu, which had dried up. But due to the initiatives of the rural women and the active public participation, the river was brought to life, and to this day there is plenty of water in the river.
‘Team India Making Records Everyday’
PM Modi also lauded the efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination efforts, stating that “Team India is making new records everyday in this fight.” On 18 September, India crossed 2.5 crore inoculations in one day.
Speaking on the recent “e-auction” held in honour of his birthday, PM Modi said that the proceeds from it will be dedicated to the 'Namami Gange' project.
In his radio address, Modi saluted the courage and enthusiasm of a group of differently-abled trekker on their journey to the Siachen Glacier. "This reflects our nation's 'Can Do' attitude and that disability is not the end to achieving your goals,” he said.
This was the 81st edition of Mann Ki Baat, which is aired on the last Sunday of every month. It comes after PM Modi concluded his US visit where he held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, attended the Quad leaders summit, and spoke at the 76th UN General Assembly.
(With inputs from IANS, NDTV)
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