(Eds: Updates with more quotes)New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Describing India as a "messengerof peace", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the countryhas always contributed towards global peace, unity and harmonythrough UN missions across the world.
He said India is the third highest contributor to UNpeacekeeping missions, with around 7,000 of its securitypersonnel deployed on various missions across the world.
Besides, the Indian forces have imparted peacekeepingtraining to their counterparts from 85 countries and have beenproviding medical services to people of a number of countries,Modi said in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'.
In his 30-minute broadcast, he also talked about India'stradition of respecting the nature through festivals like'Chhat' and referred to the ongoing cleanliness campaign.
He mentioned the role played by Sardar Vallabhai Patel inlaying the foundation of the country's unity and urged peopleto participate in the 'Run for Unity' to be organised on thelate leader's birth anniversary on October 31, which alsohappens to be the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.
Talking about the upcoming Children's Day which iscelebrated on the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru onNovember 14, Modi expressed concern that children are nowadaysgetting afflicted by diabetes.
He said ailments like diabetes occur mainly due tolifestyle and exhorted the children to play outdoors more tobe healthy and escape such ailments.
He also referred to the just-concluded FIFA Under-17World Cup held in India for the first time and expressedhappiness over the host team's performance, saying it had wonhearts, if not medals.
He also spoke about the upcoming Guru Nanak Jayanti whichfalls on November 4 and hailed the first Sikh Guru, describinghim as a "world guru" who thought about the welfare of theentire humanity.
Hailing the Indian armed forces, the prime ministermentioned his recent visit to Gurez near the Line of Control(LoC) in Jammu Kashmir to spend Diwali with the brave securityperosnnel.
Describing it as an "unforgettable" experience, he laudedthe "struggle, dedication and sacrifices" of the armed forcespersonnel who work in extremely difficult conditions at theborders to protect the country.
He said the Indian forces are deployed not only on theIndian borders but play a role to establish peace across theworld in the form of UN peacekeeper and make the countryproud.
Referring to the UN Day celebrated on October 24, he saidit is an occasion to remember the efforts of the UN toestablish peace in the world.
"We are believers of 'vasudev kutumbakam', which meansthe whole world is one. And because of this belief, India hasbeen an active participant in the UN's key initiatives," Modisaid.
"India, as a messenger of peace, has always vouched forpeace, unity and harmony in the world. It is our belief thateveryone should live in peace and harmony and move towards abetter and peaceful tomorrow," the prime minister said.
He said as of August 2017, India has participated inabout 50 out of 71 UN peacekeeping operations undertaken incountries like Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Congo, Cyprus,Liberia, Lebanon and Sudan. Indian women personnel too havecontributed in this endeavour in an active manner.
In Congo and South Sudan, hospitals run by Indian armedforces have treated over 20,000 people and saved most of them.
Not only have the Indian troops saved the people of thosecountries but also conducted people-friendly operations.
"The brave soldiers from the land of Mahatma Gandhi andGautam Buddha have spread the message of peace and harmonyacross the world," Modi said.
He said the peacekeeping operations are not easy and theIndian soldiers have to work in diverse nations and adapt tolocal conditions, requirements and culture.
While talking about India's association with the UN, henoted that both the Indian Constitution and the UN Charterbegin with the words "we the people'.
He added that the UN Declaration of Human Rights hadinitially the wording 'all men are born free and equal' but itwas changed to 'all human beings are born free and equal'after efforts by Indian representative Hansa Mehta.
This, he said, was to ensure respect for women.
During the programme, Modi also talked about SisterNivedita, an Irish lady whose original name was MargaretElizabeth Nobel, and recounted her service to the Indianpeople during the British rule.
"Sister Nivedita was deeply hurt by the atrocitiescommitted during the British rule. The British had not onlymade us a colony but also tried to enslave us mentally. Theycontinuously tried to deride our culture to create aninferiority complex among us," he said.
He also said that khadi sale at just one outlet in Delhion the last Dhanteras on October 17 was a record Rs 1.2 crore.
"The 'Mann Ki Baat' (programme) is praised and sometimesit is criticised. But when I see the impact of 'Mann Ki Baat',my belief becomes a conviction that the programme has forgedan unbreakable bonding with the people," Modi said.
He said an example in this regard was the sale of khadiand handloom, which he had been advocating strongly throughthe "Mann Ki Baat' programme.
The sale of khadi and handloom witnessed 90 per centincrease during this Diwali against the previous year'sfigure, the prime minister said.
"Earlier, it was 'khadi for nation' and we talked about'khadi for fashion'. But lately we realised that 'khadi fortransformation' is taking the place of 'khadi for nation' and'khadi for fashion'.
The prime minister also referred to some recent sportsevents like the Asia Cup Hockey and Denmark Open Tennistournament. He hailed India's victory in the Asia Cup after 10years and lauded K Srikanth for winning the Denmark Open afterIndonesia Open and Australia Open. PTI AKKAKK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.