NEW DELHI: On Teachers’ Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected directly with over 9.5 crore students across the country. In less than a month, on Vijay Dasami, he made his debut on radio, a medium that covers 99 per cent of India.
In his 13-minute address titled Mann Ki Baat (Heart Talk), broadcast on All India Radio (AIR) on Friday, Modi invoked Mahatma Gandhi to advocate the use of khadi products. “If you buy khadi, a poor man can celebrate Diwali. Please buy and see how you connect to a poor family,” he said.
Reaching remote corners of the country where people have no access to TV, Internet and even national newspapers, the Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of his ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign. He encouraged people to take up the cleanliness project and “challenge” nine other people to do the same. He said the videos of their efforts can be uploaded to the social media to further the cause.
Reminding the nation that Indian scientists have been able to send a mission to Mars at a very low cost, Modi said, “It’s not that we lack strength, but we have forgotten our strength.” Referring to specially-abled children, he said they should be part of the development journey as the nation belongs to everyone.