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Prime Minister’s Address during the International Conference on Rule of Law for supporting 2030 Development Agenda

Published By : Admin | March 4, 2016 | 17:49 IST
Rules should be such that they facilitate the achievement of goals: PM Narendra Modi
Anything which is not sustainable cannot be called development: PM Modi
In our culture, development means ‘बहुजन हिताय, बहुजन सुखाय’, ‘सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनो’ and “लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु’: PM
We, in India, have a strong tradition of living in harmony with nature. We worship nature: PM Modi
India could provide leadership in sustainable development: PM
Poverty is the biggest challenge for environment. Eradication of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of my Government: PM
It is our moral responsibility to ensure that we leave a healthy planet for future generations: PM Modi
We want to ensure a conducive environment for 1.25 billion Indians to develop and prosper: PM Modi

Hon. Chief Justice of India,
Other Dignitaries on the dais,
Judicial minds from India and abroad
Invitees, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am delighted to address the International Workshop on Rule of Law and Sustainable Development. I welcome our friends from abroad and thank them for their active participation.

This workshop is being organized soon after two important international agreements which happened during 2015. One is the Paris Agreement on climate change. The other is the Agreement on Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, this conference provides a timely and useful opportunity to discuss the way forward. This is important not only in the national context but also in the global context. I hope you will keep in mind the welfare of mankind and the concerns of the international community in your deliberations.

The role of rules and laws in achieving sustainable development goals is going to be very important in the days to come. However, rules should be such that they facilitate the achievement of these goals. Unfortunately, some times, the concern for environment is defined narrowly. We all have to realize that if there is conflict, no one’s purpose will be served. I hope that you will show us the way to build and ensure climate justice across the globe based on legal as well as social frameworks.

Last year, in September, I attended the meeting of the UN General Assembly where the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 were adopted. These goals reflect our evolving understanding of the social, economic and environmental linkages that define our lives.

This was followed by the COP-21 where we contributed significantly in shaping the narrative. Our commitments at COP-21 underline the Indian ethos which aims at changing human lifestyle along with changes in the manner in which we engage in economic activity. The problems of environment are largely the effect of our consumptive lifestyles. If we want to make a meaningful impact, we all need to look within; before we read the books of law.

Friends!

I have always felt that anything which is not sustainable cannot be called development. In our culture, development means ‘बहुजन हिताय, बहुजन सुखाय’, ‘सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनो’ and “लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु’. This cannot happen unless the development process is inclusive and sustainable. Anything which compromises on the ability of future generations to meet their requirements cannot be called development. We in India have always believed in sustainability. For us, the law of nature holds great value. If we all observe it, then many man-made laws will not be required. Only the practice of सह जीवन and सह अस्तित्व will be enough to help us. In modern terminology, there is a word called stakeholder. A path becomes sustainable, if all stakeholders are benefitted. However, I must add a word of caution here. The stake should be natural. It should be inherent. It cannot be stretched to include those who may be working with ulterior motives. Nature is pure. Hence, only pure intentions can keep it intact.

We, in India, have a strong tradition of living in harmony with nature. We worship nature. We worship the sun, the moon, rivers, land, trees, animals, rain, air and fire. These elements of Nature have been given the stature of Gods in our culture. Moreover, in Indian mythology, most of the Gods and Goddesses are associated with an animal and a tree. Thus, respect for Nature is an integral part of our culture, and has been passed across generations. Protection of environment comes naturally to us. This strong tradition has been a guiding principle for all of us.

There is a well-known Sanskrit saying:

ॐ सर्वेशां स्वस्तिर्भवतु । सर्वेशां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां पुर्णंभवतु । सर्वेशां मङ्गलंभवतु ।।


Which means:

We always pray for welfare, peace, fulfillment and sustainability of all; at all places and for all times.

This is our commitment; not of today but since time immemorial. If we remember this, follow this and act accordingly, India could provide leadership in sustainable development. For example, the practice of Yoga is aimed at balancing contentment and worldly desires, to lead to a path of moderation and sustainable lifestyle. When I talk of yoga, it is not just its physical dimension. Yoga is very comprehensive. The ideas of YAM, NIYAM, PRATYAHAR teach us discipline, austerity and control.

Much before the debate on sustainable development began, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, had said that we should act as ‘trustees’ and use natural resources wisely. It is our moral responsibility to ensure that we leave a healthy planet for future generations.

Friends! I am sure all of us agree that poverty is the biggest challenge for environment. Therefore, eradication of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of my government. Guided by our core values, we are working towards achieving this goal with sincerity. We want to ensure a conducive environment for 1.25 billion Indians to develop, and prosper. We are encouraging education, skill development, digital connectivity and entrepreneurship to provide an enabling ecosystem for our youth to blossom. We aim to do all this in a sustainable manner.

We realize that fulfilling the demand for energy is vital to the achievement of our development goals. This is why, one of the first challenges that we took up was generation of 175 Giga watts of renewable energy. We are well on our way to achieving this objective.

We have also taken up the Swacch Bharat and Clean Ganga Initiatives. I am happy to note that millions of people across the country have joined the cleanliness drive. I take this opportunity to invite the participants to explore as to how we can strengthen this collective endeavour. I am glad to learn that this workshop will also discuss issues related to pollution and waste management. These are issues that need to be addressed proactively. I look forward to your recommendations towards strengthening such initiatives.

Friends!

The problems we face in India today are not unique. Other civilizations have also faced similar problems and were able to overcome them. I believe that through our collective efforts we will succeed as well. While doing so, we must ensure that we avoid contradictions between our need to develop and develop sustainably. Our culture teaches us Union between the व्यक्ति and समस्ती. If we become one with the universal order, there are no conflicts of interest.

Therefore, my Government is treating the challenge of adapting to climate change as an opportunity rather than a problem. We need to adopt the philosophy of योग: कर्मसु कौशलम्. We must do things in a way that causes minimum damage to the environment. This is कौशल or mastery. This is what I mean when I talk of zero defect and zero effect manufacturing. I have written some of my thoughts on this theme in my book, Convenient Action: continuity for change.

Friends! The rule of law dictates that no one can be punished for another’s misdeed. We need to recognize that there are many people who are least responsible for the problem of climate change. They are also the people who still wait for access to modern amenities. They face the adverse impact of climate change more than anyone else. This includes cyclones, droughts, floods, heat waves, and rising sea levels. The poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups have fewer resources to cope with climate disasters. Unfortunately, their present and future generations are also burdened by laws and agreements on environment. That is why I talk about Climate Justice. Moreover, the rules, laws, practices and principles of one country cannot be applied to another uniformly. Every country has its own challenges and its own ways of dealing with them. If we apply the same set of rules for all countries and for all people; it will not work.

Sustainable development is our responsibility. I am confident that we can achieve it, collectively. I am also confident that we can find ways for development which are in harmony with nature. We can find them along the road travelled by our forefathers. I hope the deliberations during this workshop will help in developing a shared understanding of these imperatives.

I wish this conference a grand success.

Thank you. 

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PM Modi addresses passionate BJP Karyakartas at the Party Headquarters
November 23, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed BJP workers at the party headquarters following the BJP-Mahayuti alliance's resounding electoral triumph in Maharashtra. He hailed the victory as a decisive endorsement of good governance, social justice, and development, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for trusting BJP's leadership for the third consecutive time.

PM Modi congratulated key leaders from Maharashtra for their role in the party's victory. "I would like to hail Eknath Shinde Ji, Devendra Fadnavis Ji, and Ajit Pawar Ji for their leadership in the victory in the Maharashtra polls," he said, acknowledging their efforts in securing the win.

During his victory speech, the Prime Minister highlighted the by-election results, noting BJP’s strong support in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh, with the NDA gaining momentum in Bihar. He emphasized the nation's growing focus on progress and expressed gratitude to Maharashtra’s voters, youth, women, and farmers. Furthermore, PM Modi saluted the people of Jharkhand, pledging intensified efforts for its rapid development with the dedication of BJP karyakartas.

Lauding Maharashtra for opening its heart once again, PM Modi said, “Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has once again shown how to confront appeasement politics. This is the biggest victory for any party or pre-poll alliance in the last 50 years. For the third consecutive time, Maharashtra has placed its trust in a BJP-led alliance. Once again, the BJP emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra, which is truly historic. This is a stamp of approval on BJP’s governance model.”

“Maharashtra’s people gave BJP more seats than Congress and its allies combined. This reflected that when it comes to good governance, the country only trusts BJP and NDA. Maharashtra became the sixth state to give BJP three consecutive mandates, following Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. This was the public’s faith in BJP’s model of good governance, and we left no stone unturned to uphold this trust,” he added.

PM Modi highlighted the election’s maha-mantra: "Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain". He said Maharashtra and Haryana sent a clear mandate for unity, rejecting Congress’s attempts to divide SC/ST/OBCs with false promises. Tribals, OBCs, Dalits, and all communities backed BJP-NDA, delivering a strong blow to Congress and INDI alliance’s divisive agenda.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the BJP's efforts to promote and preserve the Marathi language and culture. Unlike Congress, which he said failed to take significant steps despite decades in power, the BJP granted Marathi the status of a classical language. PM Modi emphasized that respect for mother tongues, cultures, and historical heritage is intrinsic to the BJP's character. Highlighting his vision for a 'Viksit Bharat,' PM Modi referred to the 'Panch Praan' he introduced from the ramparts of the Red Fort, which included pride in India's heritage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the Indian voter stands firmly with the principle of 'Nation First.' He remarked that citizens across the country reject leaders and parties driven by a 'Kursi First' mentality, i.e. those focused solely on power and personal gains.

Speaking about how this result serves as a mandate against those who want to reinstate Article 370, he reiterated, “This mandate from Maharashtra sends a strong message: the entire nation will adhere to only one Constitution i.e. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. Congress and its allies attempted to revive Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, but Maharashtra made it clear that such efforts will not succeed. No power in the world can bring back Article 370.”

The PM called out Congress's hypocrisy regarding Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb Ji, stating, “This election has exposed the double standards of the INDI alliance. While Congress allied with a faction of Balasaheb’s party for power, they refused to honor his ideology. I challenged Congress’s allies to get Congress to even speak a word in favor of Balasaheb’s policies, but they couldn’t. Likewise, Congress repeatedly insulted Veer Savarkar. In Maharashtra, they momentarily halted their disrespect to seek votes but failed to recognize his sacrifices. This hypocrisy has revealed their true nature.”

Hitting out at the Congress party, PM Modi said, “In India's politics, the Congress party has now become a ‘parjeevi’, struggling to form governments on its own. In recent elections, they were wiped out in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Haryana, and Maharashtra. Congress's outdated, divisive politics is failing, yet their arrogance remains sky-high.”

Furthermore, PM Modi condemned Congress's fake secularism, remarked, "In its relentless pursuit of power, Congress has torn apart the secular spirit enshrined in our Constitution. The Constitution's framers embraced secularism while respecting Hindu traditions, but Congress has twisted that into a false version of secularism. By sowing the seeds of appeasement, they have betrayed the very essence of our Constitution. They ignored Supreme Court rulings and created mechanisms like the Waqf Board to further their political agenda. This is nothing short of a betrayal of true secularism."

“Congress’s royal family’s hunger for power has distorted the idea of social justice. Once, Indira ji opposed casteism, but today, Congress spreads casteism to satisfy its hunger for power. Congress’s priority is now the family, not the people, which harms democracy,” he added.

Highlighting urban development under BJP-NDA rule, the PM reiterated, “BJP is focused on building global-standard infrastructure, including expanding metro networks, modern electric buses, coastal roads, and airport modernization. We are also committed to cleanliness and to providing new opportunities for youth across various sectors, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and startups. Our goal is to make Indian cities among the best in the world.”

Concluding his speech, PM Modi reinforced ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ stating, "I have always said that we need to bring new youth into politics. Today, NDA candidates without political family ties have earned voter trust, a promising sign." He continued, "Elections come and go, but BJP’s goal is to build a developed India. In just 10 years, we moved from the 10th to the 5th largest economy. Soon, India will be the 3rd largest. United, we will achieve every goal.”