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We are near and we are together: PM speaks at Dhaka University

Published By : Admin | June 7, 2015 | 19:35 IST

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that even as his 2-day visit to Bangladesh was ending, he felt the real journey begins now. He said the welcome accorded to him, was in effect, a welcome to 125 crore Indians.

He was addressing a gathering comprising members of the Indian community, eminent Bangladeshis including political personalities, cultural personalities, business persons, academicians and Dhaka University students. He said that while people thought we were just near (paas-paas) to each other, now the world would have to acknowledge that we are not just paas-paas but also saath-saath (together).

He said he was especially happy that a Mukti Jodha President, in the presence of the Bangabandhu's daughter, had presented the Bangladesh Liberation War honour to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which Shri Modi had the honour to receive. He said that as a young man, his first exposure to politics was in the form of a Satyagrahi in support of the liberation struggle in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said the world rarely notices developing countries. He said Bangladesh has had to often face natural disasters. But nevertheless, he said, Bangladesh has done unparalleled work in many fields. He said the work done by Bangladesh in the garment sector is well appreciated. He said that he was happy to hear this on a recent visit to China, for the fact that a developing country had achieved such a feat. He said that if Bangladesh prospers, India too would benefit.

The Prime Minister said many states in India could learn from Bangladesh on several social indicators, such as infant mortality rate. He said when Bangladesh progresses, India feels proud, because Indian soldiers too have shed blood for the birth of this country.

The Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her single-minded focus on economic development. He said a firm foundation is being laid for Bangladesh's economic progress.

The Prime Minister said India and Bangladesh are both blessed to be young nations, with young dreams. He said a nation with such leadership and such strength, like Bangladesh, would progress inexorably.

The Prime Minister said the era of expansionism in geopolitics has ended. He said the world now needs vikaswaad (development), not vistaarwaad (expansionism).

Referring to the Land Boundary Agreement between the two countries, he described it as one which bonded hearts together. The Prime Minister said both India and Bangladesh wanted to establish the Buddhist circuit - and where there was Buddha, there could be no Yuddha. He quoted a newspaper editorial that said that the Land Boundary Agreement was equivalent to the fall of the Berlin Wall. He said the world would have to acknowledge that we are people who find ways to move ahead.

The Prime Minister said the younger generation deserves the chance to achieve its aspirations. He appreciated the contribution of the Dhaka University to Bangladesh. He said that India would work with Dhaka University on oceanography, to build the Ocean Economy.

The Prime Minister said SAARC countries were keen to establish connectivity at the last SAARC summit - but then - not every country is Bangladesh. He said India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan had now decided to move ahead in this direction. He said the European Union had developed a lot because of better connectivity. He said today no country could work alone, as the whole world has become interdependent. He said India and Bangladesh had recognized this fact, and this was reflected in the 22 agreements that had been signed during this visit. He congratulated the farsighted leadership of Bangladesh for accomplishing this.

The Prime Minister said a satellite photo would reveal that the SAARC countries were still dark - had no access to electricity. He said if India Nepal Bhutan and Bangladesh worked together, this darkness would be dispelled. He said recently Bangladesh helped India transport equipment for a power plant in Tripura, and now Bangladesh was receiving 100 MW of power from that power plant.

The Prime Minister spoke of shared potential in sectors such as solar energy and space.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had done a lot for women empowerment. He said this is a matter of pride. He recalled billboards in Dhaka featuring the woman cricket player, Salma Khatun. He added that the rise of the Bangladesh cricket team reflects the potential of Bangladesh. He said that he is proud that he has come to walk together with this Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that some tasks were still to be accomplished. He said he believed and panchhi (birds), pawan (wind), and paani (water) needed no visa - and therefore - the Teesta issue had to be solved with a human approach. Referring to unfortunate incidents on the border, he said it was the responsibility of both sides to ensure that a solution is found. He said illegal human trafficking and fake currency were issues which Bangladesh had expressed an intention to resolve.

The Prime Minister called for reform of the United Nations. He said India still had not got a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. He said this was a country which never fought to gain land. He said 75,000 Indian soldiers had sacrificed their lives for others in the First World War, and 90,000 in the Second World War. He referred to India's role in peacekeeping operations across the world. He said Indian soldiers had fought alongside Mukti Jodhas as well, for Bangladesh. Yet India had still not got a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Referring to the Pakistani prisoners of war after the 1971 war, he said India released 90,000 soldiers, because it was only interested in the welfare and progress of Bangladesh. He said this incident, in itself should have been enough to convince the world that India should get a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

The Prime Minister said that on the first day itself, his Government had invited SAARC leaders, indicating its intention to progress together with SAARC.

He said he was happy that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh had declared zero tolerance for terrorism. He said terrorism is an enemy of humanity, and therefore all humanitarian forces had to unite to fight it.

The Prime Minister said his vision and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision matched perfectly - that of development.

Click here to read the text of PM's speech

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in Veer Baal Diwas today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the 3rd Veer Baal Diwas, he said their Government had started the Veer Baal diwas in memory of the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades. He added that this day had now become a festival of national inspiration for crores of Indians. He further added this day had worked to inspire many children and youth with indomitable courage. Shri Modi lauded the 17 children who were conferred with Veer Baal awards in the fields of bravery, innovation, science and technology, sports and arts today. He added that today’s awardees symbolised the capability of the children and youth of India to excel in various fields. The Prime Minister paid his tributes to the Gurus and the brave Sahibzades on the occasion and also congratulated the awardees and their families.

Recalling the sacrifice of the brave Sahibzades, Shri Modi said it was imperative for today’s youth to know about their saga of bravery and therefore, it was important to recall those events too. He added that it was over three centuries ago on this day the courageous Sahibzades had sacrificed their lives at tender ages. The Prime Minister noted that despite the tender ages of Sahib Zorawar Singh and Sahib Fateh Singh, their courage knew no bounds. He added that the Sahibzades rejected all the temptations of the Mughal Sultanate, endured all the atrocities and chose to embrace the death sentence ordered by Wazir Khan with utmost bravery. Shri Modi remarked that the Sahibzadas reminded him of the valor of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh and this bravery was the spiritual strength of our faith. He added that the Sahibzadas chose to sacrifice their lives but never wavered from the path of faith. The Prime Minister emphasized that Veer Bal Diwas teaches us that no matter how difficult the circumstances, nothing is greater than the nation and national interest. He said “Every act done for the country is an act of bravery and every child and youth living for the country is a Veer Balak”.

“This year's Veer Bal Diwas is even more special as it marks the 75th year of the establishment of the Indian Republic and our Constitution”, said the Prime Minister. He emphasized that in this 75th year of Indian Constitution, every citizen of the country is drawing inspiration from the brave Sahibzadas to work for the unity and integrity of the nation. Shri Modi highlighted that the strong democracy of India was proud that this day was built on the bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzadas. He underscored that our democracy inspires us towards the upliftment of the last person in society. “The Constitution teaches us that no one is small or big in the country”, said Shri Modi. He added that this principle aligns with the teachings of our Gurus, who advocated for the welfare of all. The Prime Minister stressed that the life of the Sahibzadas teaches us not to compromise on the integrity and ideals of the nation and similarly, the Constitution upholds the principle of India's sovereignty and integrity. He added that the magnitude of our democracy embodies the teachings of the Gurus, the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas, and the mantra of national unity.

“From past till present, the energy of the youth has played a significant role in India's progress”, said Shri Modi. He highlighted that from the fight for independence to the 21st-century movements, Indian youth have contributed to every revolution. The Prime Minister stressed that the world looks at India with hope and expectations because of the power of the youth. He remarked that today, from start-ups to science, sports to entrepreneurship, youth power is driving new revolutions. Hence, he added, the government's biggest focus in policy is empowering the youth. He stressed that all policies, whether for the start-up ecosystem, the future of the space economy, the sports and fitness sector, the fintech and manufacturing industry, or skill development and internship schemes, are youth-centric and aimed at benefiting young people. He further underscored that in every sector related to the country's development, young people are getting new opportunities while their talent and self-confidence was receiving support from the Government. The Prime Minister remarked that in today's rapidly changing world, new needs, expectations, and future directions were emerging. He stressed on the importance of making our youth futuristic, given the shift from traditional software to AI and the rise of machine learning. Shri Modi highlighted that the country started preparing for this long ago with the new National Education Policy, which modernized education and provided an open sky for learning. He emphasized that over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been set up to foster innovation among young children. Shri Modi stated that the 'Mera Yuva Bharat' campaign aims to provide practical opportunities along with education, increase the sense of duty towards society among youth.

Stressing on the importance of staying fit, noting that a healthy youth will lead to a capable nation, Shri Modi said that the 'Fit India' and 'Khelo India' movements aimed to increase fitness awareness among the younger generation. The Prime Minister announced the launch of the 'Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan', which will promote a healthy competition among village panchayats to eliminate malnutrition and form the basis of a developed India.

“Veer Bal Diwas fills us with inspiration and motivates us for new resolutions”, remarked the Prime Minister. He emphasized that our standard should now be the best. He urged the youth to work towards making their respective sectors the best. Shri Modi said “If we work on infrastructure, our roads, rail network, and airport infrastructure should be the best in the world. If we work on manufacturing, our semiconductors, electronics, and auto vehicles should be the best globally. If we work in tourism, our destinations, travel amenities, and hospitality should be the best. If we work in the space sector, our satellites, navigation technology, and astronomy research should be the best”. The Prime Minister remarked that the inspiration for setting such high goals comes from the bravery of the Sahibzadas. He stressed that big goals are now our resolutions. Shri Modi remarked that the country had complete confidence in the capabilities of its youth and underscored that the youth of India, who can lead the world's largest companies, innovate to guide the modern world, and prove their mettle in every major country and field, can achieve anything for their nation when given new opportunities. Therefore, he said, that the goal of a developed India was assured and the success of Atmanirbhar Bharat was certain.

Remarking that every era gave the youth of a country the opportunity to change its destiny, Shri Modi highlighted that during the freedom struggle, Indian youth broke the arrogance of foreign rule and achieved their goals while today, the youth have the goal of a developed India. He stressed that in this decade, we must lay the foundation for rapid development over the next 25 years. The Prime Minister urged the youth to make the most of this time, advance in every sector, and propel the nation forward. He emphasized his vision of bringing one lakh youth into politics, whose families have never been involved in active politics. He added that this initiative was crucial for the next 25 years and encouraged the youth to be part of this campaign to bring a new generation into politics. Shri Modi announced that the 'Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue' would be held at the beginning of next year on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary. He added that millions of youth from villages, towns, and cities across the country will participate, discussing the vision and roadmap for a developed India.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the in the upcoming decade, especially the next five years, would be crucial for fulfilling the resolutions of Amrit Kaal's 25 years. He highlighted the need to harness the entire youth power of the country. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the support, cooperation, and energy of the youth will take India to great heights. He concluded by paying homage to the Gurus, the brave Sahibzadas, and Mata Gujri ji.

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Annapurna Devi was present among other dignitaries at the event.

Background

Veer Baal Diwas is a nationwide celebration honouring children as the foundation of India’s future. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the event and launched ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan’. The programme aims at improving the nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening implementation of nutrition related services and by ensuring active community participation.

Various initiatives will also be run across the nation to engage young minds, promote awareness about the significance of the day, and foster a culture of courage and dedication to the nation. A series of online competitions, including interactive quizzes, will be organized through the MyGov and MyBharat Portals. Interesting activities like storytelling, creative writing, poster-making among others will be undertaken in schools, Child Care Institutions and Anganwadi centres.

Awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) were also present during the programme