AGENCIES
During an online event attended by PM Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that an atmosphere of tension and violence is prevailing in the country adding that the nation must stress the need to work for peace and harmony.
He said India’s traditions have been rich and glorious, propagating the idea of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam”, which means all world is one family.
The Rajasthan chief minister also countered the claims that the country did not progress for over seven decades after Independence, a narrative used by political parties to target the Congress, which ruled a majority of the period.
Gehlot was speaking at the national launch ceremony of the “Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore”, organised virtually by the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual movement.
The prime minister flagged off yearlong initiatives during the programme. “There is a need to strengthen peace, harmony and brotherhood in the country because it is being seen that there is an atmosphere of tension and violence, and it is the desire of all to get rid of it,” Gehlot said.
He said PM Modi visits other countries and gets respect because the country had progressed in 75 years in science, technology and other areas, which is being valued by other nations.
“We have a glorious history. As we are celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we should remember Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Lokmanya Tilak and others who struggled to get us freedom and because of them we have reached here in the past 75 years after Independence,” said the CM.
“Our country’s identity is not new and from the ancient time, we have believed in Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, which means the world is one family,” said the CM.
“I believe that the country and society can progress only by walking on the path of truth and non-violence. The development will happen where there is peace and this is what we believe in,” he added.
Rajasthan BJP Chief Satish Poonia, however, said: “It seems that in the guise of hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticizes the country. All Congress leaders from Rahul Gandhi to Ashok Gehlot speak in the same language, which is anti-national in nature.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP in Rajasthan shared on Twitter a part of the CM’s speech, in which he is speaking about the violence in the country.
The BJP compared it with the PM’s speech, which the party said reflects “positive thinking”.
“On one hand, there is hateful thinking of the Congress and on the other is the positive thinking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the BJP tweeted sharing the video clip.