Andalib Akhter / NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked the youth to come forward and write the destiny of the nation. He said that it was the responsibility of the youth to lead the future of India and this responsibility also involves the politics of the nation because today’s politics also needs the youth.
Addressing the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival today through video conferencing, Mr Modi said, earlier there was a perception in the country that if a young man turned to politics, people used to say that the child is getting spoiled. He said, people believed that everything can change but politics cannot. The Prime Minister said, but today honest people are also getting a chance in politics. He said, Honesty and performance is becoming the first mandatory condition of today’s politics. He said, our politics needs young people and politics a constructive medium to make positive changes. Exhorting young people to join politics, Mr Modi says the poison of dynastic politics will continue to weaken democracy unless they enter it. He said, dynastic politics is the biggest enemy of democracy and it should be rooted out. He said, dynasty politics gives rise to incapability and dictatorship in a democratic setup as such people work towards saving the politics of family and family in politics.
The Prime Minister said, an ecosystem is being prepared for our youth to develop their talent according to their dreams. Be it the education system, social system or legal nuances, these things are being kept in the centre of everything.
He said, the New National Education Policy focuses on development of better individuals and from better individuals to a better country. He said, this policy gives priority to our youth’s understanding, their decisions and beliefs. He said, the new National Education Policy is a step towards nation-building and the Government is building an eco-system which will give better opportunities to the youth.
Speaking about Swami Vivekananda, Mr Modi said, Swami Ji always stressed equally on physical and mental strength and spoke about muscles of iron and nerves of steel. He said, inspired from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, the Government is specially focusing on the mental and physical fitness of Indian youth.
The Prime Minister said, it was Swami ji who said at that time that the fearless, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspirational youth is the foundation on which the future of the nation is built. He believed so much on youth and on the youth power.
Mr Modi said, time passed, the country became independent, but we still see Swamiji’s influence today. What Swamiji spoke about spirituality, nationalism and nation building, his thoughts about serving people and serving the world flow within people with the same intensity.
The Prime Minister said, Swami Vivekananda has given us another precious gift and it is a gift to build individuals, to build institutions. He said, people come under the influence of Swamiji and build institutions. He said, people then come out from these institutions, follow Swamiji’s path and add new people too.
The Prime Minister said, our freedom fighters were influenced by Swami Vivekananda and his works have always been effective in instilling nationalism in the youth.
Citing examples of the reconstruction work in the aftermath of the Bhuj earthquake, Mr Modi told the youth that the society that learns to make their own path in calamity, writes its own destiny. He said, all of 130 crore Indians are writing their own destiny today. The Prime Minister said that each and every effort, innovation, and honest pledge by today’s youth is laying a strong foundation for our future.
Speaking on the occasion, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, we have decided to run Know Your Constitution Campaign through the Centre, State Assemblies and State Governments in the entire country.
Mr Birla called upon the young participants to spread awareness about parliamentary procedures and values among the people. He hoped that the source of power and energy that youth will take from here will serve to strengthen democracy in various regions of the country and at the same time will open avenues for solving the problems and difficulties confronting the nation, through the medium of democracy.
Mr Birla further observed that Swami Vivekananda had given the youth the message to strengthen the qualities of inner strength and self-confidence. He noted that he can visualize the same youth power and confidence in all the participants that can make impossible things possible and they have the ability to make Swamiji’s dreams come true.
Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said, empowerment of youth is empowerment of the country.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said, two lakh 34 thousand youth from across the country participated in this edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival.
Three winners of the festival, Mudita Mishra from Uttar Pradesh, Aayati Mishra from Maharashtra and Abhinam Mangat from Sikkim also expressed their views during the event.
