Mann Ki Baat: Narendra Modi pays homage to Jawaharlal Nehru, Veer Savarkar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday used his monthly radio programme

Mann Ki Baat to pay homage to Jawaharlal Nehru on the death anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister. He also recalled the contribution of Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar during the Independence movement.

In his 44th radio broadcast, the Prime Minister also spoke at length about protecting the environment and launching a green campaign, including citizens shunning the use of low-quality plastic, and having a mass tree plantation drive during the monsoon.

“My dear countrymen, today is the 27th of May, the death anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji . I render my pranam to Pandit ji . Memories of this month are also linked with Veer Savarkar. This was the very month, the month of May 1857, when Indians had displayed their strength against the British … It is indeed sad that we kept on calling the events of 1857 only as a rebellion or a soldiers’ mutiny for a very long time … It was Veer Savarkar who boldly expostulated by writing that whatever happened in 1857 was not a revolt but was indeed the First War of Independence,” he said.

Mr. Modi recalling the contribution of Savarkar along with his homage to Nehru is significant as the Congress has always accused the Modi government of trying to erase Nehru’s legacy and questioned Savarkar’s 1913 mercy petition to the British. The Prime Minister also tweeted his homage to Nehru.

Informing that India will host the World Environment Day celebrations this year, the Prime Minister said, “Our culture, our traditions have never taught us to be at loggerheads with nature. We have to live in harmony and in sync with nature, we have to stay in touch with nature. Mahatma Gandhi had advocated this wisdom at every step of his life.”

Fitness challenge

Apart from encouraging citizens to take part in International Yoga Day on June 21, the Prime Minister talked about the now-viral fitness challenge. “For me, it’s heart-warming that the captain of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli ji has included me in his challenge … and I too have accepted his challenge. I believe this is gainful and this kind of a challenge will inspire us to be fit along with others,” he said.

The Prime Minister complimented the all-woman team of the Navy that circumnavigated the globe in 254 days, and said India’s daughters were an example to the world.