Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation through his monthly radio programme "Mann Ki Baat" where he spoke on a range of issues, from climate change to VIP culture.
Modi stressed on the need for weeding out the VIP culture that was deep imbedded in people's minds and called for giving importance to all Indians.
"Generally speaking, in our country there exists an atmosphere of disdain towards the VIP culture. But that it runs so very deep, I just experienced, when the government recently decided that no person in India, whatsoever his status might be, will not move with a red beacon atop his vehicle. In a way it had become a symbol of the VIP culture," he said.
Experience tells us that whereas the red beacon used to be fixed atop the vehicle, atop the car, slowly & steadily it permeated into the psyche and got firmly entrenched in the mindset. The red beacon now has gone for good but nobody can say with certainty that the same in the mindset has also disappeared," Modi said.
He said that the exit of the red beacon through a government decision is part of a system but we have to make efforts to cleanse the VIP culture out of our minds.
"The exit of the red beacon through a government decision is part of a system. But we have to make efforts to cleanse it out of our minds. If we collectively strive to do it with eternal vigilance, it surely can be flushed out," he said.
"Our concept of New India precisely is that in place of VIP, more priority should be accorded to EPI. And when I’m saying EPI in place of VIP, the essence of my sentiment is clear – every person is important. Every person has his or her own importance, every person possesses a sagacious aura, Mahaatmya, in a unique manner," the Prime Minister said.
He added, "Let us warmly accept the importance of a hundred & twenty five crore countrymen, let us respectfully embrace the Mahaatmya, the divine greatness of a hundred & twenty five crore Indians and we’ll garner strength of immense magnitude. We have to do this together."
The Prime Minister also spoke on declining number of sparrows in the country.
Taking about a book 'Save the Sparrows' which was sent by one Jagat Bhai from Gujarat, Modi said, "we are traditionally imbued with a sense of symbiotic co-existence with animals, birds and nature yet it is necessary that collective efforts in this regard should be emphasized."
He cited the example of Syedna Sahib, the religious leader of Dawoodi Bohra Community, who had launched a huge campaign to save the sparrow under the aegis of Burhani Foundation.
"Nearly 52 thousand bird feeders were distributed in every nook and corner of the world. This effort also found a mention in the Guinness book of World Records," PM said.
Addressing students, Modi suggested certain tips about how to utilize vacation.
"I offer three suggestions, it will be good if you follow all of the three but then try to do atleast one of the three. See that you gain a new experience. Try to take the opportunity of acquiring a new skill. Try to experience something that you have neither heard before, nor seen, nor thought of and yet there is a curiosity in your mind. You must try new places, new experiences and new skills," Modi said in 31st edition of "Mann Ki Baat."
He also greeted Gujarat and Maharashtra on the eve of their Foundation Day on May 1.
"I congratulate the citizens of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Both the states have striven to reach the heights of progress continually, contributed to the development of the nation, and a number great people born in both states have have continuously inspired us," Modi said.
He followed this by making an appeal to the citizens to take a vow to see where they can take their state, society and nation by the year 2022 when India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its independence.
He said on this occasion people should chart out their own vision of the nation.
"To be able to execute this task, one must prepare plans and must march forward with the support of all the citizens," he said.
