Mann Ki Baat: Unity, compassion solution to Kashmir unrest, says Modi

Invoking Teachers Day which falls on September 5, Modi also praised PV Sindhu's coach Pullela Gopichand.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 23rd edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' at 11 am on Sunday.

"On the Narendra Modi App, I was requested to speak on the achievements of our sportspersons at the Rio Olympics. Our daughters - PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmakar once again proved that they are inferior to nobody," Modi said.

Hailing Dipa Karmakar, Modi said that it was commendable that she almost won the bronze medal, falling short by only a few seconds. The Prime Minister praised the performance of Lalita Babar, who became the first Indian woman to make the women's 3000 metre steeplechase final after PT Usha. He also hailed the Indian women's hockey team, which made it to the Olympics after 32 years and beat Argentina, the eventual gold medal winners, in the league stages.

“We have to go a long way when it comes to focusing on sports. Parents still want their children to concentrate on academics. Sports needs motivation and public is the best entity to do it,” the PM added.

Speaking about Teachers' Day which falls on September 5, Modi called it a 'day of learning.' "Teachers are as important as mothers in our lives. They spend their lives caring for their students," Modi said.

The PM then saluted silver medalist shuttler PV Sindhu's coach Pullela Gopichand for his role in her performance.

Remembering Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, PM Modi paid respects to all his teachers. “My handwriting is very bad, but even at the age of 90, a teacher of mine has a better handwriting. Handwriting adds immense respect to one’s personality.”

The PM urged all to share pictures, anecdotes, inspirational stories vis-à-vis teachers on the Narendra Modi App.

Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, Modi invoked Lokmanya Tilak, who began the Ganesh festival. He asked people to revert to the tradition of using clay idols instead of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, which pollute the environment.

Speaking about Mother Teresa's canonisation at the Vatican scheduled to take place on September 4, Modi hailed the saint, stating that her life was dedicated to working for the poor. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead an Indian delegation to the Vatican for Mother Teresa's canonisation.

Addressing the issue of providing universal sanitation, Modi gave examples of how people campaigned for the need for toilets. "Students of 1,700 schools in Chhattisgarh wrote to their parents urging them to construct toilets in their homes. Some even asked for a toilet as their birthday gift. A 16-year-old girl launched a Satyagraha, gave up food, demanding a toilet in her home in Karnataka," Modi said.

The PM appealed to people to make a short documentary on 'Clean India'. The best entry will be awarded on October 2, on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

On the ongoing violence in Kashmir, Modi thanked all parties for speaking in one voice on the issue. He said 'Ekta aur Mamata' - Unity and Motherliness - were the solution to the problem. He slammed 'those who incite innocent youth to pelt stones,' saying these individuals would have to answer to the youth one day.

"Any life lost in Kashmir, whether of a youth or of security personnel, is a loss for us as a nation," Modi added.

(This article first appeared in Deccan Chronicle)