PM Modi silent on Sushma-Raje in Mann Ki Baat

Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi not break the silence on Sushma and Vasundhara in Mann Ki Baat.Modi expressed his gratitude over the International Yoga Day celebrations, noting that the event was observed across the world. Asked people to post selfies with their daughters to promote the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address on Sunday.
He, however, made no reference to the controversy surrounding Vasundhara Raje and Sushma Swaraj, embroiled in a row over helping former IPL boss Lalit Modi with his travel papers. The Congress has repeatedly questioned Modi’s silence on the issue.
In the ninth edition of his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme on Sunday,Modi expressed his gratitude over the International Yoga Day celebrations, noting that the event was observed across the world.
“The rays of the sun were welcomed by yoga all over the world on Yoga Day on June 21. On June 21, when I saw glimpses of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon doing yoga the UN headquarters, I felt very happy. I am also happy that the armed forces joined in the Yoga Day celebrations,” he said.
PM Modi said: “In Haryana, a village Sarpanch initiated a #SelfieWithDaughter initiative… I urge all of you, share selfies with your daughters with the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter. Also share a tagline that will encourage ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’.”
He expressed delight over the “great response” across the country, with people sharing pictures using #IncredibleIndia.
“So many people shared #IncredibleIndia photos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. We will continue this. The world must see the glimpses of #IncredibleIndia,” he said.
Looking ahead at the coming Raksha Bandhan festival, he asked the people to do something special for women. “Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, I urge you, please enroll the sisters who work for you, at your homes and in your fields, for the Rs. 12 and Rs. 330 social security programmes,” he said. The government’s flagship life insurance scheme, which was launched last month, offers renewable one year life cover of Rs. 2 lakh for a premium of Rs. 330. The accident insurance scheme provides coverage of Rs. 2 lakh for a premium of Rs. 12 per annum.
Citing examples, he said, “In the past few months, we have launched three welfare schemes. In a short span of time, over 10 crore people have joined them.”
In this context, he also mentioned the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, asking people to post interesting tag lines. The most interesting tag line, he said, will be announced in a future edition of Mann ki Baat.
In the 22-minute address, the Prime Minister also said the people have demonstrated that there is a will to work.
Since his address on the last Independence Day, in which he had appealed that toilets be built in every school, much has been done, he said. It meant building 4.5 toilets – “it was ambitious to hope to finish a year something that had been pending for 60 years,” he said.
Kaam Karti Sarkar’ – this is how I see events of the past few days,” he said. “If we decide to work on the principle of Sarvjan Sukhay Sarvjan Hitay (Universal Happiness, Universal Good) the government also functions well.”