PM Narendra Modi cautions against attempts to divide Indians amid row over BBC series
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked people to beware of attempts to sow differences and create rifts in the country and asserted that such efforts won’t succeed.
Addressing a rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at the Cariappa Ground in Delhi Cantonmenton Saturday evening, the PM said national unity is the only way for India to attain glory.
Addressing the NCC rally in Delhi. We are proud of the determination of the cadets. https://t.co/9QkgIrXELa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2023
He said the entire world is looking at India because of its youth population.
Yuva Shakti is the driving force of India's development journey. pic.twitter.com/6Cj4DZDxL2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2023
The PM said that his country has launched digital, startup and innovation revolutions which are proving beneficial for the country’s youth.
New sectors are being opened for the country's youth. pic.twitter.com/hgIPiAqMBm
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2023
He urged the youth to take full advantage of the new opportunities emerging in the country.
“Everywhere it is evident that India's time has arrived," he said addressing the NCC cadets who took part in the Republic Day celebrations.
हर तरफ एक ही चर्चा है कि भारत का समय आ गया है, India’s time has arrived. pic.twitter.com/GK7BPvifb4
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2023
“Several pretexts are being used to break the country’s unity, issues are being raked up, create rifts among the children of Mother India,” the Prime Minister said.
It is noteworthy that a two-part BBC series on Gujarat riots—The Modi Question—created a row. The documentary claimed that it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of that state.
The Ministry of External Affairs trashed the two-part BBC documentary on Gujarat riots as a "propaganda piece" that lacked objectivity and reflected a "colonial mindset".
The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from several online platforms. Many people questioned why the makers of the documentary on the Gujarat riots weren’t making a series on British atrocities in India and elsewhere.
In his address, the PM further advised the people to stick to the mantra of unity as it is the only antidote.
It is a pledge as well as India’s strength and the only way India will achieve grandeur.
He also said the current time is also an era of great possibilities for the daughters of the country.
“The first batch of women cadets has started training at the National Defence Academy in Pune and 1500 girl students have been admitted in Sainik Schools which were thrown open for the girl students for the first time,” PM Modi said, according to a report in the media.
The National Cadet Corps has also seen a continuous rise in the participation of women over the last decade.
On the occasion, the PM released a special Day Cover and a commemorative specially minted coin of Rs 75 denomination, marking 75 years of NCC.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NCC Director General Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Harikumar, Chief of Air Staff V R Chaudhari and Defence Secretary Girdhar Armaane were present on occasion.