First ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of Modi 2.0: PM Urges India to Conserve Water

PM Modi has addressed his last Maan Ki Baat in February, before the Lok Sabha elections.

File photo of PM Modi

(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature radio-show, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ made a return on Sunday, 30 June, with the Prime Minister saying that he had missed addressing the nation in this way and had felt a certain emptiness all this while. This is the first episode of the show after PM Modi’s re-election.

Speaking to the nation, the prime minister said that during his trip to Kedarnath ahead of the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while he was meditating in a solitary cave, he received an opportunity to fill the vacuum caused due to the long gap of ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

“I undertook the Kedarnath journey to meet my inner self,” he claimed.

‘Democracy is Our Culture’

“I have waited so much for this Sunday. This programme personifies the New India Spirit. In this programme is the spirit of the strengths of 130 crore Indians,” PM Modi said.

He added that he had said in February that he would return to address the nation in the show again but people had told him he was overconfident. “However, I always had faith in the people of India,” Modi said.

PM Modi also spoke about the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, saying that the scale of the election was immense and it showed the faith people have in the country’s democracy.

“You can imagine how many resources and how much manpower would have been needed to conduct such elections. The day-to-day efforts of millions of personnel were required in the election. Military personnel also performed hard work.”

PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

He also spoke about a polling station in a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh, where a polling station was set up for one woman voter, adding that the Election Commission officials had to travel for two days to get there.

He commended the work of the Commission, saying: “I congratulate the Election Commission, and everyone involved in the election process, and salute the aware voters of India.”

Modi also stressed that India as a country has a deep appreciation for democracy, having experienced the Emergency.

“We experienced the Emergency and that is why the country had called for the defence of democracy,” Modi said.

‘Conserve Every Drop of Water’

PM Modi pointed out that water crises hits many parts of the nation every year and that only 8 percent of the rain water in the whole year is harvested in our country.

The prime minister added that over the last few months, many people had written about water related issues and that it made him happy to see greater awareness on water conservation.

“I wrote a letter to Gram Pradhans on the importance of water conservation and how to take steps to create awareness on the subject across rural India,” he added, stressing the importance of the issue.

The PM noted that there is no fixed way to conserve water.

"In different parts, different methods may be adopted but the aim is same – to conserve every drop of water," he said. He appealed to all Indians to create awareness on water conservation and share knowledge of traditional methods of water conservation.

“If you know about any individuals or NGOs working on water, do share about them,” he added.

He also pointed out that since the importance of water is paramount, a new Ministry of Hydropower has been created in the country, which will enable faster decisions on all water related issues.

Back After ‘Four Long Months’: PM Modi

On Saturday, the Prime Minister had tweeted about the return of ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

He had previously tweeted on 15 June, announcing the date for the next Mann Ki Baat and asking citizens to share their ideas for the same using the NaMo App.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to listen to the programme with party workers at the Kakrola stadium in New Delhi, reported news agency ANI.

The agency also reported that the party was trying to take the programme to more people this time and has asked workers to ensure better facilities, like availability of better radio sets, to draw more people.

The PM’s last episode aired in February 2019. He had expressed confidence that his party will come back to power with a thumping majority at the time.

The programme, which traditionally airs on the last Sunday of every month, was an important feature of PM Modi’s last term. Suggestions for the topic of the show are invited from the public, who can hear it live on AIR, DD and the Narendra Modi Mobile App.

(With inputs from ANI)