Taking a dig at Bollywood actor Aamir Khan over his recent remark on the "growing intolerance", BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said, "Instead of preaching auto drivers about the prestige of the country, preach your own wife."
Madhav was speaking at the "Makar Sankranti Annual Meet" in Delhi University's Khalsa College on Thursday where he launched a counter attack on the artistes and writers, who returned their awards in protest against the alleged growing intolerance in the country. He underlined that "honour of India" is the main concern to the Central Government and there would be no compromise with China or Pakistan as far as the security of the nation is concerned.
"Every citizen of America gets respect because of the name its country holds in the world. Similarly we want to make India an honourable nation. Our main aim is to bring honour to India internally and across the globe. If nation is respected, its citizens are also respected...Not that the honour of our citizens is not our concern. There is no need of award wapsi. You do not safeguard your country like that. Every citizen should be respected here and if anything wrong happens that will be taken care of," Madhav said.
Taking an indirect swipe at Khan, Mahdav said, "You go and tell auto drivers about the culture and prestige of the country not your wifeIJ It will not work that you preach an auto wallah how country's prestige has to be saved but not tell the same to your own wife."
Referring to the security scene of the country, Madhav said, "We are dedicated to the security of the country. We want good relations with our neighbours. But, no compromise would be made with either China or Pakistan over the security of the country's borders as well as its self-respect."
lashing out at the critics of the BJP Government, Madhav said, "We feel the pain of the fellow citizens. We are both proud and painful...You can't talk about India's future. You have to be politically correct when the so-called secular debate in the TV studios but no one can stop us from dreaming about the future of the country. We may be politically incorrect but we keep the courage to dream."
Swami Vivekananda had asserted in his address in Chicago that Indian's not only tolerate but also "accept" and "validate", he added.
Highlighting the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in overcoming the challenges of poverty, Madhav said in another 10 years, poverty would be eradicated from India completely. "Narendra Modi Government is fighting decisive battle against poverty in the country. We are determined to eradicate this menace."
Saying that both his party and the Modi Government are in favour of "development for all and that's why the Prime Minister always speaks of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", BJP leader pointed out that Modi Government's initiatives on 'education' and 'skill development' will benefit 19 crore youngsters belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
"Our goal is to ensure security, prosperity, respect and equality for every citizen of India. We are responsible to the people of India and our objective is to bring out a positive change in the country. We have to learn about the pain of present times, glory of the past and dreams of the future," Ram Madhav added. He further sent good wishes to Indians on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and added: "Sankranti is all about celebrating positive changes in the society as a festival. Sakranti means "thorough change" and "Change for good".