Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday he deliberately kept "politics" out of his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' as the programme was about the aspirations of the people and not his or the Government's achievements. Addressing the 50th episode of the monthly radio programme, he said the "apprehensions" of the people are not "misplaced" that the programme could have been used as a political tool and to disseminate his and his Government's achievements.
"The fact is, if a leader gets hold of a microphone with assured listeners to the tune of millions, what else does he need? ... When 'Mann Ki Baat' commenced, I had firmly decided that it would carry nothing political, or any praise for the Government, nor Modi for that matter anywhere. The greatest bulwark in ensuring adherence to my resolve have been you," he said.
As a run up to each episode, the expectations and aspirations of listeners through their letters, online comments and phone calls are crystal clear, he said. "Modi may come and go, but this country will never let go of its unity and permanence, our culture will always be immortal," the Prime Minister said.
He said in an era of social media, he preferred radio as he realised its potential in 1998 as a worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a remote Himachal Pradesh area, it was a tea stall owner who told him the news of India carrying out nuclear test.
"It was matter of great intrigue to me to see a lone tea seller in a remote, snow-clad hilly place, who possibly kept listening to the radio the entire day… watching that particular effect of the news on radio led me to realise and internalise that this was a medium that was truly connected with the masses… and that it was a mighty means of getting across," Modi said. The first episode of Mann Ki Baat started on the last Sunday of October 2014.
Prime Minister also expressed concern over a "decline" in open communication between elders and youths in families, saying the discussions generally revolve around dos and dont's and studies. He said communication would be more effective if people "accept" instead of "expect" and "discuss" instead of "dismiss". Modi urged people to maintain a balance between rights and duties as enshrined in the Constitution.
"If we respect the rights of others, our rights will automatically get protected and similarly if we fulfil our duties, then also our rights will get automatically protected," he said.
"Today's youth will not do anything which they do not believe themselves. And whenever they believe in something, they follow that, leaving everything else," he said. Referring to a "communication gap" between the elders and teenagers in families, he said the scope of discussion with teenagers was limited to studies, habits or lifestyle and the 'dos and don'ts'.
He said he tries to learn from whatever youth are doing or whatever they are thinking. "Some people say that the youth do not have patience but my belief is that the youth do not have any time to waste. This is the point which helps the present day youth become more innovative because they want to accomplish things quickly," PM said.
Referring to the Constitution Day being observed Monday to mark its adoption in 1949, he said the extraordinary pace at which the document was drafted was an example of time management and productivity to emulate even today. He said the unique point in the Constitution was that the rights and duties were very comprehensively detailed.
"A balance between these two in the lives of our citizens will take our nation forward. If we respect the rights of others, our rights will automatically get protected and similarly if we fulfill our duties, then also our rights will get automatically protected," Modi said.