Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the people to take the fight against black money and graft to the ‘next level’ and appealed for the use of less cash in their daily lives by opting for digital payments. In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme, he also spoke of building a ‘New India’, which he said can be achieved when 125 crore Indians take a pledge and unitedly work towards it.
“My dear countrymen, we must take our fight against black money and corruption to the next level. .... We should contribute towards ensuring reducing the use of cash, of currency notes,” the Prime Minister said.
Asking the people to pay school fees, buy medicines or items from fair price shops or purchase air and train tickets digitally, he said “We can do this in our day to day lives. You can’t imagine how you can serve the country in this way and become a brave soldier in the fight against black money and corruption.”
Observing that the budget had announced that there would be 2,500 crore digital transactions this year, he said if 125 crore countrymen can resolve, they need not wait for a year; they can do it in six months.
Expressing gratitude to the people, Modi said over the last few months the country has witnessed an atmosphere in which people in large numbers have participated in the digital payment, ‘Digidhan’ movement. “There has also been an increase in curiosity about cashless transactions. The poorest of the poor are making attempts to learn, and people are gradually moving towards doing business without cash. There has been a surge in various modes of digital payment after demonetisation,” he said, adding that the BHIM App, launched about two and a half months ago, has already been downloaded by one and half crore people.
In his address, the PM also touched upon subjects ranging from building a ‘New India’ to ‘Swaccha Bharat’, besides greeting the people of Bangladesh on their Indepen-
dence Day saying India will always stand with them in the struggle for peace, security and development in the region. “I hope that Bangladesh marches ahead on the path of progress. I also assure the citizens of Bangladesh that India is a strong partner, and a good friend, and we will continue to work together shoulder to shoulder to contribute towards the peace, security and development of this entire region,” the Prime Minister said.
He said it was a matter of pride that Rabindra Nath Tagore, who has authored the National Aanthem of Bangla-
desh and India, had given up his Knighthood in protest against the 1919 massacre of people in Jallianwala Bagh.
This had also provided an ‘inspiration and a mission in life’ to a young teenager, who until then had spent his days playing merrily in the fields. This youngster was none other than Bhagat Singh, then 12-years old, to evolve as a martyr.
Modi also referred to the Champaran Satyagraha launch-
ed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917, saying “Through his demeanour and deeds, he could inspire the poorest of the poor, the most illiterate, to unite and come together out into the open for the struggle against the British Rule. This was a manifestation of an incredible inner strength, through which we can experience the vastness of Gandhi’s great persona.”