Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that many veterans of the security forces wrote letters to him and appreciated the move to light the Amar Jawan Jyoti at National War Memorial. Addressing the first episode of this year’s Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said, “In the ‘National War Memorial’ the names of all the brave-hearts of the country who have been martyred since independence are inscribed. Some former soldiers of the Army have written to me saying that the ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ being lit in front of the memory of the martyrs is a symbol of the immortality of the martyrs.” “Truly, like ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’, our martyrs are an inspiration and their contribution are also immortal. I would tell all of you, whenever you get an opportunity, definitely visit the
National War Memorial. The country is re-establishing its national symbols through these efforts. We saw that the Amar Jawan Jyoti near India Gate and the Jyoti lit at the National War Memorial nearby were merged. There were tears in the eyes of many countrymen and families of those who lost their lives for the nation on this emotional occasion,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that many jawans of the security forces wrote letters to him and appreciated the move to merge the flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti at the National War Memorial.
PM Modi also said corruption is like a termite that makes the country hollow and asserted that there is a need to get rid of it as soon as possible with the help of the people who need to prioritize duties. While reading a postcard sent by Navya Verma from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, in which she wrote about India of her dream in 2047 where everybody lives a dignified life, where farmers are prosperous and where there is no corruption, PM said, “Your dream for the nation is praiseworthy. The country is also taking rapid strides in this direction. Corruption is like a termite which makes the country hollow. Why wait for 2047 to get rid of it?”
Stating that there is an urgent need to get rid of corruption, PM Modi said, “This is work all countrymen, today’s youth have to do together; we have to do it as soon as possible. Therefore, it becomes very important that we give priority to our duties, where there is a sense of duty, where the duty is supreme—there corruption does not exist.”
The Prime Minister also said that awareness about education is visible at every level in society: “My dear countrymen, India has been the sacred land of education and knowledge. We have not confined education to bookish knowledge, but have seen it as a holistic experience of life. The great personalities of our country have also had a deep relationship with education.
The Prime Minister also said that Ladakh will soon have an impressive open synthetic track and astro-turf football stadium. “Friends, today I want to share with you one such information about Ladakh which you will definitely be proud to know about. Ladakh will soon be blessed with an impressive open synthetic track and astro-turf football stadium. This stadium is being built at a height of more than 10,000 feet and its construction is going to be completed soon. This will be the largest open stadium in Ladakh where 30,000 spectators can sit together.”
“This modern football stadium in Ladakh will also have a synthetic track with 8 lanes. Apart from this, there will also be a hostel facility with one thousand beds. You will also like to know that this stadium has also been certified by FIFA, the biggest organization of football,” he added.
“Whenever such a big sports infrastructure comes up, it brings great opportunities to the youth of the country. Along with such an arrangement, movement of people from all over the country takes place, tourism gets promoted and many employment opportunities are created. The stadium will also benefit many of our youth in Ladakh,” said PM Modi.