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Marking one year of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast on All India Radio, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday exhorted people to buy khadi products, underlined the importance of cleanliness, praised LPG users who had given up their subsidy and called on more youth to register as voters.
Modi announced that over three million families had surrendered their cooking gas subsidy following his call. “Over 30 lakh families have surrendered their LPG subsidy, and not just the rich. Most are from the lower middle and middle classes like retired teachers, pensioners,” he said, terming it as a “silent revolution.”
‘People’s power’ Pitching for buying more and more khadi, he said sales had doubled over one year, adding that this was not because of government advertisements but because of the growing realisation of ‘people’s power.’
In his 30-minute broadcast, the Prime Minister said this time he had invited suggestions and questions over phone from citizens and had got 55,000 calls.
“One would feel there is negativity all around, but the phone calls had so many suggestions and so much positivity,” he said, adding that 90 per cent of the calls were “energising” and only 1-2 per cent raised some negative complaints.
Praising the Election Commission, the Prime Minister said: “Till some years ago, the Election Commission was just a ‘regulator,’ but since the past few years, it has become a kind of ‘facilitator.’ He said every citizen should take responsibility to protect and exercise his or her right as a voter. “This should become a habit. I appeal to all youth to get registered as voters and definitely exercise their right.”
Modi also referred to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, but without mentioning the recent declassification of secret files by the West Bengal government. “Last week, I got confirmation that over 50 members of Subhashbabu are coming to visit the Prime Minister’s residence,” Modi said.
Incidentally, the Bengal government last week declassified 64 files on Bose, which has raised demands that the Centre should also declassify the files that are with the PMO and the Home Ministry.
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