Mann Ki Baat: PM thanks people for participating in ‘biggest election’

In the first Mann Ki Baat radio address of his third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 30 thanked the countrymen for having reiterated their “unwavering faith” in the Constitution and the democratic systems of the country.

Maintaining that the 2024 election was the biggest in the world, he said an election as big as this, in which 65 crore people cast their votes, never took place in any other country in the world. “For this, I congratulate the Election Commission and everyone involved in the voting process,” Mr. Modi said. Mr. Modi added that the Mann Ki Baat may have been paused for a few months, but the spirit of Mann Ki Baat in the country and society, touching upon the good work done every day, work done with selfless spirit, and work having a positive impact on the society – carried on relentlessly.

Striking a chord with the tribal people, he said tribal brothers and sisters celebrate June 30 as Hool Diwas in memory of Veer Sidhu-Kanhu, who strongly opposed the atrocities of the foreign rulers. “Veer Sidhu-Kanhu united thousands of Santhal compatriots and fought the British with all their might. And do you know when this took place? This happened in 1855, that is, it happened two years before India’s First War of Independence in 1857. Then, in Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand, our tribal brothers and sisters took up arms against the foreign rulers,” he said adding that Veer Sidhu and Kanhu attained martyrdom while opposing the restrictions imposed on them by the British rulers. “The supreme sacrifice of these immortal sons of the land of Jharkhand inspires the countrymen even today,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he was immensely happy that the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign he launched on World Environment Day to plant trees in honour of mothers is progressing rapidly. “On social media, people are sharing pictures of planting trees with their mothers or with their photographs. Everyone is planting trees for one’s mother - whether one is rich or poor, whether one is a working woman or a homemaker. This campaign has provided all of us with an equal opportunity to express affection towards mothers,” he said.

He also spoke about a special kind of umbrella made in Attappady, Kerala, named Karthumbhi Umbrella. “These colourful umbrellas are strikingly splendid. And the special fact is that these umbrellas are made by our tribal sisters of Kerala. Today the demand for these umbrellas is rising across the country. They are also being sold online. These umbrellas are made under the supervision of Vattalakki Cooperative Farming Society. This society is led by our woman power,” he said.