NEW DELHI, Nov 27: The burning down of schools in the Kashmir valley was a matter of concern but the high participation of local students in the recent board exams reflected their resolve to strive for a better future through studies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.
Complimenting their parents, teachers and village heads for over 95 per cent participation in these examinations, he said that at a recent meeting he had with village panchayat heads from the Valley, he had discussed the spate of incidents of schools being burnt down on which the village heads had expressed the same concern as all other Indians.
“I had then urged them to go back their areas and focus on the future of the students there. Today, I am happy to say that they kept the word they had given me and created awareness among the people about it,” Modi said in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address.
Very recently, the board examinations took place and 95 per cent of the students appeared in it. “Such a massive participation in the Board exams indicates that these students of Jammu and Kashmir are focussing on a bright future through studies and proceed on the path of development,” he said.
The Prime Minister said about 40-50 panchayat heads from the deep interiors of the Valley had met him them and discussed a range of issues, including the situation in the Valley, law and order and developmental issues.
Modi also shared his experiences of this Diwali which he spent on the borders with Army and ITBP jawans and said the people from across the country had this time sent messages of greetings to the forces serving along the borders.
People had written letters, drawn cartoons and paintings, made videos and sent them to these jawans, one of whom told Modi that this year he did not miss home as these messages from various parts of the country made him feel at home.
“When the people of the entire country stand with the security forces, the strength of the forces increases by 125 crore times”, he said.
Urging the people to keep sending such messages to the jawans standing guard on the borders throughout the year and not just on few occasions, the Prime Minister said these messages were being compiled into a coffee-table book.
With Jan Dhan accounts witnessing a surge in deposits, Modi issued a warning to those using poor people to park their illegal money, saying the strict ‘benami’ law would be implemented against such transactions.
He appealed to the people to shift to cashless system of transactions and asked the youth to help in this process by educating the elders and those not literate.
Modi devoted substantial part of the 37-minute broadcast on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to the issue over which he is under opposition attack.
He also spoke about the Kashmir situation and particularly hailed the massive attendance of students in board exams recently.
Focussing on demonetisation, the Prime Minister said “even now, some people think they can bring their black money, the money earned through corruption or the one which is unaccounted for, back into the system through illegal means.
“Unfortunately, they are misusing the poor for this purpose by misleading, luring or tempting them by putting money into their accounts.”
He said “a very stringent law to deal with ‘benami’ transactions is being implemented, that will make such things (transactions) very difficult. Government does not want the people to face such difficulties.”
“I would tell such (unscrupulous) people that to reform or not reform is your wish. Following the law or not is your wish – that the law will take care of. But please don’t play with the life of the poor. Don’t do anything due to which, when there is an investigation, the name of the poor comes on record and he gets into trouble because of you.”
However, wrong practices have become so entrenched that some people were still not mending their ways, he said, adding “these people are trying to find ways to again bring their ill gotten wealth, black money, benami and unaccounted cash back in to the system. They are scouting for illegal ways to save their black money and unfortunately even in this pursuit they are looking to misuse the poor.”
The Prime Minister congratulated the people for facing difficulties but supporting demonetisation to fight graft and black money.
Efforts are being made to mislead the people against demonetisation, but they were making sacrifices for a better India, he said while appealing to the youth, “the true soldiers”, to lead the battle against corruption.
Modi said “our dream is for a cashless society. It is correct that we cannot achieve it immediately. But India can definitely move towards a less-cash society. Once we start the move towards a less-cash society, the goal of a cashless society will not be far away.”
Modi hit out at opposition parties for their ‘Bharat Bandh’ call against demonetisaion, saying they are organising the strike at a time when he is trying to root out corruption and black money.
“I am stopping black money and corruption and some are giving call for Bharat Bandh,” he said at BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ rally in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Without naming any opposition party, Modi said, “We are trying to curb corruption and they are organising ‘Bharat Bandh’. Should there be ‘Bharat Bandh’ or should the route of corruption be blocked?”
Several opposition parties have given a call for ‘Akrosh Diwas’ tomorrow to protest against the Centre’s demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
The Prime Minister said the decision on demonetisation was tough, “but (the) future will be bright”.
Referring to the problems being faced by the common man including villagers in withdrawing money, he advised them to take the e-wallet route.
“Era of wallet has gone, you can use your mobile phone as your bank branch with the same ease with which you take snaps and send them to friends,” Modi said.
Modi said just as people did not have to attend classes to learn how to use mobile phones, they can now use the device in the same way to carry out monetary transactions.
“I have already said problems do come. I have sought 50 days from you. Of these, 30 days are still left and the Government is taking all efforts to assuage the sufferings of people,” he said.
“Have you learnt how to charge your mobile by going to school? You have learnt to operate WhatsApp. Technology has become easy. If you have (a) bank account, you can purchase whatever you want,” he added.
Amid the opposition parties creating uproar over poor implementation of demonetisation and stalling Parliament for days, Modi said he is aware that people are facing inconvenience.
“The NDA Govt at the Centre is fully dedicated to the poor, farmers, villagers and dalits,” he said amid applause from the crowd.
A united opposition has been attacking the Centre in Parliament over the demonetisation issue, with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh terming the move a “monumental management failure” and a case of “organised loot and legalised plunder” which would lead to dip in GDP growth by at least 2 per cent.
Modi also attacked the Samajwadi Party Government in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, saying it was not interested in implementing Central schemes for farmers.
Thanking the people attending his rally, he said that in 2014 elections when he was himself contesting from Varanasi, he visited many areas of the State but the crowd was not as big.
“As compared to today, only half of people used to come. Now a huge crowd, including women, has come to give me blessings,” he said, adding, “I bow before you for the trust you have on me… I will not betray you.” (PTI)
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