Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged countrymen to celebrate India’s Nari-Shakti, the power and achievement of women by felicitating the daughters.

Expressing happiness that Bharat Ki Laxmi initiative which was initiated to mark the festive occasion of Deepavali has got overwhelming response from all corners, Mr Modi urged people to seek inspiration from such examples.

In his Mann Ki Baat on All India Radio, Prime Minister said, after the announcement of Bharat ki Laxmi, many inspirational stories on social media followed. Mr Modi referred to the 17th century Kannada poetess Sanchi Honnamma who penned a poem mentioning that the daughters are our pride.

Saying festivals are occasions that awaken a new consciousness in the lives of people,  Mr Modi appealed to the people to buy local products during Diwali. He said, the more people buy the local things, it will be a befitting tribute to Gandhiji on his 150th birth anniversary.

Speaking about cleanliness, the Prime Minister said, if one story that rings from home to home, and rings far and wide, from every corner of India, it is the story of cleanliness and sanitation. He said, in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, Indian soldiers are not only protecting the borders but also running a Swacch Siachen campaign.

Commending the Indian Army for the commitment for cleanliness, Mr Modi said, removing 130 tons and more of garbage from the glacier and its surrounding area’s fragile eco-system is a great service. He said, running a cleanliness campaign there means ensuring clean water for those who live in low-lying areas and also use the water of rivers like Nubra and Shyok.

Prime Minister pitched for the idea of Festival Tourism and said that we must try to popularize our festivals and invite people from other states and countries to join the festivities. He said, Festival tourism has its own exciting attractions globally and India is the land of festivals presents immense possibilities for festival tourism. He also underlined that Indians living abroad have an important role in boosting festival tourism in the country.

Remembering Iron man of India Sardar Patel, whose birth anniversary will be celebrated on 31st of this month, the Prime Minister said, he possessed the rare quality of uniting people and striking a balance with people who were not in ideological agreement with him. Mr Modi mentioned how Sardar Patel during Congress Session in Ahmedabad in 1921, utilized the opportunity to improve the city’s water supply network and rise in the sale of khadi.

Prime Minister spoke how in the Constituent Assembly, Sardar Patel strove to ensure enshrinement of fundamental rights that obliterated any possibility of discrimination on the basis of caste and community.

Mr Modi said, Sardar Patel undertook the colossal and historic task of integrating Princely states. He mentioned how Tricolour was promptly unfurled in Lakshadweep and the nefarious dreams of the neighbour of annexing the island were decimated within no time.

Saying more than 26 lakh tourists visited the Statue of Unity built-in memory of Sardar Saheb, Mr Modi highlighted that this is having the distinction of being the world’s highest statue. He informed Time magazine has included it in its list of 100 important tourist destinations around the world.

The Prime Minister appealed that every Indian who takes out time to travel must visit at least 15 Tourist Destinations of India with family and experience a night stay at whichever place they go to.

Mr Modi said, 31st October has been celebrated as National Unity Day and it imparts the message to protect the unity, integrity and security of the country at any cost.  He said, Run for Unity is a symbol of unison and it imparts the message that the nation is one and it aims for Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat. Mr Modi said, during Run for Unity not only people have to run, but in doing so the spirit of FIT India is also reflected. People can find the details in the portal runforunity.gov.in.

Paying homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated on 31st October, Mr Modi said it was a traumatic moment for the country.

The Prime Minister said, on 12th of next month the 550th Prakashotsav of Guru Nanak dev ji, the founder of Sikhism will be celebrated across the world. Mr  Modi said, Guru Nanak Dev accorded the highest significance to the spirit of service and firmly believed that any service done selflessly was beyond evaluation. He said Guru Nanak Dev ji carrying the message of harmony and equality travelled north, south, east and west, meeting people, saints and sages.

Mr Modi mentioned that Ambassadors of around eighty-five countries went to Amritsar from Delhi, undertook the holy Darshan and got the opportunity to know more about Sikh traditions and culture.

Greeting people on Diwali, he said this time we should let light spread its radiance, encourage positivity, with a prayer to quell the feeling of animosity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat today had unforgettable moments for Kodipaka Ramesh of Mahabubabad District of Telangana.

The Prime Minister mentioned the experience of Mr Ramesh who drew inspiration from his mother, Aruna and termed her Bharat Ki Lakshmi. Mr Ramesh, who is working as a teacher in a primary school of a small tribal hamlet with 27 students, is overwhelmed.

Sharing his feelings with All India Radio News, he requested his countrymen to identify the Women Power each and everyone has in their homes.

His wife, another teacher, Suma says she draws inspiration from both her mother-in-law and her mother and is trying to incorporate those values in the bringing up of her children.