NEW DELHI, Jan 12: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lashed out at the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, calling the “dynastic politics” the “biggest enemy of democracy” and urged the youths to join politics in big numbers to completely root out the evil of politics of dynasty.
“Dynasty politics is a challenge which has to be rooted out. The days of those who used to contest elections on the basis of their surname are numbered. But this disease is not completely destroyed yet,” Modi said. The Prime Minister was addressing virtually the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival, held at the august Central Hall of Parliament on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda celebrated as the National Youth Day. The first youth Parliament festival was held last year.
“It is never ‘nation first’ for political dynasties; for them, it is all about ‘me and my family,” he said. “People are now supporting honesty and performance but the disease of dynastic politics is not fully over,” he added.
Encouraging young people to join politics, the prime minister said, “Our politics needs young people. This is a constructive medium to make positive changes. Poison of dynastic politics will continue to weaken democracy unless young people enter it.”
“It is true that (in politics) the fortunes of those who have been winning elections on the basis of surnames are dwindling. But in politics, this disease of dynastic politics is not completely finished. There are still people whose politics is aimed at saving their family,” he said in an apparent swipe at several opposition parties, including the Congress. It is never “nation first” for those practising dynastic politics and it is all about “me and my family” for them, he said.
Noting that people used to say everything can change but not politics, Modi said today the people of the country have become so aware that they stand with honest people and give them a chance. The people stand resolutely with people who come in politics with honesty and are committed to welfare, he noted.
Paying tributes to Swami Vivekananda he narrated various anecdotes related to the saint. He said, “It is an important day today as the National Youth Parliament Festival is being held at the Central Hall of Parliament, where the framing of our Constitution took place,” and told the youths to realise the significance of where they were sitting.
Referring to the new National Education Policy (NEP), Modi said it was aimed at holistic development of individuals. “The new National Education Policy is a step towards nation-building. We’re building an ecosystem which will give better opportunities to our youth,” he said.
The theme for National Youth Day 2021 was ‘YUVAAH-Utsah Naye Bharat Ka.’
The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal were present during the event.
The Prime Minister stressed that it was Swami Vivekananda who recognized confident, clear-hearted, fearless and courageous youth as the foundation of the nation. He presented the mantras of Swami Vivekananda for youth. For Physical fitness it is ‘Muscles of Iron and Nerves of Steel’; for personality development, it is ‘Believe in Yourself’; for leadership and teamwork Swamiji said ‘’Believe in All’.
(Manas Dasgupta)
