Mann ki Baat: Modi says Uri terror attack won’t go unanswered

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio programme “Mann ki Baat” completed two years today, he reached out to the people and spoke on a host of issues. He started with the recent militant attack in Kashmir’s Uri.

This came a day after he hit out at Pakistan for “exporting terrorism” at the BJP’s national council meeting in Kerala’s Kozhikode. Today, Modi reiterated that the perpetrators of the Uri attack would not go unpunished.

“Recently, 18 bravehearts laid down their lives in Uri. Such a cowardly attack was enough to stir the nation. I am sure that our soldiers would keep foiling such acts in the future,” Modi said in his monthly radio address. “While politicians speak, military shows bravery,” he said.

He mentioned young Harshvardhan, who wrote to him after the Uri attack.

The PM also spoke about the recent unrest in Kashmir in which around 80 persons have been killed and thousands injured.

“Fruit growers are worried to get their crops to the market,” he said, adding that the state administration had taken measures to maintain law and order, but the local authorities should remain cautious and exercise restraint.

“They want their life to get back on track. All of us know that peace and unity is the only solution to our problems… Our resources are there to give a peaceful life to the Kashmiri people,” he said.

He made a special mention of India’s paralympic contingent that brought back two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal in the recently concluded Paralympic Games in Rio. “Paralympians have made India proud,” he said, as he praised “their spirit and courage”.

“I came to know that some of these paralympians equalled and sometimes broke the records held by normal athletes. I want to tell the country through ‘Mann ki Baat’ that my government will empower these paralympians,” he said.

As the NDA government’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission completes two years, Modi announced a new helpline number “1969” for feedback and to petition for starting new projects.

Modi said 2.48 crore toilets had been built in rural areas, while 1.5 crore would be built in the next year.

What he said

Politicians speak, military shows bravery

Recently, 18 bravehearts laid down their lives in Uri… I am sure that our soldiers will keep foiling such acts in the future…While politicians speak, military shows bravery.

Will back paralympians

I came to know that some of these paralympians equalled and sometimes broke the records held by normal athletes. I want to tell the country through 'Mann ki Baat' that my government will empower these paralympians.