Why do you think we should give Narendra Modi one more term?

Preety Gurditta Auluck プリーティー

The last time I heard something encouraging from an Indian Prime Minister before Narendra Modi was…

Never in 15 years before 2014 in India.

The former US President Barack Obama had raised many issues that attracted attention of the Americans, even if they seemed ignorable to the rest of the world. He knew that America is one of the biggest culprist of environment pollution on earth, and he never ceased to take responsibility for it. And when a leader like Obama says something, the world listens.

He urged the Americans to say goodbye to the exfoliating shower gels and face scrubs.

President Obama signed a bipartisan bill that prohibits selling and distributing products containing microbeads. The bill is intended to protect the nation's waterways.

A microbead is any solid plastic particle that is less than 5 millimeters and is used for the purpose of exfoliating or cleansing, according to the bill.

These tiny plastic beads have become ubiquitous in hundreds of products ranging from body scrubs to toothpastes. They provide an exfoliating sensation for users and are designed to wash down drains.

But because they are made of plastic, microbeads do not dissolve and may pose a threat to the environment.

Not only are they hard to clean up because they are about the size of a pinhead, researchers say they are also posing a threat to aquatic life.

When Obama raised this issue in favor of environment protection, many people mocked him, but he still had millions of supporters.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/...

Why do I think we should give Modi another term?

Because just like Obama, he has diverted the attention of the entire nation towards tiny-looking issues, but are significant for a civilized society. Now that Obama is not there in the White House, the entire world misses him, not to mention just America. Even if you are a little aware of the international politics, you will know what reputation Donald Trump enjoys in the States. The similar situation will be there in India if we do not have Modi for a second term, and have Ra-Ga instead.

Let us discuss the issues Modi has raised time and again in his stint till now, the issues in addition to those belonging to the economy:

Clean India: Never before India has given such serious thought to clean the mess in public places and maintain hygiene. People now understand that keeping the country clean is not the job of government only, and they contribute their bit by not creating filth, if they cannot clean the streets. At least it makes the job easier for the authorities.

Taking pride in being a Hindu: Congress is not dear to either Muslims or Hindus; the party is just opportunist. As we say in Hindi, Ra-Ga and Sonia Gandhi are thali ke ludhakte baingan (fickle-minded). Modi Ji took pride in being a Hindu and showed it to the entire world that he belongs to a rich heritage. He is not anti-Muslim, but he clearly says that he cannot embrace their rituals or clothing just to show it to the Islamic community. Many Islamic scholars with the logical mindset have praised his straightforward thinking.

On the other hand, innumerable instances are there when the politicians like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamta Banerjee have worn Muslim clothing and indulged in iftaar parties just to appease the Muslims. Now these leaders have also realized that they cannot ignore the Hindus for the sake of pleasing Muslims, so now they indulge in every possible act to appear pro-Hindu. Let us see a few examples:

Pictures from Google

Encouraging females: A few days ago, Sushma Swaraj gave a commendable speech at the UN General Assembly 2018. She boycotted Pakistan and moved out of the assembly after she finished her speech, which baffled the Pakistan officials who insulted themselves later with their media bites.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, accusing it of harbouring terrorists and "masking malevolence with duplicity".

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/...

However, Modi Ji praised the Indian women in his Mann ki Baat session by saying, “Bhartiya naari sashakt to hai hi, sashatra bhi ban rahi hai” (The Indian women is already capable enough, she is becoming armed as well.”

He has always believed in the capabilities of Indian women and encouraged them to believe in themselves.

Building a higher reputation for India: The entire nation thought in the beginning of his stint as a PM that Modi Ji was on a world tour on Indian taxpayer’s expenses. He would not respond to the gossip opposition parties tried to spread to malign his reputation, and just carried on the ground work to build better relationships with the foreign nations. It is now that we realize that he has built a great rapport for India by indulging in talks and deals with every big and small nation.

Respect for his seniors: We all saw when the funeral procession of Atal Bihari Vajpeyi Ji left the BJP headquarters for Smriti Sthal, Modi, Shah, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior BJP leaders walked behind the vehicle, along with hundreds of party workers who had gathered to pay their last respects. He could have sat in his car and driven to the destination, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah walked 5km in the scorching sun behind Atal Bihari Vajpayee's hearse, accompanied by BJP leaders, seeking to pay an "extraordinary tribute" to the leader they respected from the bottom of their hearts.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/i...

We learn from him how we should respect our elders and seniors. His affectionate gestures to his mother are often known as publicity stunt, but does he care? No, he knows that he is making a point by respecting his mother in front of the nation.

Patriotism: Let me conclude my answer by mentioning the last point of this answer. We have all cursed our country, India, for being so imperfect, dirty, and corrupt. When was the last time during the Congress rule we heard a leader saying, “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Victory for Mother India)?

Modi Ji takes pride in saying that he loves his country and can lay his life for India. When he says India is his mother, he instills a sense of patriotism in the Indians as well. I had always found myself confused about what to say to the NRIs who would criticize India, but never felt grateful for the land that made them what they are. But now I have a befitting reply to everyone who says that India is dirty. Why don’t you pick up the broom and clean the country? Why did you just choose the route of an escapist? You just eloped when you could not deal with the challenges India posed for you. Yes, this Hindustan is not perfect, but at least it gives you a chance to live with dignity.

Many Indians abroad want to come back to India and have their head high with pride, rather than facing racism every other day in the western countries.

Yes, I love India, and I thank Modi Ji for re-instilling this pride and patriotism for the nation in me and millions of other people.

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Thank you for your patience to read this long answer. If you have five more minutes to spare, please read this article from my beloved PM Modi when the United Nations presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Champions of the Earth Award on Wednesday. It was this article that compelled me to write this answer.

Yesterday, the United Nations honoured me with the Champions of the Earth Award. While I was extremely humbled at receiving this honour, I do feel that this award is not for an individual. Instead, it is recognition of the Indian culture and values, which have always placed emphasis on living in harmony with Mother Nature.

A proud moment

It was a proud moment for every Indian to see India’s proactive role in mitigating climate change being acknowledged and appreciated by the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, and Erik Solheim, the Executive Director of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

Human beings and nature have a very special relationship. Mother Nature has nurtured and nourished us. The first civilisations were established on the banks of rivers. Societies that live in harmony with nature flourish and prosper.

Today, human society stands at an important crossroads. The path that we take hereon will not only determine our well-being but also that of the generations who will inhabit our planet after us. The imbalances between our greed and necessities have led to grave ecological imbalances. We can either accept this, go ahead with things as if it is business as usual, or we can take corrective actions.

Three things will determine how we as a society can bring a positive change.

The first is internal consciousness. For that, there is no better place to look than our glorious past. Respect for nature is at the core of India’s traditions. The Atharvaveda contains the Prithvi Sukta, which contains unparalleled knowledge about nature and the environment. It is beautifully written in Atharvaveda: Salutations to Mother Earth. In Her is woven together Ocean and River Waters; in Her is contained Food which She manifests when ploughed; In Her indeed is alive all Lives; May She bestow us with that Life.

The ancients write about the Panch Tatvas – Prithvi (Earth), Vayu (Air),Jal(Water), Agni (Fire), Akash (Sky) – and how our life systems are based on the harmonious functioning of these elements. The elements of nature are manifestations of divinity. Mahatma Gandhi wrote extensively on the environment and even practised a lifestyle where compassion towards the environment was essential. He propounded the Doctrine of Trusteeship, which places the onus on us, the present generation, to ensure that our coming generations inherit a clean planet. He called for sustainable consumption so that the world does not face a resource crunch.

Leading lifestyles that are harmonious and sustainable are a part of our ethos. Once we realise how we are flag bearers of a rich tradition, it will automatically have a positive impact on our actions.

Need for public awareness

The second aspect is public awareness. We need to talk, write, debate, discuss and deliberate as much as possible on questions relating to the environment. At the same time, it is vital to encourage research and innovation on subjects relating to the environment. This is when more people will know about the pressing challenges of our times and ways to mitigate them.

When we as a society are aware of our strong links with environmental conservation and talk about it regularly, we will automatically be proactive in working towards a sustainable environment. That is why, I will put proactiveness as the third facet of bringing a positive change.

In this context, I am delighted to state that the 130 crore people of India are proactive and at the forefront of working towards a cleaner and greener environment.

We see this proactiveness in the Swachh Bharat Mission, which is directly linked to a sustainable future. With the blessings of the people of India, over 85 million households now have access to toilets for the first time. Over 400 million Indians no longer have to defecate in the open. Sanitation coverage is up from 39% to 95%. These are landmark efforts in the quest of reducing the strain on our natural surroundings.

We see this proactiveness in the success of the Ujjwala Yojana, which has significantly reduced indoor air pollution due to unhealthy cooking practices that were causing respiratory diseases. Till date, over five crore Ujjwala connections have been distributed, thus ensuring a better and cleaner life for the women and their families.

India is moving at a quick pace in cleaning its rivers. The Ganga, which is India’s lifeline, had become polluted in several parts. The Namami Gange Mission is changing this historical wrong. Emphasis is being given to proper treatment of sewage.

At the core of our urban development initiatives such as AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission is the need to balance urban growth with environmental care. The over 13 crore soil health cards distributed to farmers are helping them make informed decisions that will boost their productivity and improve the health of our land, which helps the coming generations.

We have integrated objectives of Skill India in the environment sector and launched the schemes, including Green Skill Development Programme for skilling about seven million youth in environment, forestry, wildlife and climate change sectors by 2021. This will go a long way in creating numerous opportunities for skilled jobs and entrepreneurships in the environment sector.

Our country is devoting unparalleled attention to new and renewable sources of energy. Over the last four years, this sector has become more accessible and affordable.

The Ujala Yojana has led to the distribution of nearly 31 crore LED bulbs. The costs of LED bulbs have reduced and so have the electricity bills and the CO2 emissions.

India’s proactiveness is seen internationally. It makes me proud that India remained at the forefront of the COP-21 negotiations in Paris in 2015. In March 2018, world leaders of several countries converged in New Delhi to mark the start of the International Solar Alliance, an endeavour to harness the rich potential of solar energy and bring together all nations that are blessed with solar power.

Climate justice

While the world is talking about climate change, the call for climate justice has also reverberated from India. Climate justice is about safeguarding the rights and interests of the poor and marginalised sections of society, who are often the biggest sufferers from the menace of climate change.

As I have written earlier, our actions today will have an impact on human civilisation much beyond our time. It is up to us to take on the mantle of global responsibility towards a sustainable future. The world needs to shift to a paradigm of environmental philosophy that is anchored in environmental consciousness rather than merely in government regulations. I would like to compliment all those individuals and organisations who are working assiduously in this direction. They have become the harbingers of a monumental change in our society. I assure them all possible support from the Government in their pursuits. Together, we will create a clean environment that will be the cornerstone of human empowerment!

Source: https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/indi...