Do not politicize the crisis born out of the West Asia war: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the ongoing war in West Asia has led to a fuel crisis worldwide. He appealed to the public to remain united during this difficult time, refrain from self-centered politics, and not spread any rumors.

In the 132nd episode of his monthly program 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on All India Radio, Modi addressed the nation, saying that India is also affected by the West Asia crisis. He stated that those who are politicizing the issue should not do so, as it is a matter related to the interests of 1.4 billion citizens. Rumor-mongers are harming the country, and the government is continuously providing accurate information, which should be relied upon.

The Prime Minister said that the month of March has seen many events globally. After COVID, the world was hoping for a new beginning of development, but wars and conflicts have emerged in various regions. The situation is extremely delicate, and millions of Indian families have members working, especially in the Gulf countries.

Modi expressed gratitude to the Gulf countries for providing assistance to over one million Indians. So far, more than 375,000 Indians have been safely brought back. Approximately 1,000 Indians, including over 700 medical students, have also returned from Iran.

He said that this region is a crucial center for India's energy needs, such as crude oil and gas. The war is causing a petrol, diesel, and gas crisis worldwide. The Strait of Hormuz has become difficult for ships to pass through, affecting trade routes. The government is continuously trying to ensure fuel supply, prioritizing domestic LPG consumers. The country has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million tons, which is being further increased.

The Prime Minister said that the nation should remain united and avoid rumors during this crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India is the country with the youngest population globally, and when the power of the youth is combined with nation-building, it provides immense strength to the country. He emphasized that the youth should play an active role in the country's development. To achieve this goal, he wants them to participate actively in policy-making and development and play a crucial role in India's development through their ideas and innovations.

The Prime Minister said, "The organization 'Mera Yuva Bharat' is connecting the country's youth with various positive activities, and it recently organized a budget discussion competition under this initiative. The objective was to connect the youth with the budget process and policy-making. Approximately 1.2 million youth from across the country participated in this competition."

Afterward, about 160,000 youth got the opportunity to participate in an essay-writing competition, and some of the essays were also read. Mr. Narendra Modi said that these essays clearly reflect the enthusiasm and commitment of the country's youth to contribute to development.

The Prime Minister said that this region is a crucial center for India's energy needs, such as crude oil and gas. The war is causing a petrol, diesel, and gas crisis worldwide. The Strait of Hormuz has become difficult for ships to pass through, affecting trade routes. The government is continuously trying to ensure fuel supply, prioritizing domestic LPG consumers. The country has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million tons, which is being further increased.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for water conservation, stating that summer has begun in many parts of the country, and citizens must reiterate their commitment to water conservation to avoid a water crisis.

The "Jal Shakti Abhiyan" campaign has created significant awareness among people over the past 11 years. Under this campaign, approximately 50 lakh artificial water harvesting structures have been built across the country.

He said, "I am happy to see that efforts are being made at the community level in every village to tackle the water crisis. In some places, old ponds are being cleaned, while in others, efforts are being made to conserve rainwater. Under the 'Amrit Sarovar' campaign, approximately 70,000 ponds have been built across the country."

The Prime Minister cited the example of Tripura, saying that the village of Wangmon, located at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, once faced a severe water crisis. After the villagers decided to conserve every drop of rainwater, almost every household in the village now has measures to harvest rainwater, making it a remarkable example of water conservation.

Another example he cited was from Chhattisgarh's Koriya district, where farmers have built small recharge ponds and dug wells in their fields, allowing rainwater to stay in the fields and slowly seep into the ground. Today, over 1,200 farmers in the region have adopted this model, and the groundwater level has improved.

The Prime Minister said, "Today, I want to tell you about an effort that reflects the spirit of public participation. This effort is the 'Gyan Bharat Survey,' which is related to our great culture and rich heritage. Its objective is to collect information about manuscripts across the country."

The Prime Minister appealed to citizens to participate in the survey, saying that the Gyan Bharat app is an easy way for people to contribute. He said, "If you have any manuscript or information about it, please share its picture on the Gyan Bharat app."

The Prime Minister expressed his happiness, stating that thousands of manuscripts have already been shared through the app and other means. He said that people are continuously participating in the survey, citing examples such as Arunachal Pradesh's Chau Nanti Singh Lukan, who shared manuscripts in the Tai script, and Amritsar's Bhai Amit Singh Rana, who shared manuscripts in the Gurmukhi script.

The Prime Minister said that the "Gyan Bharat National Manuscript Survey" was launched on March 16 by the Ministry of Culture and will run for about three months. This is the first major nationwide campaign to map, document, and eventually digitize the estimated over one crore ancient manuscripts in the country. The ownership rights of manuscript owners will be fully protected, and only information will be shared.

The Prime Minister appealed to citizens to join the solar energy campaign and promote clean energy, stating that the "Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana" has brought significant change to the country's solar energy sector. This energy sector is making the common man self-reliant, and everyone should participate in this campaign.

The Prime Minister said that in small and big cities across the country, a large number of solar panels can now be seen on rooftops. A few years ago, these were rare, but now the effects of this scheme are visible in every corner of the country.

In this context, he cited the example of Pail Manjapara in Gujarat's Surendranagar district, saying that the scheme has brought significant change to her life. She underwent training under the solar energy initiative and completed a four-month solar technician course, now working as a skilled solar technician. She is installing solar plants on rooftops in surrounding districts, earning a decent monthly income.

He also mentioned Arun Kumar from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who has become an energy provider in his area. During a recent event in Delhi, he shared his experience, explaining that he is not only saving on electricity bills but also earning income by selling excess electricity.

The Prime Minister mentioned the success story of Murli Dhar from Jaipur, Rajasthan, saying that earlier, his farming depended on diesel pumps, resulting in significant annual expenses. After adopting solar pumps, his farming has seen significant improvement. He no longer worries about fuel, irrigation is timely, and his income has increased.