‘Fit India’ to Ayodhya verdict in PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

New Delhi: From “Fit India Movement” to “Plastic Free India” and the recent Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya temple was among various issues Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday discussed in his monthly radio program “Mann Ki Baat”.

Highlighting an interesting initiative by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to promote fitness among youngsters, the Prime Minister urged schools to follow a ‘Fit India week’ in December.

He talked about a group of scuba divers who made a strong contribution towards furthering cleanliness.

Modi said how the scuba divers dive into the deep sea and collect waste. “In just 13 days, they (scuba divers) brought out more than 4,000 kg plastic wastage from the sea. This effort has been becoming a big movement. They now get help from locals.”

Modi said if we get inspiration from these scuba divers and decide to make our nearby areas plastic-free, plastic-free India would present a precedent for the whole world.

The Prime Minister thanked the people of India for the manner in which the spirit of “unity and brotherhood was furthered” after the verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi case.

In my last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, I had discussed Allahabad High Court’s 2010 judgment and said how people maintained peace and brotherhood then.

“This time again 130 crore Indians proved that nothing is above for them than the country’s interest when Supreme Court on November 9 announced its verdict on Ayodhya temple issue.”

Everybody welcomed the verdict wholeheartedly and accepted it with peace and simplicity.

“The verdict at one side has led to end the long-pending judicial fight, it has also increased faith in the judiciary. This decision is a milestone for the judiciary. This is a historic verdict for Supreme Court.”

He said the “country has now moved on a new path with new expectations and hope”.

“I and we all wish that the New India would move ahead with peace, unity, and harmony by accepting this.”