PM Modi calls for 10 pledges amid Dussehra festivity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the Dussehra celebrations in the national capital and urged all Indians to take 10 pledges to help the country achieve its potential during its journey towards a 100 years of Independence, sketching a detailed framework that focuses on social and economic progress, fitness, health and sustainability.

Speaking at the Ramlila Maidan in Dwarka before firing the ceremonial arrow at the effigies, Modi laid out 10 resolutions for a “developed, self-reliant India” – saving water; pushing digital transactions; keeping one’s town clean; going “vocal for local”; doing quality work; touring all of India before embarking on foreign trips; promoting natural farming; making millets part of one’s diet; giving primacy to fitness and uplifting at least one poor family.

“Vijayadashami is a festival of victory of justice over injustice, of humility over arrogance and patience over anger. It is also a day of renewing pledges,” Modi said in a speech in Hindi.

“As long as there is even a single poor person in the country who does not have basic facilities, no house, electricity, gas, water, no treatment facilities, we cannot sit in peace,” he said.

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The Prime Minister underlined that India needed “to be cautious”, even as its fortunes rise after it completed 75 years of Independence.

“We have to keep in mind today that the burning of Ravana should not just be an effigy-burning. It should burn down every deformity that deteriorates societal harmony,” he said. “Let this be the burning of those forces that try to divide India in the name of casteism and regionalism.”

During a 20-minute speech, Modi addressed a huge crowd in the packed ground on a cool Tuesday evening.

The PM mentioned India’s successful Moon landing roughly two months ago as well as the construction of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, and the Tejas aircraft during his speech, drawing parallels with religious texts to underscore the idea of India.

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The speech, which comes weeks before assembly elections in five states – Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan – also saw the Prime Minister pepper his remarks with references to the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament last month as well as the construction of a new Parliament complex.

“Today India has won over the moon. We are going to become the third largest economy in the world. We entered the new Parliament building a few weeks ago. To give representation to women power, Parliament has passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act,” he said.

“India is today emerging as the world’s largest democracy and the most trusted democracy. And the world is watching this Mother of Democracy,” Modi said.