Enter politics to push growth agenda, PM Modi exhorts youths

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday exhorted the youth, especially those without a family background in politics, to enter the political arena and participate in national development, reiterating a call he made after the BJP-headed Mahayuti's thumping victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls on Saturday.

In the 116th episode of his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast, Modi, while urging youngsters to enter politics, invited them to participate in the 'Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue', which will be held from Jan 11-12 in Delhi.

"You might remember that from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I have urged youths to join politics, none of whose family members or even the entire family have had a political background," the PM said, adding that to connect one lakh such youngsters with politics, many special campaigns and initiatives - the dialogue being one of them -will be run in the country.

To mark NCC Day, the PM shared his experience as a cadet of the National Cadet Corps. "I myself have been an NCC cadet, so I can say with full confidence that the experience I got from it is invaluable for me. The NCC instills a spirit of discipline, leadership, and service in the youth," he said.

Mentioning that the young leaders dialogue will coincide with Swami Vivekananda's 162nd birth anniversary, the PM said, "... This time it will be celebrated in a very special way. On this occasion, a 'maha kumbh' of young minds is going to be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Jan 11 and 12. Crores of youth from all over India will participate in it." He added that 2,000 youngsters, selected from villages, blocks, districts, and states, will gather at the event.

"Experts from the country and abroad" will attend the dialogue, he said.

"The youth will get an opportunity to present their ideas directly before us," the PM said.

Citing examples of young individuals assisting senior citizens with digital life certificates and raising awareness about cybercrimes like 'digital arrest', he said, "We have to explain to people again and again that there is no provision of digital arrest in the govt; this (digital arrest) is a blatant lie."