Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 10-feet tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat, Delhi on December 10, 2023. In his address, the Raksha Mantri described the statue as a befitting tribute to the Father of the Nation, who played a central role in freeing India from foreign rule and worked for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society to lead a dignified life.

 “Gandhiji was a great freedom fighter who envisioned a strong, prosperous and clean India. Our Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is following in the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. Schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and Swachh Bharat are based on his ideas,” said Shri Rajnath Singh. He asserted that Mahatma Gandhi continues to live in the heart of every Indian, while great leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr & Nelson Mandela took inspiration from his ideas and vision for the betterment of people in their countries.

The Raksha Mantri remembered revolutionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay who worked for the upliftment of the marginalised sections with patriotism & commitment. “These great people are the guiding light for our Government. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is built on their dreams. Our ideology is of peace, social harmony, unity, and bringing about a change based on development,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised that the Government’s focus has always been on planned progress, which has resulted in India becoming the 5^th largest economy in the world. He termed Gandhiji as not only a freedom fighter, but also an economic thinker who believed 'The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed’. “Ever since our Government came to power, our endeavour is not only to uplift the people belonging to the weaker sections, but also to empower them. Growth of all sections alike will strengthen the security landscape of the country,” he said.

 The Raksha Mantri highlighted the due importance being given by the Government to the marginalised sections stating that they are now making a mark in almost every sector. He referred to an Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry set up for weaker section on the lines of FICCI, with more than 10,000 members. It is making an important contribution to the Indian economy, he said. He termed the marginalised sections as the largest aspirational class of the country, stressing on the need to do away with the ‘noun’ being used to identify them. It is time to coin a new noun or vocabulary, which can define the aspirations of these sections, he said. 

Shri Rajnath Singh added that the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is making sure that women are being empowered at par with their male counterparts and are contributing to Nation Building. “There were times when words like Abla (weak) were used with Nari. But now, Abla has been replaced with Shakti (power) as we have recognised the true strength of our women. They are not only getting elected and entering politics; they are also joining the Armed Forces to protect the motherland. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed to ensure that women get their political rights. Abla Nari to Nari Shakti is a transformational journey,” he said.

 The Raksha Mantri reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continue serving the people with honesty and dedication to take the country to greater heights. This will be a true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he said.

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ABB/Savvy/GC