Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Lucknow on Wednesday, asked the violent protesters, who vandalised properties during Citizenship Amendment Act protests, whether they did their protests in a right way. During his speech PM Modi requested people not to destroy public properties. "I request and tell these protesters that if good roads, facilities, and a clean sewerage system is a citizen's right, maintaining them correctly is their responsibility as well," PM Modi said.
"They (the vandals) should ask themselves was it right. Whatever was torched, was it not of their child's use? What has happened to those common people and policemen who got injured?" Modi asked. He said he wanted to tell those who damaged public property "not to forget that rights and duties go hand in hand". Modi was addressing a gathering after unveiling a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Lok Bhawan here.
He also laid the foundation stone for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in the Uttar Pradesh capital. Referring to Article 370, Modi said it was an "old disease" and it was resolved peacefully.
"How old a disease was Article 370. How difficult it appeared. But it was our responsibility as to how to face such difficult challenges. And, it was done easily. Everyone's 'dhaarna' (perception) was smashed (choor choor ho gaya)," he said.
The Ram Janmabhoomi issue was also resolved peacefully, the prime minister said. On the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Modi said giving citizenship to those who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to "save the dignity of their daughters", was another problem whose solution was found by 130 crore Indians.
"With this self-confidence, Hindustanis are entering a new decade. Whatever is left to be done, all Indians are trying to find a solution," he said. However big the challenge may be, "we are here with a nature to challenge the challenge", he said.
PM Modi earlier today unveiled a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Lok Bhawan in Lucknow. He also laid the foundation stone for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in the Uttar Pradesh capital. The state government has given 50 acres of land for the varsity. The event coincided with the birth anniversary of Vajpayee, who represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha five times.
In Delhi also, President Ram Nath Kovind along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several union ministers paid tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 95th birth anniversary. A prayer meeting was held at Sadaiv Atal--the memorial to Atal Bihari Vajpayee-- to mark the birth anniversary of the former prime minister. BJP veteran L K Advani, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Speaker Om Birla and members of Vajpayee's family were amongst those who paid tributes to the BJP leader amid the playing of hymns and devotional music.
The memorial was dedicated to the nation in December last year. Vajpayee was born in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He died on August 16, 2018 at AIIMS. "Tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is etched in the hearts of the countrymen, on his birth anniversary," Modi wrote on Twitter. He also posted a brief video on Vajpayee, recalling his contributions to the country.
He also paid tributes to Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 158th birth anniversary. "A humble tribute to Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ji on his birth anniversary, who dedicated his life to the service of Mother India," Modi wrote on Twitter. He said Malaviya played an important role in the freedom movement besides making invaluable contribution in the field of education.
"His scholarship and ideals will always inspire the countrymen," Modi said. Paying tributes to Vajpayee, Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah recalled contributions of the former prime minister and said on one hand Vajpayee as an efficient organiser, propelled the party at the all-India level, on the other hand, he led the country. Events during his tenure, like the Pokharan nuclear tests and victory in the Kargil war created a strong image of India in the world, Shah said.
Shah also paid respects to Malaviya. "Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was among the great politicians of independent India who achieved success in giving new direction and new height to the politics of the country as well as diplomacy. On the occasion of Atal ji's birth anniversary, I pay him respectful remembrance and salute," Rajnath Singh tweeted
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