IndiaPosted at: Sep 27 2026 12:35PM


PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat focuses on terror response, census and India’s heritage, environment and rural enterprise

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday used the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, to highlight the 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strikes, India’s stated zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, the ongoing Census and a wide range of citizen-led initiatives in areas ranging from heritage conservation and environmental protection to nutrition, sports and rural livelihoods.
Opening the September edition of the programme, Modi said Mann Ki Baat had consistently provided a platform to showcase the positive efforts of citizens and discuss achievements across the country. With the surgical strikes of September 28-29, 2016, completing a decade, he recalled the Army’s operation across the Line of Control against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and described it as a decisive expression of India’s counter-terrorism policy. “Ten years ago, on September 28-29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan,” Modi said, recalling the manner in which Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control to take action against terrorism.
“The surgical strike boldly demonstrated to the entire world a new example of India’s counter-terrorism policy,” he said, adding that the operation represented a response to the long-standing pain caused by terrorist attacks. Referring to the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor, Modi said India had repeatedly sent a message that terrorist attacks would invite a strong response. “Over the past decade — from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor — India has repeatedly sent a clear message: if terrorists dare to cast an evil eye on India, they will be met with a befitting response,” he said.
The Prime Minister recalled the serial blasts in Delhi on September 13, 2008, and the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai later that year, saying India had suffered the consequences of terrorism for decades. He contrasted the earlier approach, when demands for action following terror attacks were often followed by waiting and inaction, with what he described as the present policy of zero tolerance. “Today, India pursues a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and we are witnessing the results of that,” Mo di said. He also recalled the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, which marked their 25th anniversary this month, and paid tribute to those who lost their lives. Modi said Indians constituted the largest group of foreign victims after Americans in the World Trade Center attacks and recalled his visit to New York after becoming Prime Minister in 2014 to pay homage to the victims. A major part of the broadcast was devoted to the Census, which Modi described as a collective national responsibility. He said the first phase of the exercise was nearing completion across states and union Territories, with data relating to more than 32 crore families already recorded. Census work, he said, was continuing even in remote and snow-bound areas of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Citing examples of citizen participation, Modi said the exercise began in Mana village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, with 83-year-old Purnima Rawat, while homestay operator Hardev Singh Rana in Bagori village in Uttarkashi entered his details digitally. “The Census is a national responsibility for all of us,” Modi said, urging citizens to participate in the exercise and make use of the self-enumeration facility. He said citizens could submit details of themselves and their families through the online census portal using their mobile phones, with the facility available in 16 languages besides Hindi. The process, he said, takes around 15 to 20 minutes and does not require documents to be uploaded. Once the details are submitted, a special ID is generated, which can subsequently be shared with the census enumerator for verification. Modi said more than 2.6 crore people had already completed self-enumeration through the portal, arguing that accurate household data would help create a clearer picture of the country and assist in planning for its future. The Prime Minister also marked the birth centenary of Ashok Singhal, former international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who was born in Agra on September 27, 1926. Paying tribute to Singhal, Modi recalled his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and his wider work in the social and cultural sphere. He said Singhal had dedicated his life to society and the nation and recalled his own association with him. Modi said he was reminded of Singhal while participating in the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He also highlighted what he described as less-discussed aspects of Singhal’s life, including his efforts against social discrimination and inequality. Born into an affluent family and educated at IIT-BHU, Singhal nevertheless chose to devote his life to social and cultural work, Modi said. The Prime Minister then turned to India’s historical and architectural heritage, recalling the Somnath Swabhiman Parv and the history of the Somnath temple in Gujarat. He linked the history of Somnath with the Sun Temple at Modhera, saying both had faced destruction around the same period during the invasions of the 11th century. Modi said the rebuilding of these temples represented the resilience of Indian society and its determination to preserve its cultural heritage. He particularly highlighted the transformation of Modhera, saying the Gujarat village had evolved from a historic temple town into what he described as India’s first solar village. “From the historic Sun Temple to becoming a solar village, Modhera beautifully connects our rich heritage with a sustainable future,” he said. Modi encouraged citizens to visit Modhera and experience its architectural and cultural heritage, including the Modhera Dance Festival held around Makar Sankranti. He also drew attention to efforts to document and rediscover lesser-known aspects of India’s past. Referring to A. Selvaraju, associated with Tamil studies in Manapparai, Tiruchirappalli, he said field visits undertaken after discussions about ancient sculptures had led to the identification of sculptures and old temples in different locations. Such initiatives, Modi said, could deepen public understanding of India’s heritage and could be replicated elsewhere. Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the Prime Minister also appealed to citizens to intensify cleanliness efforts, recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on sanitation. He cited community-led campaigns in several parts of the country, including young people cleaning rivers in Madhya Pradesh, restoring old wells and stepwells in Andhra Pradesh, conducting beach-cleaning drives in Mumbai and promoting waste segregation in Delhi. He also mentioned students and local residents in West Bengal joining hands to clean markets and picnic areas. Modi said such initiatives demonstrated the principle of Jan Bhagidari, where an individual initiative gradually develops into a wider community movement. “Cleanliness is the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu,” he said. Environmental conservation was another major theme of the broadcast. Modi referred to the return of elephants to Assam’s Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary after encroachments were cleared from forest land. He also highlighted conservation efforts for the pygmy hog in Assam, saying a programme that began with six animals had helped increase the population to more than 190, alongside efforts to restore suitable grassland habitat. In the Sundarbans of West Bengal, he highlighted women in Jharkhali who have taken up mangrove plantation, including women who had lost their husbands in tiger attacks. Modi said the mangroves were helping protect villages from environmental threats while also providing livelihoods to the women involved. He urged citizens to preserve ecological balance and biodiversity for future generations. Modi also spoke about the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan, a 100-week campaign aimed at encouraging young people to stay away from drugs and spread awareness about substance abuse. He said MY Bharat volunteers, NSS members, educational institutions and social and spiritual organisations were participating in the campaign. Among the activities were pledge programmes, slogan-writing contests, street plays, anthem-related competitions and social media campaigns using the hashtag #NashaMuktYuva. Health check-ups and meditation camps are also planned as part of the campaign, he said. With the festive season approaching, Modi appealed to families and communities to support young people who might be vulnerable to addiction and encourage those attempting to overcome substance abuse. The Prime Minister also highlighted efforts to identify sporting talent in villages and smaller towns, recalling his announcement of a sports talent hunt from the Red Fort. He cited former hockey player and coach Rajinder Singh, a member of India’s 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, who later served as coach when India won the Men’s Junior World Cup in 2001 and the Senior Asia Cup in 2003. Modi said Singh was now working through the Round Glass Hockey Academy to identify talented children in villages and expand access to coaching and hockey astro-turfs. The initiative, he said, was helping players from areas with limited sporting infrastructure find opportunities to progress to junior and senior national levels. Rural enterprise and women’s self-help groups also featured prominently in the broadcast, with Modi highlighting the traditional association of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh with amla. He said the One District One Product initiative had helped create new opportunities around amla cultivation and processing, with around 100 processing units operating in the district. Women associated with self-help groups were producing amla candy, preserves, juice, pickles and digestive products, while access to machinery, loans, trade fairs and new markets had helped raise their incomes. Modi referred specifically to the Savitri Phule Self-Help Group in Devgarh Kamasi village and the Vindhyavasini Self-Help Group, saying such initiatives demonstrated how local products could become sources of economic opportunity. He urged citizens to support indigenous products during the festive season and reiterated the message of “Vocal for Local”, saying products from villages and small towns should reach markets across India and overseas. The Prime Minister also highlighted initiatives undertaken during September’s Nutrition Month to address malnutrition. He referred to Chhattisgarh’s “Har Ghar Munga, Ghar Ghar Munga” campaign to promote moringa consumption, a millet-based food competition in Gujarat and nutrition-awareness initiatives involving teachers, Anganwadi workers and parents in Maharashtra. In Mizoram, he said, communities were working to maintain nutrition gardens, drawing on traditions of selfless service. Modi said around nine crore beneficiaries were registered on the Poshan Tracker, which digitally connects Anganwadi centres and facilitates monitoring of children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. He praised Anganwadi workers and others involved in nutrition-related initiatives and called for continued efforts to eliminate malnutrition. The final part of the broadcast focused on the international reach of Indian cultural traditions, with Modi highlighting the devotion to Lord Ganesha in Thailand. He cited Panthoun Thirkhanon, a Thai devotee who has spent more than four decades studying traditions associated with Ganesha, worshipped in Thailand as Phra Phikanet. Modi said Thirkhanon had travelled extensively in India, Nepal and other Asian countries and had developed a particular interest in Maharashtra’s Ashtavinayak tradition. In 2002, he established the Ganesha Himal Museum in Chiang Mai, which, according to the Prime Minister, houses more than 10,000 Ganesha idols. The museum also has representations of the Ashtavinayak tradition and conducts worship rituals, Modi said, describing it as an example of the cultural links between India and Thailand and the international spread of Indian faith, art and traditions. Concluding the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Modi urged citizens to continue sharing stories of inspiring work taking place in their communities and said that recognition of such efforts could encourage similar initiatives elsewhere. He also extended greetings for the forthcoming festivals and called for collective participation in efforts aimed at building a cleaner, healthier, self-reliant and developed India. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat focuses on terror response# census and India’s heritage# environment and rural enterprise
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