‘Secular Civil Code need of the hour’
NEW DELHI, Aug 16:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India was a victim of terror attacks but that time has gone past with the Armed Forces giving befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm the country.
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Addressing the Nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, Modi referred to the 2016 surgical strike and 2019 air strike and stated that “there was a time when the country was a victim of terror attacks; but today it is bold and strong, with the Armed Forces giving a befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country.
He asserted that the nation is proud of its brave soldiers who selflessly serve the motherland.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that there was a time when the majority of the defence budget was used to procure weapons/equipment from abroad, but his Government focused on indigenous manufacturing to make the nation self-reliant.
He lauded the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces for taking a series of decisions, including the notification of a number of positive indigenisation lists, wherein there are over 5,600 items that are being/will be procured only from the Indian industry after designated timelines.
He expressed satisfaction that India, which was once completely dependent on the import of defence equipment, is today exporting to numerous countries.
The annual defence production, as per the MoD, touched a record high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24.
Modi made an unequivocal pitch for a “secular” civil code instead of the current framework which is “communal” and promoted “discrimination”, and also for simultaneous polls, as he fronted the ruling BJP’s manifesto promises for a uniform civil code and ‘one nation one election’.
Modi invoked the Constitution’s directive principles, which recommend a uniform civil code(UCC) across the country, and the Supreme Court’s verdicts to make his most forceful backing of the provision, contested by many parties.
“A big section (of society) believes and there is truth in this that the current civil code is in a way a communal civil code. We have lived 75 years with a communal civil code. It is a civil code which promotes discrimination. It divides the country along religious lines and promotes inequality. Now, we have to move towards a secular civil code. A secular civil code in the country is the need of the hour,” said Modi.
“This is also the spirit of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has underlined its need many a time, and the dream of the makers of the Constitution should be fulfilled.”
Turning his focus on the unrest in Bangladesh, he said 140 crore Indians are concerned over the safety of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country and expressed the hope that normalcy will soon be restored there.
India has always wished peace, happiness and prosperity for Bangladesh and wants its development journey to continue, said Modi, who sported a multi-coloured Rajasthani leheriya print turban with a white kurta and churidar.
While hailing the rise of women in every sector, he expressed deep concern over incidents of crimes against them, amid an outrage over the recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. He asked state governments to move with “utmost urgency” to ensure swift justice in such cases.
In the 98-minute address to the nation, his longest Independence Day speech, Modi asserted that it is India’s golden era and that a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 awaits the country.
Noting that students spend lakhs and crores for medical education abroad, the Prime Minister also said the Government will create 75,000 new medical seats in the next five years. (PTI)
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