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Today, the mantra of the country is – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat: PM Modi

Published By : Admin | December 25, 2021 | 15:05 IST
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“By the grace of great Guru Sahib’s the government got to be in a position to celebrate auspicious occasions like 350 years of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 550 years of Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev ji and 400 years of Prakash Utsav of Guru Teg Bahadur ji”
“The contribution of our Gurus is not limited to society and spirituality only. If our nation, the contemplation of the nation, the faith and integrity of the nation is safe today, then at its core is the great ‘tapasya' of the Sikh Gurus”
“Guru Nanak Dev Ji was clear in his understanding of the danger that Babar’s invasion posed for India”
“Guru Teg Bahadur’s entire life is an example of ‘Nation FIrst’”
“Guru Tegh Bahadur's valor and his sacrifice against Aurangzeb teaches us how the country fights against terror and religious fanaticism”
““Today the mantra of the country is – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Today the goal of the country is - the revival of a new capable India. Today the policy of the country is - service to every poor, priority to every deprived”

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!!!

Joining us in this holy program of Gurpurab is the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel ji, Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Sister Neema Acharya ji, President of the National Commission for Minorities Shri Iqbal Singh, Member of Parliament Shri Vinodbhai Chavda ji, president of the Lakhpat Gurudwara Management Committee Rajubhai, Shri Jagtar Singh Gill ji, all the dignitaries present there, all the public representatives and all the faithful friends! Wishing you all a very Happy Gurpurab!

It is my good fortune that I have got an opportunity to seek blessings from Lakhpat Sahib on this holy day. I bow at the feet of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and all the Gurus for this grace.

Friends,

Gurudwara Lakhpat Sahib has been a witness to every movement of time. Today as I connect with this holy place, I am reminded of a number of storms experienced by Lakhpat Sahib in the past. Once upon a time, this place was a major center for the movement of people and trade to other countries. That is why Guru Nanak Dev Ji came here. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed here for a few days during the Fourth Udasi (preaching tour). But over time, this city became deserted. The ocean left it. The Sindh river also turned its back. Gurudwara Lakhpat Sahib suffered a lot in the 1998 cyclone. And who can forget the 2001 earthquake? It had caused immense damages to the 200-year-old building of Gurudwara Sahib. But still, our Gurudwara Lakhpat Sahib stands tall with the same glory.

I have many precious memories associated with this Gurudwara. After the 2001 earthquake, I had the privilege of serving this holy place. I remember the craftsmen and artisans came from different parts of the country and preserved the original glory of this place. Gurbani (compositions of Sikh Gurus) was inscribed on the walls here with the ancient writing style. This project was also honored by UNESCO.

Friends,

I have been getting the opportunity to serve my Gurus continuously even after I moved to Delhi from Gujarat. 2016-17 was the holy occasion of 350 years of Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. We celebrated it with full devotion in the country and abroad. The Government of India enthusiastically organized events on the completion of 550 years of the Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in 2019. Efforts were made at every level to spread the messages of Guru Nanak Dev ji to the entire world with new energy. In 2019, our government completed the construction of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor which was awaited for decades. And now in 2021, we are celebrating 400 years of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's Prakash Utsav.

You must have seen that recently we were successful in bringing the copies of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India. What can be a greater experience of Guru's grace than this? Just a few months ago, when I went to America, we were able to bring back more than 150 historical items which were stolen from India. It includes a dagger on which the name of Guru Hargobind Singh is written in Persian. Our government was fortunate to bring it back.

I remember the 700-bed modern hospital built in Jamnagar two years ago is also named after Guru Gobind Singh ji. And our Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai was also describing it in detail. It has always been a matter of pride for Gujarat that of the ‘Panj Pyare’ (the five beloved ones) who played an important role in the establishment of the Khalsa Panth, the fourth Guru Sikh, Bhai Mohkam Singh ji, was from Gujarat. Gurudwara Bet Dwarka Bhai Mohkam Singh has been built in his memory in the Devbhumi Dwarka. I have been told that the Government of Gujarat is fully cooperating and providing financial assistance in the development works of Lakhpat Sahib Gurudwara and Gurudwara Bet Dwarka.

Friends,

Guru Nanak Dev ji has said –

गुर परसादि रतनु हरि लाभै,

मिटे अगिआन होई उजिआरा॥

That is, it is through the offerings of the Guru that God is attained, and the light spreads after the demolition of the ego. Our Sikh Gurus have always worked to charge the Indian society with this light. Imagine, when Guru Nanak Dev Ji had incarnated in our country, what was the condition of the society at that time? It was battling with all the irony and stereotypes? External attacks and atrocities were shattering the morale of India at that time. India, which used to guide the world materially and spiritually, was itself in trouble. In view of these circumstances, what would have happened if Guru Nanak Dev Ji had not spread his light during that period? Guru Nanak Dev ji and other Gurus after him not only kept the consciousness of India ignited, but also carved out a way to keep India safe. When the country was weakening over the issues of caste and creed, then Guru Nanak Dev Ji had said-

''जाणहु जोति न पूछहु जाती, आगे जात न हे''।

That is, see the light of God in everybody and recognize it. Don't ask anyone's caste. No one is identified by caste, nor does anyone have any caste in the journey after life. Similarly, Guru Arjun Dev Ji weaved the good thoughts of the saints and connected the entire country with the thread of unity. Guru Har Krishan Ji linked faith with the identity of India. The path shown by him to humanity by curing the sick at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi remains an inspiration for every Sikh and every Indian. The way our Gurudwaras took up the responsibility of service during the difficult times of Corona is a symbol of Guru Sahib's grace and his ideals. In a way, every Guru in his own time led the country as it was needed and guided our generations.

Friends,

The contribution of our Gurus is not limited only to the society and spirituality, but if today our nation, the faith and integrity of our nation is safe, then at its core is the great penance of the Sikh Gurus. When foreign invaders wielding swords were trying to grab the power and wealth of India, then Guru Nanak Dev Ji had said-

पाप की जंझ लै काबलहु धाइआ, जोरी मंगै दानु वे लालो।

That is, Babur has come from Kabul with the sword of sin and oppression, and is demanding the daughter of the regime of India with a lot of oppression. This was the clarity and vision of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He also said-

खुरासान खसमाना कीआ हिंदुसतान डराइआ ॥

That is, after capturing Khorasan, Babur is scaring India. He further said:

एती मार पई करलाणे तैं की दरदु न आइआ।

That is, so much atrocity was taking place at that time and people were screaming. So, our Sikh Gurus who followed Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not hesitate to lay down their lives for the country and religion. At present, the country is celebrating the 400th Prakash Utsav of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. His entire life is an example of the determination of 'nation first'. Just as Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji stood firm in his conviction towards humanity, it shows us the glimpse of the soul of India. The manner in which the country gave him the title of 'Hind ki Chadar' shows us the attachment of every Indian towards the Sikh tradition. Guru Tegh Bahadur's valor and sacrifice against Aurangzeb teaches us how the country fights against terror and religious fanaticism.

Similarly, the life of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, is also a living example of tenacity and sacrifice. The tenth guru sacrificed everything for the nation, for the basic ideas of the nation. Two of his sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were buried alive inside a brick wall by the invaders. But Guru Gobind Singh Ji did not compromise with the pride and glory of the country. We still observe the martyrdom week in the memory of the sacrifice of his four sons, which is on now.

Friends,

Even after the tenth Guru, the tradition of sacrifice continued in the Sikh community. Veer Baba Banda Singh Bahadur shook the roots of the most powerful empire of his time. Thousands of Sikh warriors sacrificed to prevent the invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali. The way Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought alive the strength and heritage of the country from Punjab to Banaras is also recorded in the pages of history. The valor with which our Sikh brothers and sisters fought for the country's independence even under British rule, our freedom struggle, that land of Jallianwala Bagh is a witness to those sacrifices even today. This is a tradition in which our Gurus breathed their lives centuries ago, and it is still as awake and conscious.

Friends,

This is the period of Amrit Mahotsav of freedom. Today, when the country is taking inspiration from its past, from its freedom struggle, the ideals of our Gurus become even more important for us. In the ongoing efforts and the resolutions of the country are the same dreams which the country has been waiting to see fulfilled for centuries. The way Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught us the lesson of humanity, the country is moving ahead on the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas'. With this mantra today, the country is making 'Sabka Prayas' (collective efforts) its strength. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Kohima, the entire country is dreaming together, striving for their fulfillment together. Today the mantra of the country is - 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Supreme India).

Today the goal of the country is -- the revival of a new capable India. Today the policy of the country is -- service to every poor, priority to every deprived. Even during the difficult times of Corona, the country tried that no poor should sleep hungry. Today, every part of the country is getting the benefit of every effort, every scheme, equally. The accomplishment of these efforts will make India strong and fulfill the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of everyone that no one can bring harm to our dreams and to the unity of the country in such critical times. Let us all unite to fulfill the dreams for which our Gurus lived, the dreams for which they spent their life; unity among us is very essential. The dangers that our Gurus used to warn the country against exist in the same form today. That's why we have to remain alert and also protect the country.

I have full faith that with the blessings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, we will be able to fulfill our aspirations and the country will reach a new height. Lastly, I would also like to urge the devotees who have come to visit Lakhpat Sahib. Presently, Rann Festival is going on in Kutch. You must also take out time and go to the Rann Festival.

Kutchchh and the people of Kutchchh live in my heart.

How are you my Kutchchhii brothers and sisters? Right now it is getting cold in Kutch like Delhi and Punjab, isn't it? Well, take care of yourself and your family during cold weather. But, Kutchchh and the people of Kutchchh live in my heart so wherever I go, I can't stay without remembering Kutchchh, that is your love. well, I will meet you whenever I will come to Kutchchh. To all of you my good wishes, Ram Ram. Stay safe.

Friends,

In the last one-and-a-half months, more than one lakh tourists have visited the Rann Festival to enjoy the panoramic views of Kutch and the open skies. When there is willpower and people's efforts are involved, then how the land can be transformed has been shown by my hardworking people of Kutch. There was a time when the people of Kutch used to go all over the world for livelihood; today people from all over the world are getting attracted towards Kutch. Recently, Dholavira has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result, tourism will get a boost there. The Government of Gujarat has now developed a grand tent city there as well. This will increase the convenience of the tourists. Now the construction of a new road from Dhordo to Dholavira in the middle of the Rann is also progressing at a fast pace. Very soon, it will be very easy to travel from Bhuj and West Kutch to Khadir and Dholavira extension. It will benefit the people of Kutch, entrepreneurs and tourists. The construction of Renewable Energy Park at Khavda is also going on at a rapid pace. Earlier, one had to go via Bhachau-Rapar to reach Dholavira from West Kutch and Bhuj. Now you can go directly from Khavda to Dholavira. With the new route, it will be easier to visit Narayan Sarovar, Koteshwar, Mata No Madh, Haji Pir, Dhordo Tent City and Dholavira.

Friends,

Today is also the birth anniversary of our revered Atal ji. Atal ji had a special affection for Kutch. Atal ji’s government stood shoulder to shoulder with Gujarat in the development works done here after the earthquake. Today Atal ji must be very happy and satisfied with the path of progress of Kutch. I am sure that the blessings of all our dignitaries and revered people will remain with Kutch. Once again a very Happy Gurpurab to all of you and many best wishes!

Thanks a lot!

 

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PM inaugurates ITU Area Office & Innovation Center
March 22, 2023
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Unveils Bharat 6G Vision Document and launches 6G R&D Test Bed
Launches ‘Call before u Dig’ App
India is a role model for countries looking for digital transformation to grow their economies: ITU Secy Gen
“India has two key strengths - trust and scale. We can not take technology to all corners without trust and scale”
“Telecom technology for India is not a mode of power, but a mission to empower”
“India is rapidly moving towards the next step of the digital revolution”
“The vision document presented today will become a major basis for the 6G rollout in the next few years”
“India is working with many countries to change the work culture of the whole world with the power of 5G”
“World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly of ITU will be held in October next year in Delhi”
“This decade is India's tech-ade”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office & Innovation Centre in India at a programme in Vigyan Bhawan today. The Prime Minister also unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document and launched the 6G R&D Test Bed. He also launched the ‘Call before u Dig’ App. ITU is the United Nations' specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). India signed a Host Country Agreement in March 2022 with ITU for the establishment of Area Office. It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran, enhancing coordination among nations and fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

Ms Doreen-Bogdan Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union thanked the Prime Minister for helping develop the new ITU Office and innovation center in India which marks a new chapter in the long history of India and ITU. She expressed confidence that ITU’s presence in the region will help the introduction of advanced technologies, improve capacity development, and foster entrepreneurship and partnerships while also responding to leads on the ground from digital services, skills, cyber security and digital inclusion. “India is a role model for countries looking for digital transformation to grow their economies, rethink their government services, attract investments, remake commerce and empower their people”, she said. She further added that India is home to one of the biggest startup ecosystems, digital payments market and tech workforces in the world and the leadership of the Prime Minister has put India as a leader on the digital forefront of tech innovations and adoptions with game-changing initiatives like Aadhar, UPI among others that have turned India into a knowledge-based economy.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today is a special day that marks the new year of the Hindu calendar and conveyed his greetings on the occasion of Vikram Samvat 2080. Observing the diversity of India and the presence of various calendars that are prevalent for centuries, the Prime Minister gave examples of the Malayalam Calendar and Tamil Calendar and said that the Vikram Samvat calendar has been ongoing since 2080 years. He noted that the Gregorian calendar reads 2023 at present but Vikram Samvat began 57 years prior to that. He expressed delight that a new beginning is taking place in the telecom sector of India on this auspicious day where the area office and innovation center of ITU is being inaugurated. He also noted that the 6G Test Bed and the vision document related to this technology have been unveiled which will not only usher new energy in digital India but also provide solutions and innovations for the Global South. The Prime Minister underlined that it will create new opportunities for India’s innovators, industries and startups. He also noted that this initiative will strengthen cooperation and collaboration in the IT sector of South Asian countries.

The Prime Minister said as India is fulfilling its responsibilities as G20 Presidency, reducing regional divide is one of its key priorities. The Prime Minister referred to the recent Global South Summit and underlined the importance of technology, design and standards as per the needs of the Global South as Global South is trying to rapidly breach the technological divide. “ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre is a huge step in this direction and will also give momentum to India’s efforts to provide universal connectivity in the Global South”, he said.

The Prime Minister said that it is natural to have expectations from India in the context of bridging the global divide. He said that India’s capabilities, innovation culture, infrastructure, skilled and innovative manpower and its favourable policy environment are the basis of these expectations. “India has two key strengths - trust and scale. We can not take technology to all corners without trust and scale. The entire world is talking about India’s efforts in this direction”, he said.

The Prime Minister remarked that India’s efforts in this direction have become a matter of discussion all around the world. Highlighting the achievements, the Prime Minister informed that India is now the most connected democracy in the world with more than a hundred crore mobile connections and credited this transformation to the availability of cheap smartphones and data. “More than 800 crore digital payments are made every month in India through UPI”, he said. He further added that more than 7 crore e-authentications take place in India every day. He also informed that more than 220 crore vaccine doses were administered through the Co-Win platform in India. In the past few years, the Prime Minister said, India has transferred more than 28 lakh crore rupees to the bank accounts of its citizens via Direct Benefit Transfers. He informed that India has successfully managed to open more bank accounts than the entire population of the USA through the Jan Dhan Yojna which were later authenticated through Unique Digital Identity or Aadhar and helped in connecting more than a hundred crore people through the mobile phone.

“Telecom technology for India is not a mode of power, but a mission to empower”, the Prime Minister remarked. He noted that digital technology is universal in India and accessible to everyone. Underlining that digital inclusion has happened on a large scale in India in the last few years, the Prime Minister mentioned that broadband connectivity had 60 million users in India before 2014 but that number has gone up to more than 800 million today. He further added that the number of internet connections in India is more than 85 crores compared to 25 crores before 2014.

Referring to the rural upsurge of internet use in India, the Prime Minister informed that the number of internet users in the villages has surpassed the urban areas indicating that digital power has reached every nook and corner of the country. He informed that 25 lakh km of optical fiber has been laid in India by the government and private sector in the last 9 years. “2 lakh gram panchayats have been connected by optical fiber and 5 lakh common service centers are giving digital services leading to a situation where the digital economy is expanding two and half times faster than the rest of the economy”, Shri Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that Digital India is supporting non-digital sectors, and he illustrated this by the example of PM Gatishakti Masterplan. He said the ‘Call Before You Dig’ app reflects the same thinking. This will reduce the instances of unnecessary digging and damage.

“Today's India is rapidly moving towards the next step of the digital revolution”, the Prime Minister remarked as he underlined that India is the country with the fastest 5G rollout in the world as 5G services have been rolled out in more than 125 cities in just 120 days and 5G services have reached approximately 350 districts in the country. Throwing light on India’s confidence, the Prime Minister said that India is discussing 6G just after 6 months after the 5G rollout. “The vision document presented today will become a major basis for the 6G rollout in the next few years”, he added.

Noting that successfully developed telecom technology in India is attracting the attention of many countries of the world, the Prime Minister emphasized that India was only a user of telecom technology before 4G, but today, it is moving towards being the biggest exporter of telecom technology in the world. “India is working with many countries to change the work culture of the whole world with the power of 5G”, he said as he underlined that it will go a long way in realizing the opportunities, business models and employment potential associated with 5G. “These 100 new labs will help in developing 5G applications according to India's unique needs. Be it 5G smart classrooms, farming, intelligent transport systems or healthcare applications, India is working fast in every direction”, the Prime Minister said. Noting that India's 5G standards are part of the global 5G systems, the Prime Minister said that India will also work closely with ITU for the standardization of future technologies. Shri Modi underlined that the new Indian ITU Area office will also help in creating the right environment for 6G. The Prime Minister expressed delight in announcing that the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly of ITU will be held in October next year in Delhi where representatives from all over the world will visit India.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister highlighted the pace of India's development and expressed the belief that this center of ITU will play an important role. “This decade is India's tech-ade. India's telecom and digital model is smooth, secure and transparent and all the friendly countries of South Asia can take advantage of this”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Union Minister for Communications, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan and Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union, Ms Doreen-Bogdan Martin were present on the occasion among others.

Background

ITU is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). Headquartered in Geneva, it has a network of field offices, regional Offices and area offices. India signed a Host Country Agreement in March 2022 with ITU for the establishment of Area Office. The Area Office in India is also envisaged to have an Innovation Centre embedded in it making it unique among other area offices of ITU. The Area Office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building at Mehrauli New Delhi. It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran, enhancing coordination among nations and fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

Bharat 6G vision document is prepared by the Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) that was constituted in November 2021 with members from various Ministries/Departments, research and development institutions, academia, standardization bodies, Telecom Service Providers and industry to develop a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India. 6G Test Bed will provide academic institutions, industries, start-ups, MSMEs etc. a platform to test and validate the evolving ICT technologies. The Bharat 6G Vision Document and 6G Test Bed will provide an enabling environment for innovation, capacity building and faster technology adoption in the country.

Exemplifying the Prime Minister’s vision of integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects under PM Gati Shakti, the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) app is a tool envisaged for preventing damage to underlying assets like optical fiber cables, that occurs because of uncoordinated digging and excavation, leading to loss of about Rs 3000 crore every year to the country. The mobile app CBuD will connect excavators and asset owners through SMS/Email notifications & click to call so that there are planned excavations in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.

CBuD, which illustrates the adoption of a ‘Whole-of-Government Approach’ in the country's governance will benefit all stakeholders by improving the ease of doing business. It will save potential business loss and minimize discomfort to the citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.