Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the nation

Published By : Admin | April 18, 2026 | 20:30 IST
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Addressing the nation on a highly critical issue concerning the mothers, sisters, and daughters of India, the Prime Minister expressed his profound sorrow over the stalling of women's progress. He noted that despite the government's utmost and sincere efforts, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendment failed to pass, effectively crushing the legitimate dreams of the female population. "I deeply apologize to all the mothers and sisters of the nation for this unfortunate outcome," stated Shri Modi.

Highlighting that the national interest remains strictly paramount, the Prime Minister sharply criticized specific political factions for prioritizing partisan gains over the welfare of the country.

Reflecting on the profound disappointment witnessed across the country, the Prime Minister pointed out that defeat of this bill is a direct blow to the self-respect of women, an insult that the female electorate will permanently engrave in their memories. "Women may forget everything else, but they never forget an insult to their pride," affirmed Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister highlighted that women of India are acutely aware of the malicious intentions and will hold the offending politicians strictly accountable in the future. Detailing the transformative vision of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendment, the Prime Minister explained that the legislation was a grand effort designed to grant long-pending rights and create new opportunities for half the population. He observed that the bill aimed to remove systemic obstacles and equally amplify the political power of all states, regardless of their size or geography. "This amendment was a sincere effort to make women equal co-travelers in India's development journey," pointed out Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the citizens of India have thoroughly recognized this ugly pattern of politics and fully understand the underlying motives. "The country has now completely understood the ugly political pattern used to steal women's rights," affirmed Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister explained that dynastic parties are terrified that empowered women from outside their families will threaten their localized leadership. He highlighted that the thousands of capable women currently serving in Panchayats pose a direct challenge to the deeply entrenched insecurity of dynastic politicians.

Dismantling the false narratives regarding delimitation, the Prime Minister clarified that the government had explicitly ensured no state would lose representation, as all states would see their seats increase in equal, fair proportion. Highlighting the missed opportunities for regional growth, the Prime Minister stated that the amendment would have significantly increased parliamentary seats for states like Tamil Nadu, Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Listing a series of transformative initiatives opposed earlier, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity, digital payments, GST, and the law against Triple Talaq were also resisted. He highlighted that earlier chaos has also been created over the CAA law and efforts to eradicate Maoist violence have been constantly hindered.

Tracing India's historical developmental delays, the Prime Minister stated that the persistent strategy of sweeping necessary decisions under the carpet allowed other nations to surpass India post-independence. He highlighted that 40 years have been spent stalling crucial national resolutions, including border dispute settlements, OBC reservations, and the One Rank One Pension scheme for soldiers.

The Prime Minister noted that generations of Indians have suffered deeply due to such indecision and deceit. He emphasized that the current political battle is not just about a single piece of legislation, but a broader war against a deeply negative, anti-reform mentality. "I have no doubt that all the sisters and daughters of the country will give a fitting reply to this toxic mentality," pointed out Shri Modi.

Dismissing claims that the failure of the bill reflects poorly on the government, the Prime Minister reiterated that he was perfectly willing to give the opposition full credit through advertisements if they had simply supported the legislation. "This issue was never about taking political credit; it was about securing rights," asserted Shri Modi.

Reaffirming his unwavering commitment to women's empowerment, the Prime Minister expressed solidarity with the sadness felt by millions of women, assuring them that his resolve remains entirely unbroken despite the lack of parliamentary numbers. He promised to eliminate every future obstacle in the path of the legislation, declaring that the Government will eventually succeed with the blessings of 100 percent of the nation's women. "For the dreams of half the population and the future of the country, we have to fulfill this resolution," emphasized Shri Modi.

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Prime Minister and Prime Minster of Sweden exchange special gifts celebrating the shared cultural legacy of Rabindranath Tagore
May 17, 2026

The Prime Minister of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Ulf Kristersson and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi exchanged special commemorative gifts to celebrate the legacy of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

The gift from Prime Minister Kristersson comprised a box containing two replicas of hand-written epigrams by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, accompanied by a small explanatory text and a photograph of Gurudev Tagore taken in 1921 during his visit to Uppsala University. The originals, recently discovered in the Swedish National Archives, were created by Gurudev Tagore during his visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.

Prime Minister Modi presented to Prime Minster Kristersson a set of collected works of Rabindranath Tagore, along with a specially handcrafted bag from Shantiniketan with motifs that Gurudev chose to empower local artisans. The bag symbolizes Tagore’s philosophy that art is not meant to be confined to galleries, but to breathe life into everyday objects, bridging the gap between the intellectual and the functional.

Although Gurudev Tagore could not travel to Sweden in 1913 to receive the Nobel Prize, he was received by King Gustav V when he visited Sweden in 1921. These gifts symbolize the shared cultural and intellectual heritage between India and Sweden, and pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. The exchange of gifts also coincides with the centenary of Gurudev’s historic visit to Sweden in 1926.