Need for vigilance against propaganda, keep differences aside for nation's development: PM Modi

Addressing the Centenary Celebrations of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) through video conference, the Prime Minister said the nation’s interest should be kept supreme in heart and joint efforts should be made to create an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

He also released a postal stamp commemorating the event.

"Vision of new India envisages that the development of the nation and society should not be seen from a political angle. Politics can wait but society cannot, similarly poor belonging to whichever section, cannot wait. We cannot waste time and should work together to create an Atmanirbhar Bharat. For attainment of national goals, all differences must be set aside," he said.

Recalling Sir Sayyad’s remark that the first and foremost duty of one who is concerned about his country is to work for the welfare of all people irrespective of caste, creed or religion, the Prime Minister said the country is moving on a path where every citizen is assured of his or her constitution-given rights.

No one should be left behind because of one’s religion and this is the basis of the pledge ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabk viswas’, he said while mentioning about government schemes providing benefits without any discrimination. These include opening of bank accounts of over 40 crore poor, providing pacca houses to more than two crore people and gas connection to more than 8 crore women ‘’without any discrimination.’’

About 50 crore people have availed free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman scheme "without any discrimination.’'

"Country’s resources belong to each and every citizen and should benefit all. Our government is working with this understanding." the Prime Minister said.

Pointing out that in the last 100 years, AMU had worked to strengthen India's relations with many countries, he said the research done at the University on Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages and Islamic literature, gave new energy to India's cultural relations with the entire Islamic world. ‘

"The University has the double responsibility to further enhance the soft power of the university as well as fulfilling the obligation of nation building."

Recalling the time when the drop-out rate of Muslim girls was more than 70 percent due to lack of toilets, he said separate toilets for school-going girl students were built Swachh Bharat Mission and now the school drop-out rate of Muslim girls had come down to about 30 percent.

He said the government is very focused on the education and empowerment of Muslim girls and and stressed that there should be no discrimination on the basis of gender with everyone getting equal rights and the benefit of development.

He said the country took forward the efforts to build a modern Muslim society by ending the practice of triple talaq.