India’s Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 10-feet tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat, Delhi on December 10, 2023.
In his address, the Defence Minister described the statue as a befitting tribute to the Father of the Nation, who played a central role in freeing India from foreign rule and worked for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society to lead a dignified life.
“Gandhiji was a great freedom fighter who envisioned a strong, prosperous and clean India. Our Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is following in the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. Schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and Swachh Bharat are based on his ideas,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.
He asserted that Mahatma Gandhi continues to live in the heart of every Indian, while great leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr & Nelson Mandela took inspiration from his ideas and vision for the betterment of people in their countries.
The Defence Minister remembered revolutionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay who worked for the upliftment of the marginalised sections with patriotism & commitment.
“These great people are the guiding light for our Government. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is built on their dreams.
Our ideology is of peace, social harmony, unity, and bringing about a change based on development,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised that the Government’s focus has always been on planned progress, which has resulted in India becoming the 5th largest economy in the world.
He termed Gandhiji as not only a freedom fighter, but also an economic thinker who believed ‘The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed’.
“Ever since our Government came to power, our endeavour is not only to uplift the people belonging to the weaker sections, but also to empower them. Growth of all sections alike will strengthen the security landscape of the country,” he said.
Further, the Defence Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continue serving the people with honesty and dedication to take the country to greater heights. This will be a true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he said.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/
