Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the youth preferred to “follow the system” and “courageously question the system itself” if it didn’t respond properly, adding that they “detest” anarchy.
His statement was made in the backdrop of protests across the country, including on campuses and led by students, against the government’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which fast-tracks citizenship to six religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, except Muslims.
In his last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address for 2019, Mr. Modi said the coming decade would see the contribution of those born in the 21st century. Referring to the many terms the youth today are called, including “millennials” and “Gen Z”, Mr. Modi said this was the “social media generation”.
Modi's last 'Mann ki Baat' of 2019
“All of us experience that this generation is extremely talented. It thrives on the dream to do something new, something different. It has its own set of opinions. And the best part is, especially in the case of India, according to me, they appreciate the system. Not just that, they prefer to follow the system. And in the event of the system not responding properly, they get restless and even courageously question the system itself! I consider this attribute as a virtue.”
He said “the country’s youth detest anarchy of any sort” as well as lack of governance, instability, nepotism, casteism, favouritism and gender discrimination.
Mr. Modi said he believed that the coming decade for India would be not just about development and progress for the youth but also the country’s progress.
“This generation will play a major role in modernising India; I feel it beyond any doubt. On the birth anniversary of Vivekananda on January 12, on the occasion of National Youth Day, every young person should give a thought to this responsibility, taking one resolve or the other for this decade,” he said.
Later in his address, Mr. Modi asked people to promote indigenous products till 2022, when India completes 75 years of Independence. He also spoke of an initiative in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — the Himayat programme — for skill development and employment of those between 15 and 35 years who could not complete their studies “for some reason”. He said 18,000 youth had received training under this programme in the past two years.
