Before I begin, at first my congratulations to ‘entire’ India for becoming ‘entire’ in true sense for the first time ever. Today, I have the privilege to congratulate entire India with full confidence like never before, all thanks to Prime Minister Modi. I really think that it is only because of his strong political will that issues like Article 370, which were considered as being untouchable since long, no more exists in our nation. I strongly feel it won’t be wrong to say that after legendary individuals like Sardar Patel, it is only Modi who worked for the integration of India, be it geographical integration in Kashmir or economic integration with his steps like GST or be it global integration with his Yoga day outreach.
When it comes to issues like Kashmir, we had often seen politicians keeping them away from touching this issue making it more sensitive. However, I think it is only politicians like Narendra Modi who, with his decisive leadership, took a step forward to sort out the age-long Kashmir crisis. As Indians, we had seen how politicians and governments had worked, adhering to political calculations, but for the first time ever, we saw someone like Modi who hardly looks at political calculations before taking a step.
In 2014, when he was in political campaigns roaring from stages and coining slogans like “Nation first“, many including me thought of this as a political gimmick. But now I believe that his bold decisions-after-decisions like demonetisation, ‘surgical strikes‘ and the recent abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir perfectly reflects that “Nation first” is not just a political slogan for him.
He is not just integrating India geographically but also with emotions. Since after he assumed power in 2014, Northeastern states which had faced the sheer negligence of New Delhi is now the top priority of the government and insurgent movements in these states has been dwindling.
I strongly feel that Modi has also redefined politics and political opinion of our nation, where people earlier had an opinion that politics is all bluff and politicians never fulfil promises. Modi showed that in politics if the intent is clear then everything is possible.
If Sardar Patel is remembered as a man who integrated India, then Modi, without any second opinion, will go down in the history of India as a person who fully integrated India in the true sense, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Modi today has emerged as a true statesman and his efforts deserve to be recognised and I think the Bharat Ratna may do this. Already, nations like the UAE, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Afganistan have recognised his efforts by awarding him highest civilian honour of their nations.
I strongly feel it’s time for own nation to start recognising his efforts with proper honour.