Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated citizens on occasion of National Voters’ Day, and told young voters that their vote will decide the future direction and approach of the country.
“One’s life witnesses many changes between 18-25 years of age. Amidst these changes, you all have to fulfil a significant responsibility, and that is the responsibility of participating in the world’s largest democracy,” PM Modi said during his virtual address at ‘Namo Navmatdata Sammelan’, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP.
He said that the time cycle is important for two reasons, “first, all of you have become voters at a time when India’s Amrit Kaal has started. Second, tomorrow on 26 January the country will celebrate its 75th Republic Day.”
“The next 25 years are important both for you and for India,” the PM said.
The PM said that the country is working “on the goal of becoming a developed India by 2047”, adding that one’s vote will decide the direction of India.
“Just as the youth of India had the responsibility of liberating the country 25 years before 1947, in the same way, you have the responsibility of building a developed India till 2047, i.e, in another 25 years,” the PM said.
“Once your name gets registered in the voter list, you become a crucial member of the democratic process of the country,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Opposition parties, the Prime Minister said that the youth of the nation is against corruption and “parivarwaad” (nepotism), adding that family-run parties never allow other youngsters to move ahead.
The PM said that the mindset of leaders of these parties is anti-youth. “You have to defeat these family parties with the strength of your votes,” he said.
The country is now talking of possibilities which the generation before 2014, the year the BJP came to power at the Centre, has given up hope on, he said. He said earlier corruption and scams used to make headlines, but achievements in various sectors are in the news now.
“It is Modi’s guarantee that your dreams are my resolve,” the PM said, asserting that the youth has always been his priority.
The presence of a stable and strong majority government at the Centre in the last 10 years had led to big decisions and the resolution of issues pending for decades, he said, citing removal of Article 370, GST roll-out, reservation for women in Lok Sabha and assemblies and ending the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslims.
Earlier, greeting people on National Voters’ Day, PM Modi urged those who have not yet registered themselves as voters to do so. He said on X, “Greetings on National Voters Day, an occasion which celebrates our vibrant democracy and also a day to encourage people to register as voters, if they haven’t already.”
Since 2011, the National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission (EC). Its main purpose is to encourage voters to participate in the electoral process. The EC organises drives to facilitate the enrolment of voters, especially the new ones.
