Ramnath Goenka Lecture Highlights: PM Modi cites Bihar poll results, says ‘one needs to be in election mode 24×7’

Anant Goenka recalled the first time he had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his vote of thanks.

“I was all of 14 years old. He had invited several leading educators across India to discuss the future of education in Gujarat. One of them happened to be my mother, and so she asked me to tag along. And I remember telling her after the event that I was so surprised that throughout the four plus hours of discussion with 100s of educators…just how patiently and attentively the (then) chief minister sat through and listened,” he recalled.

‘Indian Express Group has been part of every growth story in India’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to take pride in domestic developments and Indian culture rather than trying to adapt Western norms.

“Look at tourism. Every country where tourism thrives takes pride in its heritage. In India, post-Independence, the opposite happened, we neglected our own heritage. Without pride, there is no preservation; without preservation, heritage becomes ruins. Pride in heritage is essential for tourism growth,” he said.

Modi noted that most other countries had not eschewed their own language in favour of foreign alternatives — citing the emphasis laid on language within the New Education Policy. Modi insisted that his fight was not specifically against the English language.

“Which country criticises its own languages? Japan, China, Korea, they adopted many global ideas but never compromised on language. This is why our National Education Policy emphasises learning in local languages. We do not oppose English — we support Indian languages. Macaulay’s crime in 1835 will complete 200 years in 2035, ten years from now. So today, through this platform, I urge the nation: Let the next 10 years be our resolve to free ourselves from this colonial mindset. These ten years are crucial,” he said.

Modi accused the Congress government of failing to address a surge in Maoist terror issues. The party, he alleged, had also nurtured Naxalities in cities and promoted “urban Naxalites”. Modi also echoed his Bihar election victory speech to accuse the Opposition party of becoming the “Muslim League Maoist Congress”.

“For the past five decades, almost every region in India had been affected by Maoists. But unfortunately, the Congress chose to nurture those who do not believe in the Indian Constitution. Congress went on to embed ‘urban naxals’ within major institutions. The urban naxal–Maoist ecosystem that had taken root in the Congress 10–15 years ago has now transformed into the ‘Muslim League Maowadi Congress (MMC)’. And today, I say with full responsibility that the MMC has sidelined national interest for its own political gain,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government had worked to transform backward zones into ‘aspirational’ areas by adopting a new policy — consulting with state governments and formulating individual plans and policies for each area.

He cited the improvements in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar to underscore his point.

“The country’s development must reach every section of society. We have seen over the past decades how some parties focused only on their own interests…. But our mission to build 12 crore toilets has restored dignity to those who were once forced to defecate in the open,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BJP workers were working tirelessly in various states (such as the poll-bound West Bengal and Kerala) to persuade voters. He noted that they had poured their blood and sweat into improving the lives of people and contributing positively.

“Friends, lakhs of BJP workers have nurtured the party with their sweat, and in many states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir, even with their blood. For such a party, winning elections is not the only goal, serving people and winning their hearts is equally important,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged political parties across the spectrum to focus on development and “compete” for progress and better infrastructure in their states. He reiterated that the voters of today were simply looking for progress.

Modi also addressed insinuations that the BJP and he himself were perpetually linked to elections and the Election Commission. He countered that their goal was to help the poor and improve the lives of voters.

“Opposition says PM Modi and BJP are over the Election board 24X7..but to win the election, one needs to be in election mode 24X7…Govt always strives for the betterment of society, and it reflects in the election results,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged political parties across the spectrum to learn a lesson from the recent Bihar elections — to take heed of the kind of politics voters now preferred.

He also referenced the political career of Ramnath Goenka to underscore his point.

“Someone once told me a story about Ramnath ji receiving the Jan Sangh ticket from Vidisha. Nanaji Deshmukh told him: ‘You only need to come to file your nomination and later to collect your certificate after winning.’ Nanaji and party workers fought the election on his behalf and ensured his victory. I mention this not to suggest that candidates should only come to file nominations, but to highlight the dedication of BJP’s countless committed workers,” said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that India has shown steady growth despite the turbulence of the past five years. He noted that the ‘Indian growth model’ was now being held up as an example for the whole world.

“Although the past four to five years have brought significant global challenges, India has nevertheless sustained a high growth rate. Our GDP is growing at near 7 per cent despite global instabilities; India is not just an emerging market but an emerging model too,” he said.

PM Modi has begun his address by highlighting the work and contributions of Ramnath Goenka. He said that the group’s founder had always stood by the truth and added that national interest remained his foremost priority.

“Ramnath Goenka ji bravely stood up to British rule. In one of his editorials, he wrote that he would rather shut down his newspaper than follow the ideals of the British. Similarly, when the country was pushed into the darkness of Emergency, he rose to resist that attempt to enslave the nation. This year also marks 50 years since the Emergency was lifted. And The Indian Express showed even then that a blank editorial can challenge a mindset that seeks to silence and subdue the people,” he said.

PM Modi was presented with a memento by Group CEO George Varghese before beginning his address.

The Ramnath Goenka Lecture will begin in a few minutes.

Stay tuned here for updates.

The lecture will be streamed live via the Financial Express website. You can also watch through the official YouTube channels of the publication or simply press the play button below…

Viveck Goenka, Chairman, Express Group, said that the Prime Minister, speaking in Ramnath Goenka’s name, is “a reaffirmation that the dialogue between the state and the free press remains the heartbeat of a confident nation.”

“This lecture is not a ceremony but a commitment to the values of truth-telling, accountability, and the power of ideas,” he said. This is a time when power equations of the world are being upended, when nations are redefining both their place and purpose and when uncertainty and volatility are the keywords of our times. That’s why listening to the Prime Minister, representing the highest elected office in the world’s largest democracy, has a deeper resonance,” he added.

“At around 8:15 PM this evening, will be delivering the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in Delhi. This platform celebrates the life and work of one of India’s most respected media pioneers. Shri Ramnath Goenka Ji stood for courage and integrity in public life. Glad to see this Lecture become a significant forum for ideas that shape our national discourse,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.