PM Modi Talks Rath Yatra, Paris Olympics in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, following a pause during the Lok Sabha elections. In the 111th episode, Modi covered a range of topics, from the upcoming Puri Rath Yatra to India’s Olympic prospects.

PM Modi opened by conveying his wishes for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, set to begin in a week. He then thanked voters for re-electing the NDA government, praising the democratic process in what he called the world’s largest election.

The PM introduced ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, a new campaign encouraging tree planting to honour mothers. He also highlighted cultural exchanges, mentioning the popularity of ‘Karthumbi Umbrellas’ from Kerala and a Hindi program on Kuwait Radio.

Turning to sports, PM Modi discussed India’s preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, launching the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat to rally support for Indian athletes.

The broadcast touched on global recognition for Indian products, noting the international popularity of Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh. PM Modi celebrated language initiatives, including 50 years of Akashvani’s Sanskrit bulletin and Sanskrit learning efforts in Bangalore.

International cultural ties were also addressed, with PM Modi mentioning honours for Rabindranath Tagore in Turkmenistan and Indian heritage celebrations in Caribbean countries.

The broadcast was attended by Odisha’s Chief Minister, Deputy CMs, and Union Ministers in Bhubaneswar, underlining the BJP’s recent electoral success in the state.