Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 13: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday urged governments and political leaders to look beyond electoral gains and focus on securing a better future for the next generation, stressing that governance must be guided by policies, morality and social welfare.
Addressing an event in Lucknow marking 90 years since the establishment of the Brahma Kumaris and 72 years of its spiritual services, Singh said the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' goes far beyond achieving a five-trillion-dollar economy.
"For us, a 'Viksit Bharat' does not merely mean a five-trillion-dollar economy. While that is certainly an important component, our vision for a 'Viksit Bharat' is far broader," he said.
He explained that a developed India would be a nation where citizens are honest, families remain rooted in values, society lives in harmony, women are respected, youth are disciplined and every individual feels a sense of responsibility towards the nation.
"In our decision-making, we should not just look at the political gains we might derive; rather, we should consider the benefits to society. Don't think about how to win the next election, think about how to make the future of the next generation better," the Defence Minister said.
He added that the true essence of politics lies in governance guided by policies and morality, describing politics not merely as a means of acquiring power but as an instrument to shape the future of society and the nation.
Singh cautioned that if politics is viewed only as an arena of competition, mutual accusations and personal ambition, young people would gradually distance themselves from it. However, if they recognise its potential for public service, nation-building, character development and social transformation, they would actively participate.
Emphasising that the youth are not merely the future but also the present of the country, he said a nation's future is shaped by the efforts and decisions taken today.
"The seeds sown in the present determine the fruits reaped in the future," he stressed.
The Defence Minister also urged young people to build their character alongside their careers and use technology responsibly. He advised them to seek information without losing their ability to distinguish right from wrong, while engaging with the world without losing touch with their cultural roots.
"Being modern and forgetting one's cultural identity are two different things; one must learn to distinguish between them," he said.
Singh further observed that success which benefits only an individual without contributing to society remains limited in its value. Youngsters, he said, must give equal importance to developing their character and building their careers.
He also called upon the youth to take responsibility for addressing social shortcomings instead of merely criticising them.
"This is the perspective that transforms an ordinary youth into a responsible citizen, and a responsible citizen into a participant in nation-building," he said.
If young people cultivate wisdom alongside knowledge, restraint alongside strength, empathy alongside success and a spirit of national service alongside ambition, India's resolve to become a developed nation can be realised, he added.
Highlighting the importance of spirituality in public life, Singh said spiritual development was not merely a path towards personal liberation but also a means of strengthening national character.
"Elections may be won or lost, but I will do what is right and nothing else. Politics can achieve its real purpose only when ethics and spiritual consciousness are associated with it. I call this the spiritualisation of politics," he said.
Clarifying his remarks, Singh said spiritualisation of politics did not mean linking governance with any particular religion, sect or religious practice. Instead, it meant integrating universal values such as ethics, morality and a sense of duty into public life.