Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Aug 15: In a veiled reference to anti-India slogans reportedly raised at Amnesty International programme in Bengaluru, union minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship on Monday August 15 asserted that the country would always be united and no one would be allowed to break it.

Addressing a programme at TV Ramana Pai hall organized by the district BJP to celebrate the 70th Independence Day, Rudy said, "Those who raise anti-India slogans are trying to weaken this country. We hear slogans against India and against the Indian Army, but India will stand united from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Assam, no matter what sacrifices we need to make. India will remain one and no one can ever dream of breaking it. We will never allow anyone to break the country.

"You may wonder, being union minister why I was not present at the Red Fort while PM Narendra Modi was addressing the nation. Yesterday I was in Kerala, not to meet any person from the BJP or the RSS or any businessman or university professor. I went to meet a person and felicitate him. His name is K Madhavan, and he is 102 years old. He fought against the British in 1940. He was not from BJP, he was a communist leader of Kerala. Madhavan was emotional when I greeted him, as this was the first time in independent India that a representative from the PM came to salute the freedom fighter.

"The PM has told us that if you really want to celebrate the 70th Independence Day, go and meet families of freedom fighters, and if the freedom fighters are alive, to greet them and salute them," he said.

"The freedom that we see today and the smiles on the faces of citizens are possible only because of people like K Madhavan and many more across the country who fought for our freedom. Our freedom fighters brought us democracy also, and we are proud of it. As a union minister I came to salute all those who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country," he added.

Speaking about freedom fighters from Karnataka, he said, "This is a day to remember people like Karnad Sadashiva Rao, Kadidal Manjappa, K K Shetty and the brave woman Rani Abbakka who fought against the Portuguese prior to the British. As PM's representative I came here to salute martyrs and to remind the youth that the freedom that we have today is because of people who sacrificed their lives.

"The soldiers who are at the border, irrespective of their state of origin, are targets of enemy bullets, but the only slogan they raise is 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. Every individual is ready to sacrifice for the Tricolour," he added

"We have many challenges in the country and the PM is completely ready to face them. In two years, he has visited 50 countries and waved the Tricolour there. Where can we find such a committed PM?

"The GST bill will help all states to work on poverty and achieve economic stability. Even today there are places with no proper roads. During the tenure of the previous government, only 1 or 2 km of road was built per day, but today this figure has reached 28-30 km per day. Youth want to see digital, marine and road connectivity. PM Modi also says that the skills that the youth of India have should reach worldwide. Still there are people who work for 1,000-1,500 rupees per month, still there are problems like poverty, abortion of female foetus, etc, and we need to overcome all this. We have to work on providing good health, education, computers, internet and produce the finest progressive children," he said.

Delivering the keynote address, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "India did not invade any country but it has spread across the world through its spirituality and knowledge. That is Bharat. India suffered for 1,000 years under invaders, until several people sacrificed their lives to bring freedom to the country. On one side there were revolutionaries and on the other side there was the method of non-violence. The freedom that we have today is because of their sacrifices.

"There was a time when the entire world was watching US President Barrack Obama, but now time has changed and the President of US is watching what PM Modi is saying. The world is looking at India to become a 'Jagadguru' by 2020.

"BJP's 'Tiranga Yatra' is a concept to evoke the spirit of patriotism and to spread awareness about the sacrifices of freedom fighters among the youth. Slogans are being raised against India and the Indian Army, so this is an awareness campaign to instill patriotism," he said.

District BJP president Sanjeeva Matandoor, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik and other BJP leaders were present.