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‘Ideologies have their place, but the country must come first,’ says PM Modi
PM said political parties need to be mindful that opposing a party or an individual should not go against the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed concern over what he called an “increasing tendency of political parties” to put their ideology or interest above the country.
Addressing an event via videoconference in Kanpur to mark the 10th death anniversary of former Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Harmohan Singh Yadav, the PM said political parties need to be mindful that opposing a party or an individual should not go against the country.
“Ideologies have their own place, so do political ambitions, but the fact remains the country is first, society is first; Rashtra Pratham,” he said.
A tendency of putting ideology and interest before the country was gaining currency, he said.
“Many a time, the Opposition parties place obstructions before the government because they could not implement decisions when they were in power. Now, when they are implemented, they oppose. It is the duty of all political parties that opposing a party or a person is not going against the country,” he said.
Most political parties, particularly the non-Congress ones, have fulfilled this thought of keeping the country first, he added.
“During the 1971 war, the Opposition parties supported the government of the day and strongly sided with the government after the (first) Pokhran nuclear test in 1974. Then, they came together to save democracy and the country when the Emergency was imposed,” he said.
Paying tribute to Harmohan Singh Yadav, the PM said the SP leader started as a gram pradhan and reached a point where he used to guide UP’s politics from his village. He was a champion of farmers’ rights and fought against the emergency, the PM added.
“He kept working on propagation of Ram Manohar Lohia’s ideology; his contribution to the society and politics would keep guiding and inspiring the future generations,” he said.
The programme was held by the Yadav Mahasabha, which was formed in 1930. Harmohan Singh’s family has been dominating this body since the 1960s and the organisation has chapters all over the country. Office bearers from 12 states attended Monday’s event.
