Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said service should remain the primary mission and its message should be conveyed through action rather than words or sermons, as he interacted with participants of the Seva Yatra via video conference.
The Seva Yatris are undertaking a motorcycle journey from Gujarat’s Vadnagar to Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi and back in 10 groups as part of the BJP’s Seva Yatra to mark Modi’s 25 years in public service. The yatra, which began on September 17, will cover 35,500 km across states and conclude on October 7.
Modi stresses service through conduct
Interacting with the participants, Modi urged them to follow the principle of Seva Parmo Dharma (service is the highest duty).
“We will convey the message of service only through our service, not through words. Through our conduct alone, people should realise that no matter how great the power in politics may become, our path will remain that of service. We will never deviate from the path of service,” the PM said.
According to an old saying, Modi said, when someone returns from a journey and is offered salutations, half the spiritual merit earned from the journey is transferred to the person paying respects. “So today, by bowing to all these ‘Seva Yatris’ (pilgrims of service), I, too, am ‘stealing’ half of that merit,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}According to an old saying, Modi said, when someone returns from a journey and is offered salutations, half the spiritual merit earned from the journey is transferred to the person paying respects. “So today, by bowing to all these ‘Seva Yatris’ (pilgrims of service), I, too, am ‘stealing’ half of that merit,” he said.
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PM highlights seven streams of power
He urged the participants to raise awareness about the seven streams of power he had spoken about in his Independence Day address. “The stream of manufacturing, the stream of technology and innovation, the stream of connectivity—such 7 streams will become a tremendous source of energy for building a developed India. This energy will gain momentum only from every citizen,” he said.
Underlining the importance of service in governance, Modi said policies driven by the spirit of service could become a force for the country’s progress and lead to schemes aimed at lifting the poor out of poverty.
“When the spirit of service is applied in the country’s policies, only then does service become the greatest driving force for the nation’s progress, and from it emerge new schemes that give the courage to lift the 250 million poor of the entire country out of poverty,” he said.
Youth urged to support 2047 development goal
Modi also linked the role of young people to the goal of building a developed India by 2047. “Politics has its place, elections have their place, governance systems have their place. But we are people who have set out for nation-building, we are people who have set out with the resolve for a developed India. We must take forward the crucial role of youth power in building a developed India by 2047 with utmost strength,” he said.
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The Prime Minister also asked the participants to take care of themselves and follow rules and regulations while travelling across states. The Seva Yatra comprises 20 teams travelling between Vadnagar and Varanasi.
The participants are also engaging with local communities through activities including cleanliness drives, beneficiary interactions, youth dialogues, Gram Sabha interactions, cow service and tree plantation under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.