In a veiled dig at the Congress for harping on the concept of “inclusive growth” too often Gujarat chief minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said on Thursday that it was not a new slogan and the country must dwell deep into its vast spiritual values for development.
Addressing the 60th birthday celebrations of renowned spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi aka Amma at her ashram in Kollam (south Kerala) he said traditional values and philosophical principles can be the foundation for the country to emerge as a super power. He dazed the organizers and mammoth crowd with his chaste Malayalam for more than five minutes.
“Now there is a talk of inclusive growth. But this is nothing new for India. This has been the message given by our sages since ages," he said. The spiritual strength of the country can be of real use if its population practised the principles highlighted in the ancient texts and scriptures of the country.
Referring to recent terrorist attacks across the world, including bombings at Nairobi in Kenya and Peshawar in Pakistan besides the killing of soldiers in J&K he said: “While on one side when the river of blood is flowing, on the other side we have a river of love — of Ganga originating from the abode of Amma. While on one side there are efforts to save the lives of the people through technological innovations and good work on the other there are brutal killings of innocent lives,” he said.
Skirting political issues he said though the present situation in the country was dismal he would not give into despondency because he was confident that a bright future is awaiting the country. “The current situation of the country is making many people feel unhappy. But not me. I have full faith in India becoming a world leader in the near future, given our strong base in spiritual and traditional values,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Skirting political issues he said though the present situation in the country was dismal he would not give into despondency because he was confident that a bright future is awaiting the country. “The current situation of the country is making many people feel unhappy. But not me. I have full faith in India becoming a world leader in the near future, given our strong base in spiritual and traditional values,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}On the occasion he also unveiled prototypes and technological devices made by various education and research institutions run by Amritanandamayi mutt. Among the speakers on the occasion were Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Senior Metropolitan Bishop of Mar Thoma Church, Mohammed Masthan Khalifa Sahib, high priest of Nagore Dargah, Swami Prakashananda, President of Sivagiri Math and Nobel laureate Dr Leland H Hartwell.