By Jon Egie with agency report
Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP), Indian community in Nigeria, has celebrated the 100th episode of the nation’s “Mann ki BAAT”.
Mr Sanjay Srivastava, President of OFBJP, Nigeria chapter disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mann Ki Baat, which is in Hindi, means “Speaking from heart”
It is an Indian radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he addresses the people of the nation.
Srivastava said the programme, which began in Oct. 3, 2014, had become a key pillar of the government-citizen outreach programme addressing multiple social groups.
He said that the broadcast, usually done every last Sunday of the month, had its 100th episode held in April 30, 2023.
Srivastava noted that the platform had enabled the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi speak directly with every Indian across the globe through radio broadcast.
According to him, the women, youths and farmers are all addressed and the engagement has spurred various community action.
“We celebrated the 100th episode of Mann ki BAAT because for us, it is historic.
“Mann ki BAAT is a platform we have enjoyed since 2014 and our Prime Minister has been able to boost Indians’ confidence in his governance.
“For us, it is a celebration of unity, peace and harmony among Indians across the globe and we look forward to this.
“The radio broadcast was held in 10 locations within Nigeria like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja and more,” he said.
Srivastava urged all Indians to embrace and appreciate the qualities of others as advised by Prime Minister Modi.
Modi said, “Friends, for me, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has been like worshipping the qualities in others. I had a guide – Shri Laxmanrao ji Inamdar.
“We used to address him as Vakeel Saheb.
“He always used to say that we should worship the qualities of others.
“No matter who is face to face with you, be it your compatriot, be it your opponent, we should try to know about their good qualities and learn from them.
“This trait of his has always inspired me. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has become a great medium to learn from the qualities of others,” he said.
(NAN)