PM Narendra Modi wants selfie with daughters

New Delhi: In the monthly programme, the PM refrained from speaking on politics or the recent controversies “Sometimes, some people feel that I should make big government announcements in the Mann Ki Baat programme. No. For that, I work day and  night. With you, I do light-hearted talk and I get pleasure from that only,” Mr Modi said.

Later, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed disappointment over the PM’s “failure” to speak on the Lalit Modi controversy. “All over India, no one is ready to listen to Mann Ki Baat ... Everyone wants to listen to the voice of people in the programme,” said Mr Azad, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. “It is in the interest of the Prime Minister to take immediate action against those involved in corruption. Otherwise, nationally and internationally, it is going to haunt him wherever he goes,” he said.

The PM, during the 20-minute programme, also spoke about three recently-launched social security schemes and three developmental schemes, including “housing for all” by 2022, as well as the Yoga Day celebrated on June 21. He also emphasised the need to save water and plant trees to preserve the environment.

Mr Modi mentioned the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padao (Save daughters, educate daughters)” scheme launched by the government. He mentioned that a sarpanch of Bibipur village in Haryana, Sunil Jaglan, had started a “selfie with daughter” competition wherein fathers were to post their “selfies” with their daughters.

The PM asked all fathers to send their “selfies” with their daughters to him, out of which he would re-tweet the good ones. “The initiative of the sarpanch gives me an inspiration, and that is why I urge you to click pictures with your daughters and post those on #selfiewithdaughter with a tagline,” Mr Modi said.