Shun Foreign Destination Weddings, PM Modi Urges Families In ‘Mann Ki Baat’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned the trend of overseas weddings during the 107th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday.

While urging big rich families to hold weddings in India instead of abroad, he said: “Just ponder… these days a new milieu is being created by some families to go abroad and conduct weddings. Is this at all necessary? If we celebrate the festivities of marriages on Indian soil, amid the people of India, the country’s money will remain within its borders.”

He highlighted the potential of such weddings to create opportunities for people to render services and for the development of systems in the country. “Let’s take ‘vocal for local’ seriously on this level too. There might be facilities there now, but soon India will grow to that level,” he added.

Stating that some trade organisations estimate there could be nearly Rs 5 lakh crore of business this year, he also urged people to opt for products made in India only while shopping for weddings. He pointed out that if people at large partake and take charge of nation building, no power in the world can stop that country from developing.

26/11 Mumbai Attacks

PM Modi paid homage to martyrs on the 15th anniversary of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

“We can never forget November 26. It was on this day that the most heinous terrorist attack took place in the country. Terrorists had shaken Mumbai and the entire country. But, it is India’s capability that we recovered from that attack and now we are also crushing terrorism with full courage,” he said.

Constitution Day

While congratulating countrymen on the occasion of Constitution Day, PM Modi said it was unfortunate that the first amendment of the Constitution ‘pertained to curtailing’ the freedom of speech and expression. He was referring to the first amendment made in 1951, moved by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in which ‘public order’ was added as a restriction on the Freedom of Expression in Article 19 (2).

He also mentioned that the Constituent Assembly also had women members and the recent constitutional amendment Bill to pave the way for women’s reservation was another step towards their empowerment.

UPI Payment

The PM also noted that this is the second consecutive year when the trend of buying some goods through cash payments on the occasion of Deepawali is gradually on the decline. “UPI payments have increased in the past months, and I urge you to only make UPI payments for the upcoming month and write to me about your experience,” he said.

Chhau Festival

He mentioned about ‘Chhau’ festival, which was organised in Srinagar from November 15-17 with the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and the prevalent of the dance form in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. “Everyone enjoyed the programme. A workshop was also organised to impart training in ‘Chhau’ dance to the youth of Srinagar,” he said.