Service to poor, marginalised is first ‘yajna’ for country: PM Modi

Emphasizing the government’s commitment towards the overall development and upliftment of the marginalised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that service to the poor, backward and downtrodden is the first yajna for the country today.
Prime Minister inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital on Sunday. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Meenakshi Lekhi were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, PM Modi said Dayanand Saraswati protested the discrimination against women in society and started the program for women’s education. Prime Minister said it was around 150 years ago that Maharishi Saraswati stood against these vices.
“We bow to Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Ji on his 200th Jayanti. He was a beacon of knowledge and spirituality. Today in the 21st century, when the world is engulfed in many controversies, engulfed in violence and instability, then the path shown by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati ji instills hope in crores of people,” he said.
Prime Minister said the country is calling for “pride in our heritage.” Maharishi took a holistic, inclusive and integrated approach towards every aspect of the nation and society, he said.
“The seed which was planted by Swami ji, is today giving shade to the entire humanity in the form of a huge banyan tree,” he said.
The PM said the country today is witnessing those reforms which were the priorities of Dayanand Saraswati. “The service of the poor, backward and downtrodden is the first yajna for the country today. Women are now being deployed in Siachen and flying planes like Rafale. Our government removed the prohibition of admission of girls in the Sainik schools,” he said.
Prime Minister said the policies in the country are made today without any discrimination. He said Dayanand Saraswati not only created a path in his life but also created many institutions. “He carried revolutionary ideas during his lifetime, lived them and inspired people to live them. He linked every thought with the system,” the PM said.
Along with modern education, Prime Minister said Dayanand Saraswati also advocated the education system moulded in the Indian environment through Gurukuls. Through the new National Education Policy, the country has now strengthened its foundation as well, he stressed.
PM said Maharishi Dayanand revived the understanding of Vedas in the society. He said when Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born, the country had lost its confidence and weakened due to centuries of bondage.