Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared that the whole country was supportive of Kerala as it faced its worst floods in 90 years.
He said this in his monthly radio broadcast, Mann ki Baat.
The State government has been demanding more Central assistance as it faces the daunting task of rehabilitation and reconstruction after rescue operations have been completed.
“In today’s pressing, hard times, the entire nation is with Kerala. Our sympathies are with those families who lost their loved ones. Loss of lives cannot be compensated, but I assure the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering and misery, 125 crore Indians stand by them, shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
“I earnestly pray for those injured in this natural disaster to get well soon. I firmly believe that the sheer grit and courage of the people of the State will see Kerala rise again,” the Prime Minister said. “Disasters, unfortunately leave behind a trail of destruction. But one gets to witness facets of humanity, humaneness during disasters. From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavouring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes, be it Kerala or any other part of India, human life returns to normalcy,” he added.
Letters about Vajpayee
He said that most of the letters received by the Mann ki Baat team had been about the recently deceased former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his contributions to the country.
Mr. Modi spoke of Vajpayee’s contribution to good governance by bringing in the 91st Constitution Amendment, 2003, which limited the size of the Union and the State Ministries to 15% of the strength of the Assembly, and changed the anti-defection law to allow only two-thirds of the legislators of a party, instead of the earlier one-third, to form a separate group without being disqualified by the Speaker.
“For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large Cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo Cabinets not only to create a divide but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. This effort of his resulted in saving of money as well as of resources. This also helped in improving efficiency. It could only be a visionary like Atalji who brought in this transformation and as a result of this, healthy traditions blossomed in our polity,” he said.
On Simultaneous polls
The debate over whether or not India should have simultaneous polls, he said, was part of this change in political culture.
He also congratulated all those who won medals at the ongoing Asian games, and highlighted the fact that medals were being won in sports in which India had no traditional dominance and by younger athletes and those hailing from small towns.
Responding to a correspondent who wrote to him in Sanskrit, the Prime Minister acknowledged the power of the ancient language and the work of a village in Shimoga district of Karnataka in keeping it alive in day-to-day life.
He also remarked that Tamil was perhaps one of the oldest languages in the world.