If the young leaders of the world work together with commitment towards democracy, it would pave the way for the welfare of humanity not only in India but across the world, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday.
“All the countries of the world are working together with the spirit of India's ancient motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is a family), while having adopted democracy in some form or the other which can provide a new inspiration to the world,” the chief minister said during a meeting of the participants of the Gen Next Democracy Network programme at his official residence here on Sunday.
On this occasion, the chief minister also felicitated the young leaders from Argentina, Botswana, Canada, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan and Lithuania on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government and citizens.
The chief minister said that India, which was currently celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of its independence, was not only the largest democracy in the world, but also the mother of all democracies as it was deeply rooted in the country since ancient times.
Yogi said that Uttar Pradesh represented the spiritual and cultural ethos of India and was an important state in many ways. “Uttar Pradesh plays the most important role in India's food production. With 11 per cent cultivable land, we produce 20 per cent of India's total foodgrains. Uttar Pradesh is number one in India in foodgrain production. Uttar Pradesh is number one in sugarcane production. Uttar Pradesh is number one in vegetable and milk production as well. For the last few years, the work done in the field of infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh has instilled a new confidence in Uttar Pradesh as well as in the entire country,” the chief minister asserted.
Welcoming the young leaders, the chief minister remarked: “I am happy that you have come here after visiting the oldest city of the world, Kashi. Kashi is the city of India's spiritual and cultural identity. This city has been known since the beginning of creation. Not only this, along with Kashi, India has also given the world's oldest scripture Rigveda to the world. I am happy that the young leaders of Japan are also here. The memories of Japan are linked to India, because India and the land of Uttar Pradesh play an important role in it, be it the land of Lord Buddha's enlightenment or the land of his attainment of perfection, his Mahaparinirvana place or his holy land. These cultural relations between India and Japan are very ancient. You yourself must have seen those memories of Japan in Varanasi. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe himself took this programme forward through the India-Japan Cultural Council.”
Referring to the relations of India and Uttar Pradesh with Indonesia, the chief minister said that Ramlila of Indonesia was famous in the world. “Every year I invite Indonesia's Ramlila to perform in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, and I am happy that Ramlila from Indonesia fascinates the people of entire Uttar Pradesh,” Chief Minister Yogi said.
The chief minister remarked further: “It is a matter of great pride for all of us in the year of the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence that countries are working with the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the guiding philosophy of India since ancient times, while India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have got the opportunity to chair the G20 countries. On the one hand young leaders associated with major democracies of the world are coming to India through this event organised by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), and on the other G20 summits are also going to be held at different places in India under the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.”
The chief minister said that democratic values were supreme in India, and UP, and its best example was seen during the pandemic when 80 crore people were provided free ration while more than 220 crore vaccine doses were given to the people free of cost. According to the chief minister, free vaccines were made available to more than 25 countries of the world. He added further, “In Uttar Pradesh, we are running many programmes which are bringing changes to the lives of common citizens and making them self-reliant. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, every citizen of the country and the state feels proud because he knows that not only India is in safe hands, but also the interests of every citizen are protected. The G20 summit will also work in the future to further this spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and I am sure that the young leaders of all the prestigious countries of the world will be successful in furthering this spirit of democracy.”
