India fought Covid better because of people’s participation: Nadda

New Delhi, May 8 (FN Agency) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Saturday said India fought Covid-19 better than other countries because of people’s participation in the fight against the pandemic, adding that 130 crore Indians followed the bold decisions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the lockdown. Addressing an event being organized by Central Sanskrit University in New Delhi, the BJP chief said people followed PM Modi whether he asked them to beat plates, or light diyas. He said India fought Covid better than many other countries, and added it could be possible because of people’s participation. “When Covid struck, there was debate in many countries on whether to take the injection (vaccine) or not, there were protests in many countries that we will not take injection, it’s violation of our human rights. Many countries were confused if they should pay attention to economy or humanity,” Nadda said in his address which was in Hindi.

“But look at India, in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we took bold decisions. Lockdown was implemented, and the whole country, 130 crore people followed it in letter and spirit, this is the power of our country,” he said. “When he asked people to beat plates, or to light diyas (lamps), except for some people who are in the Opposition, 130 crore people followed it, this is our culture and this is our strength.” “What is the difference between other countries and India, in other countries government’s fought Corona, in India, the people fought Corona along with the government. This is because of our culture,” he said. The BJP President said it was because of Indian culture that people were tolerant here, and have endurance. “I go out (of India) often, everyone says ‘give me space’… And here, you get on a DTC bus, there are so many people traveling together and they have so much tolerance. It doesn’t happen on its own. It’s the Indian culture that makes it possible,” he said. He said it was because of Indian culture that even opponents were heard. “Tolerance, giving everyone an equal status, searching for truth and also listening to what the opponents say, it is all engraved in us.”

The BJP President also said that the language Sanskrit is in the roots or our culture, and said his party and the government will leave no stone unturned to promote the language. “Sanskrit is the language in which our golden treasure, our ancient knowledge is compiled… Wherever there is Sanskrit, our ideology will be there, standing firmly with it,” he said. “Sanskrit is our culture. The oldest book, Rig Veda is also in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the medium to move from darkness to light.” “As far as Prime Minister Modi and our government is concerned, we are the people who preserve culture and also take it ahead. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on the highest executive post, will leave no stone unturned in promoting Sanskrit,” he said. The three-day event is being jointly organised by the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, Shri Lal Bahadur National Sanskrit University, New Delhi and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati. The main theme of the event is ‘Global Orientation of Sanskrit Studies in the New Educational Era’. Vice Chancellors of 17 Sanskrit Universities, Scholars and students were among those who participated in the event.