PM Modi urges people to encourage Indian athletes participating in Paris Olympics

PM Modi encourages Indian athletes, congratulates students, addresses drug abuse, promotes tourism, art, handloom industry, and tiger conservation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 28 urged people to encourage Indian athletes participating in the Paris Olympics, stating that the grand sporting event gave players a chance to hoist the tricolour on the world stage.

In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, Mr. Modi also congratulated the Indian students who bagged four gold and one silver medal in the International Mathematics Olympiad, in which youth from over 100 countries participated. “The names of these students, who have brought glory to the country, are Aditya Venkat Ganesh from Pune, Siddharth Chopra from Pune itself, Arjun Gupta from Delhi, Kanav Talwar from Greater Noida, Rushil Mathur from Mumbai, and Anando Bhaduri from Guwahati,” he said. The Prime Minister interacted with the students who shared their experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of curiosity, perseverance, and creativity in mastering mathematics.

In order to address the serious issue of drug abuse, Mr. Modi said the government has launched Manas, a special centre with a toll-free helpline (1933) for support and rehabilitation. The initiative aims to assist those affected and their families, maintaining confidentiality and providing crucial aid.

On the issue of tourism, Mr. Modi said it was a matter of pride for all Indians that Charaideo Maidam of Assam was being included as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It will be the 43rd site of India in the UNESCO World Heritage list, but the first from the northeast. Charaideo means a shining city on the hills. It was the first capital of the Ahom dynasty. “The people of the Ahom dynasty traditionally kept the mortal remains of their ancestors and their valuables in the Maidam,” Mr. Modi said.

“On March 9 this year, I had the privilege of unveiling the tallest statue of the great Ahom warrior Lasit Borphukan, a symbol of indomitable courage and bravery,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Charaideo Madam becoming a World Heritage Site would now mean that more tourists would visit the place.

Mr. Modi also mentioned Project PARI, saying it was becoming a great medium to bring emerging artists on one platform to popularise public art. “You must have seen that beautiful paintings are made on the roadsides, on walls, in underpasses. These paintings and these artefacts are made by the same artists who are associated with PARI...,” he said.

Appreciating the efforts of over 250 women of Haryana’s Rohtak associated with the handloom industry, the Prime Minister said they were running small shops and doing odd jobs to earn their living.