NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi marked Constitution Day on Wednesday by urging citizens to never miss out on their constitutional right to vote and renewed his pitch for balancing rights with duties.PM Modi has often emphasised that while the issue of people’s rights has received attention, the Constitution’s similar focus on their duties was overlooked. He cited a host of stalwarts, including Mahatma Gandhi, to underscore the primacy of duties for social and economic progress.As the country moves forward to realising the dream of a developed India, people must always place their duties towards the nation foremost in their minds, he said.In a letter to citizens on Constitution Day, which was announced by his government in 2015, PM Modi suggested that people organise special events on November 26 to mark the coming-of-age of youngsters in schools and colleges to celebrate first-time voters. Constitution gives us rights, reminds us of our duties: PMFirst-time voters will make them feel that they are also active participants in the process of nation-building, PM Modi said. “It is our duty to never miss the opportunity to vote in national, state and local elections where we are registered,” the PM said. His remarks came amid high turnouts in recent polls and the ongoing SIR of electoral roll drive in several states and UTs. With Congress leading the charge against his govt for allegedly weakening constitutional values, Modi in his letter took a swipe at the party for not celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Constitution’s adoption in 2010 in a befitting manner. Sadly, he said, the occasion did not receive the due national attention. However, the then Gujarat govt headed by him had organised a ‘Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra’, he added.PM Modi credited the Constitution for enabling someone like him from a disadvantaged background to serve as the head of a govt continuously for over 24 years, which includes his stint as Gujarat CM from Oct 2001.The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda this year marks the occasion as special, he said, asserting it was the country’s first home minister’s inspiration and courage of conviction that guided his govt in repealing Article 370 and 35(A) and ensuring the Constitution is now fully implemented in J&K.He noted that he had bowed and touched the steps of Parliament when he entered it for the first time in 2014 and had touched the Constitution with his forehead on his re-election in 2019 as a mark of reverence, and paid tributes to Constituent Assembly chairman Rajendra Prasad and its drafting committee chair BR Ambedkar. Modi also attended a programme at Samvidhan Sadan, where President Murmu addressed a gathering to mark the day.On X, he said, “While it (Constitution) empowers us with rights, it also reminds us of our duties as citizens, which we should always try to fulfil. These duties are the foundation of a strong democracy. Let us reiterate our commitment to strengthening Constitutional values through our actions.”
