Last week, the country's Prime Minister asked citizens to send in ideas and suggestions for content for his I-Day speech. Mr Modi, this one's for you
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Last year, PM Narendra Modi had invited people to share their suggestions through a video on Twitter, with the seemingly promising assurance that he would read all of them. He has done it again, this time, asking citizens for ideas and suggestions for his speech on Independence Day at the Red Fort in Delhi ahead of the 2019 general elections.
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On Tuesday, he tweeted, "What are your thoughts and ideas for my 15th August speech? Share them with me on a specially created forum on the Narendra Modi App." While Twitter is abuzz with suggestions for the PM, we decided to do our bit, and asked six people from various fields to share their two cents.
'Leave art alone'
Raghav Meattle,
Singer-songwriter
I would want PM Modi to talk about censorship, which frighteningly, is the new normal. It's happening due to the systemic crackdown on artistes who want to voice their opinion. Where is the protest poetry? I see it as a bullying tactic to make people conform to norms. I see myself as a writer and a musician, and if I can't pursue my craft freely, what's the point of being an artiste?
'Fulfill your promises'
Qais Jaunpuri,
Storyteller and founder of Aao Kahein Dil Ki Baat
All the tall promises that PM Modi made during the election have fallen flat. At the start of their tenure, the government said they would take strict measures to check price rise, stop black marketing, provide basic necessities like electricity, drinking water, etc and create agricultural reforms. But, nothing has changed on the ground. In fact, our session in Aao Kahein Dil Ki Baat this week is about democracy and elections, and the people's role in it. The aam admi is tired because no government is here to serve the public. Will the PM acknowledge his failure?
'What colour currency is next?
Kajol Srinivasan,
Standup comic
In his August 15 speech, I'd like Mr Narendra Modi to address key financial issues, for instance what colour currency he is planning to introduce next. I need advance notice so that I can buy purses to match. No one realises how important fashion is for women. They think we spend all day worrying about boring things like safety and oppression.
The other day I asked a man to hand me a lavender note, and the sheer panic on his face was priceless. I've never felt more empowered than I did, looking at his pathetic guess and saying, "No that's magenta silly. Didn't your mother teach you anything?" It would really make my day if the government collaborated with Gucci to launch a new line of currency-inspired bags. But, before the Rs 15 lakh black money bonanza hits my bank please.
'Protect the country's doctors'
Dr Kersi Chawda,
Psychiatrist
It's high time the assault on doctors is stopped. Last year, almost every other day, there were reports of doctors being thrashed by the patients' relatives, sometimes with metal rods. Today, no person wants their son or daughter to become a doctor just because of this savagery. It's like nobody is allowed to die. I think this can stop if PM Modi makes a statement and orders the law and order machinery to protect doctors, who are simply doing their job.
'Take care of the liberals' interests'
Hamid Dabholkar,
Activist
I would like PM Modi to protect the interests of free thinkers, and speed up the probe conducted by state and central agencies in nabbing the killers of my father Dr Narendra Dabholkar and other rationalists like Dr Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh. There has been little, or rather no progress on this front. We've written a dozen letters to the PM as well as CM Devendra Fadnavis highlighting the delay in investigation. It'll be five years since my father, an anti-superstition crusader, was shot dead on August 20, 2013, in Pune while on a morning walk. The killers are roaming scot-free.
'Please address the LGBT community'
Sushant Divgikar,
Model, actor and LGBT activist
First of all, I don't think he has ever spoken about the LGBT community, and by doing so he is missing out on a huge bank of votes. Here, the issue is not just about LGBT, but human rights. He needs to reiterate and emphasise the need to live and let live, and love and let love. I want to him touch upon the subject of communities, whom we have chosen to marginalise. Passively, I believe he is supporting us because have you seen the new notes? They are available in every rainbow colour, but he just needs to be vocal about it. So, Modiji, humare achche din kab aayein gay?
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