'Mann ki Baat' 100th episode broadcast live in 300 UP madrassas, claims BJP office-bearer

The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann ki Baat" radio programme was broadcast live in more than 300 madrassas of Uttar Pradesh, a BJP office-bearer in the state said on Sunday. Kunwar Basit Ali, president of the BJP Minority Morcha's Uttar Pradesh unit, said, "We planned to broadcast the programme in 100 madrassas. The event was broadcast live in over 300 madrassas all over the state."

In Lucknow, the programme was broadcast in madrassas such as Maksad E Hussaini and Irfania. The BJP's minority wing had earlier got "Mann ki Baat" transcripts from 12 episodes of the programme for 2022 translated into Urdu and distributed those in madrassas and to Islamic scholars.

Vijay Bahadur Pathak, vice-president of the BJP's state unit, on Saturday said the party had made elaborate plans to broadcast the programme at the booth level to make the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat" historic. He claimed that the party made arrangements to broadcast the programme at 55,000 locations.

In the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the radio broadcast is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians and it has ensured he is never cut-off from people.

Modi said "Mann ki Baat" gave him a solution to connect with the people and was not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for him.

"Mann ki Baat has become a festival that celebrates India's positivity and people," he said.

The prime minister said the programme is a reflection of the "mann ki baat" of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings.

Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', issues raised in "Mann Ki Baat" became people's movements, he said.

Modi said the monthly radio broadcast has become an important medium of learning from others.

"This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you," he said.

During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi's address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect.

The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the prime minister's broadcast.