New Delhi, Sep 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over abusive remarks made against his late mother from a platform of the opposition alliance in Bihar, calling it not just a personal attack but an insult to every mother, sister, and daughter of the nation.
Speaking via video conferencing during the launch of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, PM Modi turned emotional as he recalled the sacrifices of his mother, who endured hardship and poverty to raise her children.
He said his mother worked even when unwell, saved money by never buying a saree for herself, and ensured her children had food and clothes despite poverty. "The sacrifice of a poor mother and the pain of her son cannot be understood by those born with silver spoons," he remarked, accusing the opposition of carrying forward an anti-women mindset.
The Prime Minister said the insults hurled at his late mother reflected the same elitist attitude that once enabled unchecked crime and exploitation of women in Bihar. He alleged that during opposition rule, families lived in fear of murder, extortion, and abduction, and it was women who suffered the most. He urged the people of Bihar to see the remarks as an attack on the dignity of mothers and respond strongly, while adding that India's cultural ethos would never tolerate disrespect towards women.
Turning to the occasion PM Modi launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, calling it a milestone in women's empowerment. The digital platform will provide affordable loans to women associated with Jeevika's self-help groups, reducing dependence on costly microfinance institutions. Around 20 lakh women are expected to benefit from the initiative, which will be operated by cluster-level federations across the state.
The Prime Minister said the Jeevika Nidhi reflects his government's larger vision of empowering women through schemes such as Swachh Bharat toilets, PM Awas Yojana houses in women's names, Har Ghar Jal, Ayushman Bharat, free ration, and income-generating programmes like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi. "Empowered women are the foundation of a developed India," he said.
Concluding his address, Mr. Modi appealed to the people to support the "Har Ghar Swadeshi" campaign as the next step towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and other dignitaries attended the event.