Kamal Ghorui
PM Modi with Union ministers Manohar Lal and Jitendra Singh during the inaugural programme of the ‘Seva Teerth’ and two Kartavya Bhawans. (PTI photo)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two new Kartavya Bhawans and released a commemorative postage stamp and coin on Friday, hours after shifting to his new office, “Seva Teertha.” The Prime Minister said the newly inaugurated buildings reflect India’s commitment to citizen-centric governance and national progress.
“Today we all are witnessing a new history being made… This day of 13th February is witnessing a new beginning in India’s development journey… Today, we are all entering Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan with the resolve to achieve ‘Viksit Bharat’. We have the divine blessings of achieving our goals,” he said.PM Modi noted that after independence, many crucial decisions shaping the nation’s future were taken, and key policies were framed within buildings such as the South Block and North Block.He added that it is important to remember these structures were originally built as symbols of the British Empire. “The intention behind their construction was to reinforce British dominance and keep India in a state of subjugation for generations,” he said.The Prime Minister said Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan have been constructed to fulfil the aspirations of the people of India.Seva Teerth houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat, all of which were earlier functioning from separate locations.Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2 accommodate several key ministries, including the ministry of finance, ministry of defence, ministry of health and family welfare, ministry of corporate affairs, ministry of education, ministry of culture, ministry of law and justice, ministry of information and broadcasting, ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, and the ministry of Tribal affairs.
Here are the top quotes from PM Modi:
- Future generations should remember this era as a time when India re-wrote its fate.
- I want Seva Teerth to be a role model for citizen-centric governance.
- Decisions taken in these new buildings will decide the course of our journey to emerge as a developed nation by 2047.
- Dreams of citizens our biggest assets; their aspirations should guide us.
- I want Seva Teerth to be a role model for citizen-centric governance.
- You all will play key role as India has boarded ‘Reform Express’, is re-writing international ties with new trade deals.
- Unfortunate that road along PM’s residence was called Race Course Road and that leading to President’s House was Rajpath.
- I can say with pride that Seva Teerth, Kartavya Bhawans built to fulfil aspirations of Indians, not of any monarch.
- These 100-year-old buildings were becoming dilapidated, lacked space, facilities; they were inadequate to meet needs of a new nation.
- India’s capital moved from Kolkata to buildings on Raisina Hill that were built according to the wishes of British royalty.
- South Block and North Block were built with an aim to keep India under colonial shackles for centuries.
- We are entering Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhawan 1 and 2 with a resolve to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.
