PM Modi speaks on everything but skips contentious issue in his 'Mann ki Baat'

In the 22nd episode of his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped key contentious issues troubling the country including Kashmir unrest, Dalit atrocities and price rise that rocked the parliament for nearly two weeks.

Instead, in his 35 minute marathon talk, PM Modi touched upon various other issues ranging from preparations for Rio Olympics to incubation centres and tinkering labs for innovations, floods, importance of tree plantations, cybercrimes and frauds, judicious use of anti-biotics to health facilities for women under family way.

Congress and opposition parties have of late attacked PM Modi for not taking up contentious issues troubling the country neither in his monthly broadcast nor in the parliament. The opposition parties in the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament have demanded PM to speak up on Kashmir unrest that has left over 40 dead and over 4000 injured and spiralling incidents of atrocities against Dalits.

Picking on Modi, leader of the opposition party National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah tweeted, "How I wish my Prime Minister had found a few reassuring words for my state which has seen almost 50 deaths & countless injured #MannKiBaat."

In his broadcast, PM spoke about the need to curb deaths during child delivery and announced facility in government hospitals for free check-up on 9th of every month that poor pregnant women should avail of. He urged gynaecologists, who do not work in government hospitals, to devote one day for this purpose, saying lakhs of such doctors are required.
Asking countrymen to write him their Mann ki Baat that they want to share on August 15, PM Modi said, "I don't want that what is said from Lal Qila this Independence Day turns out to be PM's talk but it should be of 125 crore countrymen. You send me what you want to share on or Narendra Modi app or My.gov.in.

Asserting that research and innovation are technology's soul and the government has taken many steps promoting innovation, Modi exhorted youth for innovation, experiment and entrepreneurship.

Asking people to start finding out technological solution to different problems,

He said, Niti Ayog is trying to promote Atal Innovation Mission in a big way and his government has taken initiative of Atal Tinkering Labs for next generation innovators.
Schools which set up tinkering labs will be given Rs10 lakh each and another additional 10 lakh for maintenance, he said.

Speaking on health issues, the Prime Minister asked people to prevent spread of dengue in this rainy season. He advised people not to take antibiotics without consulting doctors.