PM Modi leads National Youth Day celebrations in India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 26th National Youth Festival at Hubbali in Karnataka on 160th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

"On the Jayanti of Swami Vivekananda tomorrow, 12th January, I will be in Karnataka to inaugurate the 26th National Youth Festival in Hubballi. May the ideals of Swami Vivekananda keep guiding our youth and inspire them to work towards nation building," he said.

The 26th National Youth Festival is being organized at Hubballi- Dharwad, Karnataka by Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with Karnataka government from January 12 to 16. The theme of the festival this year is 'Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat'.

Indian President Droupadi Murmu also paid her respect on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.

"My tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary! An iconic personality who combined spirituality and patriotism, he propagated Indian values globally. His life and teachings continue to inspire youth to follow their dreams and achieve greater goals," she tweeted.

Calling upon the people to "break the barriers of - religion, caste, language, ethnicity, colour, creed or gender" Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge on January 12 paid tribute to philosopher Swami Vivekananda.
"He believed in India's intrinsic value of unity," Kharge said.

(with inputs from ANI)