Shillong, Dec. 14: The Northeast today discovered a new “brand ambassador” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who exhorted citizens to flock to the region “to see the natural beauty that God has created”.

In his third Mann Ki Baat programme aired on All India Radio this morning, Modi, who devoted much of his time in speaking about drug addiction in the country, told the listeners about his recent three-day trip to the Northeast where he visited Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.

Modi had brought the Northeast visit to the surface in an effort to bridge the gap between “mainstream” India and the Northeast following a spate of alleged racial attacks on the people belonging from the region in other parts of the country.

“I had also visited the Northeast for three days. I request the youths that if they want to see the Taj Mahal, (if) they want to visit Singapore or Dubai, they should go to the Northeast instead to see the natural beauty that God has created. The Northeast has a lot of potential. I have returned with great happiness as I have received a lot of love and respect from the people of the Northeast,” Modi said.

He also said that it should not be the privilege of the Prime Minister only to enjoy this beauty. “Let each and every citizen of India visit the Northeast and experience for themselves,” he added.

Although the Northeast featured in Modi’s speech, the major issue he dwelt at length was on the menace of drugs. His message was on the need for all stakeholders to work together as the “problem cannot be solved if we are divided”.

“I am not worried because you have made me the Prime Minister. I am concerned because if a son or a daughter or a mother of a family is devastated, society, the country itself is ruined. Drug addiction is such a dreadful evil which shapes the entire personality of a person,” Modi said.

The tech-savvy Prime Minister also referred to the problem of drugs as a “3D problem”.

“It brings forward three evil things. I am not talking about the entertainment 3D. One ‘D’ is darkness, the second is destruction and the third ‘D’ is devastation. Drugs lead us towards the dark alley of destruction and devastation. These only show us the path of darkness,” he added.

He said he had asked the government to open a toll-free helpline to help those who are trapped in drug addiction. At the same time he asked where does all the “money that you spend on buying drugs go?” while “imagining” that the money spent on buying drugs could go to terrorists.

“Imagine if this same money goes to a group of terrorists, they might buy arms and ammunition. With those same weapons, they must be killing our country’s soldier by shooting a bullet in his chest. My country’s soldier succumbs to it. Have you ever thought that the soldier who is ready to die for his country has been shot by the same weapon bought with the same money which you used for buying drugs to satisfy your addiction? Just think about it. When you think, you will realise that you also love your country and respect these soldiers of the country. If you really do, how can you help these terrorists who help the drug mafia and its business to flourish?”

Recalling Swami Vivekananda, Modi reminded that Swamiji had said: “Take a thought or an idea and make that idea your life and dream about it. Let that ideal control your life, your brain, muscles, veins and your body. Fill every corner of yourself with that idea and leave behind all other bad thoughts.”

“These words of Swami Vivekananda are apt for young hearts and they will be of great use to them. I would advise the youths to become heroes. Being idealists will save them from many bad things,” Modi said. The Prime Minister also used the word “cool”, which is a commonly used term especially among the youths.

“At times when we are with friends, we think ‘it’s cool’. Some people think it to be a style statement. In reality, it is the scene of devastation. That is why from now onwards, have the courage to say ‘no’ to those who glorify this bad habit and applaud it. Not only that, try to stop them. Have the courage to point out their mistakes.”

Cautioning parents, he said in the race of making a better life for themselves and their families, they tend to forget to give time to their children.

Turning his attention to chemists, he said at times drugs, which are not to be sold without a doctor’s prescription, are sold.

On those who have come out of addiction, he said: “Many people have come out of addiction and many still want to come out, but there should be sincere effort in their attempts. I would like to request all celebrities in different fields to be aware of this crucial social problem and spread awareness about this as and when possible. People active in social media can together run a movement for a drug-free India as most of the children of this generation are connected to the social media network. I want all of us to work on it. People who achieve success can share their success stories. I’m touching this topic not just to give a lecture or preach, but I am trying to share the pains of those families who are facing this kind of problem.”

Stating that this was his last Mann Ki Baat speech in 2014, Modi extended Christmas and New Year greetings to “all of you in advance”.