‘Read books, do yoga’: CM Yogi urgesmums not to give smartphones to kids

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday urged mothers not to give phones to their young children, even if they cried for some time, calling smartphones a leading cause of suicides and depression."Excessive smartphone use harms their eyes, wastes time, weakens thinking ability and dulls the intellect. People are increasingly becoming victims of depression. Many smartphone games push children in a negative direction. If the time spent on smartphones is instead used for reading good books, practising yoga and exercising, life will become more disciplined and meaningful," the CM said, likening its excessive use to an addiction. Speaking at a dharmsabha at the Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple in the CM Rajasthan's Jalore, the CM addressed the youth, asking them to make time for family and assuring them that it was all right not to answer phones while eating or praying. He said that in the face of failure, one should identify the reason for it and convert it into success. The CM also warned against the use of drugs, accusing India's enemies of trying to trap Indian youth in addiction. The future of any nation can be judged by its youth, and if they are moving in the right direction, the country reaches new heights, the CM said. Elaborating on India's uniqueness, Yogi Adityanath said that the places where sages meditated held such spiritual power that a lion and a cow could drink water from the same place. "India is a land that can accommodate differences and unite society. India has taught the world the art of living. The country has been built by the sacrifices of warriors, the hard work of farmers, the enterprise of artisans and the efforts of labourers. When every section of society contributes, the nation becomes ‘Ek Bharat - Shreshtha Bharat'," he said. Praising religious institutions for keeping alive spiritual traditions and working in the fields of health, education and public service, the CM said that religion is a force that unites society, while casteism weakens social harmony. Indians, he said, are heirs to a rich heritage and must protect it. Shifting focus to the present, the CM praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for leading India towards becoming a global power. He accused previous govts of promoting division along lines of caste, region and language, whereas Modi worked to unite the nation and address issues like Kashmir and Naxalism. He also praised the current leadership for ensuring that benefits of govt schemes reach the poor without discrimination. "Previous govts considered faith to be superstition, but PM Modi emphasised that faith is central to India's identity and necessary for social progress. India's faith is not only spiritual but also a source of national consciousness. To preserve it, society must eliminate social evils such as caste discrimination, untouchability, dowry, child marriage and addiction. Invaders to India succeeded partly because Indians were divided. If the country was united, no invader could dominate India," the CM said.