A New India
Chapter 272 - 272: Rohan's Address to the Nation

The radio made noise softly, static punctuating the anticipation in homes, markets, and offices across the country.

Across tea stalls in Bihar, fields in Punjab, and crowded lanes in Uttar Pradesh, the nation stood still, waiting for the Prime Minister's address.

Tensions were high.

For days, riots had raged, fueled by misinformation and fear.

Now, all ears tuned in as the familiar voice of the All India Radio announcer declared: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Prime Minister of India, Rohan, will now address the nation."

The crackling radio gave way to Rohan's steady voice.

It was calm, measured, but there was no mistaking the searing anger and sorrow beneath.

"Brothers and sisters of India," he began. "Today, I am not speaking to you as the Prime Minister of this great nation, but as a fellow citizen who shares in your pain, your dreams, and your fears. What I have seen over the past few days has shaken me to my core, and I must speak to you plainly. No masks, no illusions, only the truth."

Rohan's tone sharpened as he continued. "For the past week, our streets have been filled with violence. Innocent lives have been lost. Families have been torn apart. Homes, shops, and entire communities have been reduced to ashes. But this destruction was not born from your anger or your pain. No. It was sown by those who call themselves your leaders, by those who have poisoned your minds with lies."

He let the silence hang for a moment before cutting through it with precise words. "They tell you that the State Reorganization Bill will take your land, your home, your identity. They say it will erase your culture, divide your communities, and leave you with nothing. These are lies. Lies told by cowards who sit safely in their mansions while you, the people of India, fight and bleed on their behalf."

His voice grew harsher.

"Ask yourselves, who benefits from this chaos? Is it you? Is it your family? Or is it the very men who stand on stages, shouting these lies, using your fear and your trust to serve their selfish ambitions? These leaders do not care about you. They do not care about your children or your future. They care only about their power, their pockets, and their ability to control you."

He paused, his voice dropping to a quieter, but more dangerous tone. "And they think you are too blind to see through their lies. They think you are too weak to question them. They think they can destroy this nation's unity while you remain silent."

Rohan leaned forward, his voice heavy with conviction. "Let me tell you the truth about this bill. The State Reorganization Bill is not about dividing this country, it is about strengthening it. For years, states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab have been too vast, too complex, to govern effectively. People in remote villages have been left behind. Development has been slow. Resources have been stretched thin. This bill seeks to change that."

His tone softened, though the passion remained. "By creating smaller states, we are bringing governance closer to you. We are ensuring that every voice is heard, that every region gets the attention it deserves. This bill is not about erasing your identity; it is about preserving it. It is about making sure that no child goes without an education, that no farmer is left to struggle alone, that no village is forgotten."

Rohan's voice cracked slightly, but he pressed on. "But what do we see today? Instead of progress, we see destruction. Instead of unity, we see division. And why? Because of lies. Because of fear. Because some would rather see this country burn than see it move forward."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Is this the India we fought for? Is this the India we want to leave for our children? An India where neighbors turn against neighbors, where communities are torn apart, where the future is consumed by the flames of hatred? Or do we want an India that stands united, an India that grows stronger with each passing day?"

His voice rose again, filled with urgency. "Wake up, India! Open your eyes! Look around you. Look at what these riots have done. Shops burned to the ground. Innocent lives lost. Families destroyed. And for what? For the ambitions of a few who think they can control you with fear."

Rohan's tone was almost pleading now. "I ask you, my brothers and sisters, to think not with anger, not with fear, but with reason. Think about what kind of country you want to leave behind. Do you want your children to grow up in a nation divided by hate? Or do you want them to inherit an India that is united, strong, and full of opportunity?"

"And to those who have sown these lies, who have stoked these flames," Rohan's voice hardened again, his words cutting like steel, "know this: your actions will not go unpunished. You may think you are untouchable, but you are not above the law. You have betrayed the trust of the people, and you will answer for it."

His tone was calm, but his words carried the weight of a promise. "This government will not stand by while you tear this country apart. We will act. We will protect our people. And we will hold those responsible to account."

Rohan's voice softened once more, but his resolve was unshaken. "I have a vision for this nation. An India where no child goes to bed hungry. An India where every boy and girl has access to education, opportunity, and hope. An India where farmers, laborers, and workers thrive, not just survive. An India that stands tall on the world stage, admired and respected."

He continued, "But this vision cannot be achieved through hate. It cannot be achieved through violence. It can only be achieved if we come together, if we reject the lies and hold those who spread them accountable."

In his closing words, Rohan's voice carried both determination and vulnerability.

"Brothers and sisters, this is our moment. This is the moment where we decide what kind of nation we want to be. Will we let fear and division define us? Or will we rise above it? Will we come together to build the India we dream of? The choice is ours."

He took a deep breath before delivering his final words. "I have faith in you. I have faith in this country. Together, we can overcome this darkness. Together, we can build a brighter future. Together, we can build the India we all dream of. Jai Hind."

As Rohan's voice faded, silence swept across the nation.

In homes, streets, and workplaces, people sat in quiet reflection.

Even those protesting and fighting suddenly became silent.

For some, his words were a wake-up call.

For others, they were a challenge.

But no one could deny the power of what they had just heard.

Across the country, people began to question the lies they had been told.

Across the country, the people of India were left with the same question Rohan had asked:

What kind of India did they want to leave for their children?