New Delhi, March 8 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that respecting women is the first step towards the development of society and the nation, adding that the government has prioritized women's safety by making laws stricter to prevent crimes against them.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of International Women's Day, he expressed his gratitude for the love, affection, and blessings from the mothers, sisters, and daughters present in large numbers, extending his best wishes to all the women of the country on this special day.

Reiterating from his first address from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister, PM Modi stressed on the importance of asking sons, not just daughters, to prevent crimes against women and build a...