Published By : Admin | November 17, 2013 | 15:50 IST
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"Narendra Modi addresses Bharatha Gellisi public meeting in Bengaluru"
"BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh addresses Bharatha Gellisi in Bengaluru"
"Narendra Modi talks about importance of IT sector in India’s development"
"Narendra Modi speaks for urban middle class, asks are they not citizens of India that Congress Ministers should ignore them"
On the afternoon of Sunday 17th November 2013 Shri Narendra Modi addressed ‘Bharatha Gellisi’, a large public meeting in Bengaluru. Shri Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of the IT sector in India’s development journey and attacked the UPA government, under whose tenure the IT sector has witnessed a slowdown in terms of growth. He also sharply criticized the statement by the Finance Minister on the life patterns of the middle class. He asked whether of not the urban middle class is a part of India and said that it is important the which ever Government it is, it takes note of their concerns. Shri Modi declared that the Congress is sitting on ivory towers and described them as indoor players whereas the BJP Karyakartas are outdoor players who go among the people.
Shri Modi attacked the poor economic situation prevalent in the country under the Congress led UPA government. He affirmed that the Rupee is in the ICU and sectors like the Railways are not witnessing any growth due to lack of innovation and a focus only on vote politics. Similarly, he recalled that the IT sector had begun to shine under the Prime Ministership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose government brought in an IT Act and a new policy on science and technology. He even recalled that it was Atal ji who dreamt of a mission to the moon during his speech at the Red Fort on 15th August 2003. Shri Modi congratulated the youth of the nation, particularly of Bangalore who have made a mark across the world with their excellent in the IT sector.
He stated that under the UPA, their priorities have been different and they have seen everything from votebank politics. Shri Modi gave the example of the Congress government in Karnataka’s first decision after coming to power, which was not related to economic policy but was to repeal the cow protection bill passed by the earlier BJP government. Similarly, he recalled that the first decision the UPA took in New Delhi after coming to power was to repeal POTA and this was guided by nothing but votebank politics. Shri Modi even questioned the incentives being given by the Centre for mutton exporters and said instead that money could be given to the youth of Bangalore who are shining in the IT sector and making India proud all over the world.
Shri Modi affirmed that India’s greatest strengths are democracy and demography but Congress strangles democracy and considers the youth only a voter whereas the BJP views our youth as a power. Shri Modi opined that the development of the youth would be top priority of the BJP and added that the more we empower our youth, the stronger our nation becomes.
Shri Modi talked about the importance of skill development if we want to empower our youth and questioned the seriousness of the Centre towards this field. He shared that a small state of Gujarat has allotted Rs. 800 crore for skill development while the Centre has given Rs. 1000 crore only! Shri Modi also narrated how the Centre formed a National Council on Skill Development in 2008 only to form another committee 25 days later. He added that for years nothing happened on this front and then in 2011 a Skill Development Advisory Office was opened by the Centre and in 2013 all these bodies were dissolved and a Skill Development Agency was made. Shri Modi was speaking about this to demonstrate the lack of seriousness the Centre is giving towards skill development.
On the issue of democracy, Shri Modi said that the Congress neither respects nor believes in democracy. He gave the examples of the emergency, their planned restrictions on social media among other things to illustrate his points. On the issue on banning opinion polls Shri Modi said that the Congress may want to stop opinion polls but people have already formed their opinion. He took on the Centre for rising prices of essential commodities, their failure to provide jobs to the youth and for their misusing of the CBI.
Shri Modi thanked the Karnataka BJP for their hard work in making this rally a success and thanked the people for contributing Rs. 10/- to hear the rally, which would be a contribution for Statue of Unity. BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh delivered a strong and inspiring speech where he attacked the UPA for rising prices. He urged the people of Karnataka to make the BJP victorious in maximum Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Present on the occasion were former CMs Shri Sadanand Gowda, Shri Jagdish Shettar, Deputy CMs R Ashok, Shri Eshwarappa, Shri Ananth Kumar, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Thawarchand Gehlot, Shri Prahlad Joshi among other leaders.
Text of PM Modi's address to the Indian Community in Guyana
November 22, 2024
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The Indian diaspora in Guyana has made an impact across many sectors and contributed to Guyana’s development: PM
You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an Indian: PM
Three things, in particular, connect India and Guyana deeply,Culture, cuisine and cricket: PM
India's journey over the past decade has been one of scale, speed and sustainability: PM
India’s growth has not only been inspirational but also inclusive: PM
I always call our diaspora the Rashtradoots,They are Ambassadors of Indian culture and values: PM
Your Excellency President Irfan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Philips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Former President Donald Ramotar, Members of the Guyanese Cabinet, Members of the Indo-Guyanese Community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Namaskar!
Seetaram !
I am delighted to be with all of you today.First of all, I want to thank President Irfan Ali for joining us.I am deeply touched by the love and affection given to me since my arrival.I thank President Ali for opening the doors of his home to me.
I thank his family for their warmth and kindness. The spirit of hospitality is at the heart of our culture. I could feel that, over the last two days. With President Ali and his grandmother, we also planted a tree. It is part of our initiative, "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam", that is, "a tree for mother”. It was an emotional moment that I will always remember.
Friends,
I was deeply honoured to receive the ‘Order of Excellence’, the highest national award of Guyana. I thank the people of Guyana for this gesture. This is an honour of 1.4 billion Indians. It is the recognition of the 3 lakh strong Indo-Guyanese community and their contributions to the development of Guyana.
Friends,
I have great memories of visiting your wonderful country over two decades ago. At that time, I held no official position. I came to Guyana as a traveller, full of curiosity. Now, I have returned to this land of many rivers as the Prime Minister of India. A lot of things have changed between then and now. But the love and affection of my Guyanese brothers and sisters remains the same! My experience has reaffirmed - you can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an Indian.
Friends,
Today, I visited the India Arrival Monument. It brings to life, the long and difficult journey of your ancestors nearly two centuries ago. They came from different parts of India. They brought with them different cultures, languages and traditions. Over time, they made this new land their home. Today, these languages, stories and traditions are part of the rich culture of Guyana.
I salute the spirit of the Indo-Guyanese community. You fought for freedom and democracy. You have worked to make Guyana one of the fastest growing economies. From humble beginnings you have risen to the top. Shri Cheddi Jagan used to say: "It matters not what a person is born, but who they choose to be.”He also lived these words. The son of a family of labourers, he went on to become a leader of global stature.
President Irfan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, former President Donald Ramotar, they are all Ambassadors of the Indo Guyanese community. Joseph Ruhomon, one of the earliest Indo-Guyanese intellectuals, Ramcharitar Lalla, one of the first Indo-Guyanese poets, Shana Yardan, the renowned woman poet, Many such Indo-Guyanese made an impact on academics and arts, music and medicine.
Friends,
Our commonalities provide a strong foundation to our friendship. Three things, in particular, connect India and Guyana deeply. Culture, cuisine and cricket! Just a couple of weeks ago, I am sure you all celebrated Diwali. And in a few months, when India celebrates Holi, Guyana will celebrate Phagwa.
This year, the Diwali was special as Ram Lalla returned to Ayodhya after 500 years. People in India remember that the holy water and shilas from Guyana were also sent to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Despite being oceans apart, your cultural connection with Mother India is strong.
I could feel this when I visited the Arya Samaj Monument and Saraswati Vidya Niketan School earlier today. Both India and Guyana are proud of our rich and diverse culture. We see diversity as something to be celebrated, not just accommodated. Our countries are showing how cultural diversity is our strength.
Friends,
Wherever people of India go, they take one important thing along with them. The food! The Indo-Guyanese community also has a unique food tradition which has both Indian and Guyanese elements. I am aware that Dhal Puri is popular here! The seven-curry meal that I had at President Ali’s home was delicious. It will remain a fond memory for me.
Friends,
The love for cricket also binds our nations strongly. It is not just a sport. It is a way of life, deeply embedded in our national identity. The Providence National Cricket Stadium in Guyana stands as a symbol of our friendship.
Kanhai, Kalicharan, Chanderpaul are all well-known names in India. Clive Lloyd and his team have been a favourite of many generations. Young players from this region also have a huge fan base in India. Some of these great cricketers are here with us today. Many of our cricket fans enjoyed the T-20 World Cup that you hosted this year.
Your cheers for the ‘Team in Blue’ at their match in Guyana could be heard even back home in India!
Friends,
This morning, I had the honour of addressing the Guyanese Parliament. Coming from the Mother of Democracy, I felt the spiritual connect with one of the most vibrant democracies in the Caribbean region. We have a shared history that binds us together. Common struggle against colonial rule, love for democratic values, And, respect for diversity.
We have a shared future that we want to create. Aspirations for growth and development, Commitment towards economy and ecology, And, belief in a just and inclusive world order.
Friends,
I know the people of Guyana are well-wishers of India. You would be closely watching the progress being made in India. India’s journey over the past decade has been one of scale, speed and sustainability.
In just 10 years, India has grown from the tenth largest economy to the fifth largest. And, soon, we will become the third-largest. Our youth have made us the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world. India is a global hub for e-commerce, AI, fintech, agriculture, technology and more.
We have reached Mars and the Moon. From highways to i-ways, airways to railways, we are building state of art infrastructure. We have a strong service sector. Now, we are also becoming stronger in manufacturing. India has become the second largest mobile manufacturer in the world.
Friends,
India’s growth has not only been inspirational but also inclusive. Our digital public infrastructure is empowering the poor. We opened over 500 million bank accounts for the people. We connected these bank accounts with digital identity and mobiles. Due to this, people receive assistance directly in their bank accounts. Ayushman Bharat is the world’s largest free health insurance scheme. It is benefiting over 500 million people.
We have built over 30 million homes for those in need. In just one decade, we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty. Even among the poor, our initiatives have benefited women the most. Millions of women are becoming grassroots entrepreneurs, generating jobs and opportunities.
Friends,
While all this massive growth was happening, we also focused on sustainability. In just a decade, our solar energy capacity grew 30-fold ! Can you imagine ?We have moved towards green mobility, with 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol.
At the international level too, we have played a central role in many initiatives to combat climate change. The International Solar Alliance, The Global Biofuels Alliance, The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Many of these initiatives have a special focus on empowering the Global South.
We have also championed the International Big Cat Alliance. Guyana, with its majestic Jaguars, also stands to benefit from this.
Friends,
Last year, we had hosted President Irfaan Ali as the Chief Guest of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. We also received Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in India. Together, we have worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many areas.
Today, we have agreed to widen the scope of our collaboration -from energy to enterprise,Ayurveda to agriculture, infrastructure to innovation, healthcare to human resources, anddata to development. Our partnership also holds significant value for the wider region. The second India-CARICOM summit held yesterday is testament to the same.
As members of the United Nations, we both believe in reformed multilateralism. As developing countries, we understand the power of the Global South. We seek strategic autonomy and support inclusive development. We prioritize sustainable development and climate justice. And, we continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to address global crises.
Friends,
I always call our diaspora the Rashtradoots. An Ambassador is a Rajdoot, but for me you are all Rashtradoots. They are Ambassadors of Indian culture and values. It is said that no worldly pleasure can compare to the comfort of a mother’s lap.
You, the Indo-Guyanese community, are doubly blessed. You have Guyana as your motherland and Bharat Mata as your ancestral land. Today, when India is a land of opportunities, each one of you can play a bigger role in connecting our two countries.
Friends,
Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz has been launched. I call upon you to participate. Also encourage your friends from Guyana. It will be a good opportunity to understand India, its values, culture and diversity.
Friends,
Next year, from 13 January to 26 February, Maha Kumbh will be held at Prayagraj. I invite you to attend this gathering with families and friends. You can travel to Basti or Gonda, from where many of you came. You can also visit the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. There is another invite.
It is for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that will be held in Bhubaneshwar in January. If you come, you can also take the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Puri. Now with so many events and invitations, I hope to see many of you in India soon. Once again, thank you all for the love and affection you have shown me.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
And special thanks to my friend Ali. Thanks a lot.
