"Shri Narendra Modi addresses rallies in Kurukshetra and Gurgaon, in Haryana"
"In Haryana Congress will not open its account: Shri Modi"
"From this land I will say- Paisa nahi, Pasina aur Pavitrata Jeetegi: Shri Modi on 2014 Elections"
"They are rich, for them politics is a hobby, but for us it is a medium to serve the poor: Shri Modi on Congress"
"I know Haryana very well. I will not take any time to understand the problems of Haryana, its people & farmers: Shri Modi"
"Voting is on 10th and you have to make BJP & allies victorious in all 10 seats: Shri Modi"
"They made some promises in 2009 but the same leaders and same party is making same promises today. Their manifesto is a Dhokha Patra: Shri Modi"
"People here want to know as to who is the person who sold farmer lands and made crores. What is your relation with him: Shri Modi"
In his rallies at Kurukshetra and Gurgaon in Haryana, on the afternoon of 3rd April, Shri Modi affirmed of the Congress’ defeat and reinstated the decisiveness of Elections 2014 by stating that this time the elections were about the hard work and sweat of the people on one hand and the power of money on the other.
Assuring that he will address the problems of Haryana at the earliest when the BJP comes to power, Shri Modi recalled Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s initiative of linking rivers and spoke of how the project had seen no progress under the Congress rule. He cited how this lack of foresightedness on the part of the Haryana government and the Centre, to provide with the required infrastructure for agriculture, had resulted in major losses for the farmers. “I know Haryana very well. I will not take any time to understand the problems of Haryana, its people & farmers,” said Shri Modi.
Shri Modi retaliated to the Congress Vice President’s statement on the Nation requiring crores of ‘chowkidaars’ by questioning the Congress VP if his corrupted brother-in-law too (referring to Robert Vadra and the land dealing scams he has been linked to) would be one of the chowkidaars. “Is there any magician who doesn't have a penny but in 3 months gets crores in his bank? People here want to know as to who is the person who sold farmer lands and made crores. What is your relation with him,” said Shri Modi. Adding on to the Congress’ corruptive practises was Shri Modi’s mention of how the Centre had indulged in coal scams and thereby kept the country in utter darkness. “Those who did not spare coal, can they spare you,” asked Shri Modi.
A direct attack on the Central government’s indifference towards the progress of its people was stated by Shri Modi in his reference to the ‘Incredible India’ advertisements, which had miserably failed to highlight the tourism potential of regions like Kurukshetra. By not exploring this potential, Shri Modi said that the state was lagging behind in providing employment to scores.
Shri Modi also called for the need to understand the tactics of the Congress whereby they first extended their hand of support, then shook it and later began their ‘haath ki safai’ and wiped off the Nation’s assets. He also spoke of how the Congress misused institutions of repute like the CBI for their own benefit. He accredited the Congress Manifesto as ‘Dhokha Patra’ since it repeated most promises made way back in 2004, and highlighted the Congress’ ineptness in tackling the issues of price rise, corruption, unemployment, poverty, safety of farmers and women etc. Shri Modi questioned the people if their lives had improved under the Congress rule - be it under Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s government in Haryana or the Central government in Delhi - to which the people replied in negation.
He gave the clarion call of eliminating the Congress misrule in the 2014 Elections and affirmed, “In 2014 Elections, on one side there is money power but on the other side there is the hard work and sweat of the people. From this land I will say- Paisa nahi, Pasina aur Pavitrata Jeetegi. They are rich, and for them politics is a hobby but for us it is a medium to serve the poor.” Recalling the call for Vijay Shankhnaad given by the land of Kurukshetra in the ancient times, Shri Modi urged the people to cast their votes on 10th April and make the BJP and its allies victorious in all 10 seats of Haryana. Shri Modi appealed to the people to wipe out the Congress and form a strong, stable and progressive government for India.
Making a direct co-relation of Kurukshetra in Haryana and Dwarka in Gujarat, Shri Modi evoked the divine theories of Lord Krishna and remembered the ideologies of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, even as he spoke of how they had contributed to both the regions.
Shri Ram Bilas Sharma, Shri Manohar Lal, Captain Abhimanyu, Shri Ratan Lal Kataria, Shri Raj Kumar Saini and Shri Ashwini Kumar Chopra were among the senior BJP leaders present during the rallies.
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.
