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Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

All the dignitaries present on the stage and my dear brothers and sisters who have gathered here in large numbers!

You all have come here in such large numbers to shower your blessings on us; I bow my head and greet you all! I can see that several people have joined us from Patna through the Video conference. My greetings to all the people present at the events of Patna and Hazaribagh.

Friends,

I salute that land of Begusarai, Bihar where Adi Kumbhsthali Simaria Dham is located; where Bihar Kesari Shri Krishna Singh had led the Satyagraha and the land that has produced towering personalities like National poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. I also pay my homage to Patna's martyr Constable Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Bhagalpur's martyr Ratan Kumar Thakur who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. I extend my deepest condolences to their families. And I can feel the rage in you and in the hearts of the countrymen. I have the same fury within me. This day also marks the death anniversary of the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur ji. I pay my tribute to Karpoori Thakur ji who had dedicated his life for social justice with the hope that his blessings will always be upon us.

Friends,

Today dozens of projects have been inaugurated, launched and their foundation stones have been laid for equitable development of Bihar. These include projects related to turning Patna and this city smart; projects related to industrial development of Bihar and projects related to providing employment to the youth. These also include projects related to improvement of healthcare facilities for every person in Bihar. I congratulate you all and Nitish Babu and his entire team for these projects. Had Bhola Babu been there with us today, he would have been extremely pleased.

Friends,

Bihar and Eastern India have the ability to not only compete at par with the economic activities going on in the western front of the country, but also has the strength to leave it behind. Just as the NDA government is launching projects one after the other for the development of Eastern India including Bihar and for modern infrastructure.That day is not far when this area will become an important centre for pushing the development of the country.

Brothers and sisters,

One of the many projects undertaken with the aim of rejuvenating eastern India including Bihar is Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana. Through this scheme, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha are being connected to gas pipelines. In the first phase of this scheme, the Patna-Phulpur section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline has been dedicated just a short while ago. You might recall that three years back in July 2015, I had laid the foundation stone of the same project in Patna itself. Extending the services of the gas pipelines, the Haldia-Durgapur LPG pipeline is being extended to Muzaffarpur and Patna, the foundation stone of which has been laid today.

Brothers and sisters,

There will be three advantages of this project. The fertilizer factory being started at Barauni will receive gas supply. Secondly, gas will be supplied to the households through pipes in Patna. Vehicles will run on CNG instead of petrol and Diesel. The city gas distribution plant has also been inaugurated in Patna. This will supply pipe-gas to thousands of families there. And the third advantage is, when the industries here will start receiving sufficient gas, it will develop a new ecosystem for a gas-based economy. This will provide employment opportunities to the youth. In a way, this Urja Ganga project will bring about a massive transformation especially in the lives of the middle class. With the expansion of CNG, the car owners will have to spend less and that will reduce the expenditure on petrol and Diesel. Besides, it will have a positive impact on the environment.

Friends,

This fertilizer factory of Barauni is in a way a tribute to the son of Bihar and its first Chief Minister Dr. Shri Krishna Singh ji. He had made numerous attempts to establish it here but due to outdated technology, it had to be shut down. Now that we have been successful in supplying gas here, we are turning it into a gas based one.

Brothers and sisters,

Apart from Barauni, the revival of such factories in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Odisha's Talcher is going on at a rapid pace. All of this has been possible because of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana.

Friends,

These various fertilizer factories will not only provide sufficient fertilizer to the farmer brothers but will also provide new employment opportunities to the youth. In this year's budget, the government has made an announcement of a historic scheme for farmer brothers and sisters. Under this PM Kisan Samman Yojana, about Rs.7.5 lakh crores will be deposited into the bank accounts of the farmers directly over the next ten years. This will also benefit the farmers of Bihar. Just imagine when such a huge amount of money will directly reach the rural economy without any involvement of the middlemen; then it will give a boost to the villages and the villagers.

Brothers and sisters,

When an industry is set up in an area, it creates an environment of employment around that area. This will benefit Bihar along with the entire Eastern India. Similarly, with the expansion of the refinery at Barauni, the refining capacity of the crude oil will increase and petroleum products will be easily available in Bihar as well as Nepal.

Friends,

Our government is also focusing upon connectivity. Today, the Ranchi-Patna weekly express has been flagged off from here. Besides, the electrification of Barauni-Kumedpur, Muzaffarpur-Raxaul, Fatuha-Islampur, Bihar Sharif-Daniyawan rail lines has been completed.

Friends,

We are also developing freight traffic systems along with railways in the cities. I congratulate the people of Patna as Pataliputra will soon be connected to Metro rail. This project worth more than Rs.13 thousand crores is being developed keeping both the present and the future requirements in mind. The metro rail projects are being developed rapidly. It will give a new speed and dimension to the city of Patna. Moreover, after the Patna River Front is developed, the people of Patna and the tourists will get to have a different experience.

Friends,

The vision of the NDA government's scheme and our development journey are moving parallel to each other on two tracks. The first track refers to the infrastructure related schemes - industrial development and modern facilities to the people; and the second track is - making the lives of those deprived, oppressed and backward sections of the society easier who have been struggling to get the basic amenities for the last 70 years. Our government has implemented several schemes for those brothers and sisters such as constructing Pucca houses, making their kitchens smoke-free, providing gas connection and electricity connection, toilets, providing treatment facilities and helping them to save on their medicine bills, education for the daughters and so on. The path of New India passes through these two tracks. Under the housing schemes of the central government, more than 18 lakh houses have been constructed for the poor of Bihar. Of these, more than 50 thousand have been constructed here in Begusarai.

Similarly, under AMRIT Mission, 27 cities of Bihar like Arrah, Hajipur, Bhagalpur, Munger and Siwan are being provided with modern facilities. Today the foundation stones of 22 projects related to drinking water, toilets and sanitation in Patna and other cities of Bihar have been laid. Similarly, the Namami Gange Mission will get a boost after the sewerage network and the water treatment plants get ready in Karmalichak, Barh, Sultangunj and Naugachia. Our cities will be clean and the water will also be clean.

Brothers and sisters,

Apart from gas-based economy, connectivity, smart city, or other such systems like cleanliness of river Ganga, the NDA government has also focused upon the health of the poor and the middle class. This is a historic day in terms of health care services in Bihar. New Medical Colleges will now come up in Chhapra and Purnia. At the same time, the Medical Colleges of Bhagalpur and Gaya are being upgraded. Besides, the work on another AIIMS in Bihar is going on in addition to the Patna AIIMS. After the development of all these facilities, the people of Bihar will no longer have to look for treatment of serious ailments outside of Bihar.

Brothers and sisters,

I empathize with the pain of the poor who cannot get himself treated because he has to look after his family and educate his children. In such a scenario, his health condition worsens. To free every poor of the country from this worry, the NDA government has come up with the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Yojana - Ayushman Bharat. This scheme has become a ray of hope for almost 50 crore poor of this country. Of them, more than 5 crore people belong to my Bihar. It has not even been 150 days after the implementation of this scheme, and in such a short span of time about 12 lakh poor brothers and sisters of the country have already been provided with free treatment under this scheme. Recently our government has provided 10% reservation to the poor general category people based on economic criterion. This has been done keeping the reservation of the other categories intact.

Friends,

All the work related to development have been possible because four and a half years ago you had elected a strong government that has the ability to take robust and speedy decisions and the ability to put those decisions on ground. And therefore, with best wishes I hope that these development schemes will establish a new identity for a New Bihar, provide employment to the youth, empower the farmers, create a new identity for Patna and will also fulfil the dream of a healthy Bihar. My best wishes to you all for everything! Many congratulations to Nitish ji and his entire team.

Thanks a lot!

Say aloud with me -

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Thank you so much!

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78મા સ્વતંત્રતા દિવસનાં પ્રસંગે લાલ કિલ્લાની પ્રાચીર પરથી પ્રધાનમંત્રી શ્રી નરેન્દ્ર મોદીનાં સંબોધનનો મૂળપાઠ

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78મા સ્વતંત્રતા દિવસનાં પ્રસંગે લાલ કિલ્લાની પ્રાચીર પરથી પ્રધાનમંત્રી શ્રી નરેન્દ્ર મોદીનાં સંબોધનનો મૂળપાઠ
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Text of PM Modi's address to the Indian Community in Guyana
November 22, 2024
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.