"In this scorching heat exerts, scientists, officials to go the villages among the farmers. The work they do in the lab is taken to the land. This lab to land aspect is what is unique about Krishi Mahotsav: Shri Modi"
"CM launches M-Gujarat application, which enables the farmers to share their agriculture stories and connect with Shri Modi through mobile technology."
"Shri Modi takes on Congress ruled UPA for the delay in Sardar Sarovar Dam, asks them to give permission to install gates on the dam!"
"Please give us water and take the credit if you want. There cannot be any politics in this. This is for Gujarat: Shri Modi"
"On one hand we are burning the midnight oil and tirelessly working towards welfare of the farmers and on the other hand Congress is making strategies to stop the state’s progress: Shri Modi"
"Shri Modi honors progressive farmers on the occasion"
On the morning of Saturday 25th May 2013 Shri Narendra Modi addressed farmers during the zonal Krishi Mahotsav at Jamjodhpur in Jamnagar district. The Chief Minister talked at length about the success of the Krishi Mahotsav initiatives and expressed confidence that agriculture will continue to scale newer heights in Gujarat. “We started Krishi Mahotsav initiative. In the scorching heat exerts, scientists, officials to go the villages among the farmers. The work they do in the lab is taken to the land. This lab to land aspect is what is unique about Krishi Mahotsav,” stated the Chief Minister.He also launched the M-Gujarat application, which enables farmers to share their agriculture stories with Shri Modi through technology. Farmers will also be given a certificate for the same. Shri Modi described this as another instance of how technology can bring people closer to make a difference and said that he looked forward to interacting with farmers through this application.
Shri Modi directly took on the Congress party for their anti-Gujarat mindset, which has been manifested time and again. Referring to the Congress he affirmed, “They are only abusing Gujarat day and night. People have given them the answer, those who abused most got a stronger answer but still they are neither willing to learn nor improve. There can be no greater misfortune than this.” The Chief Minister directly held the Congress led UPA responsible for the delay in the installing of the dates in the Sardar Sarovar dam, which can benefit so many farmers and asked the Centre to immediately give permission to install the gates. The Chief Minister declared that the project could have been completed at a cost of Rs. 5000 crore but now it has reached Rs. 50,000 crore and still a lot needs to be done. He added that he does not want credit for doing the work on the project and that he is willing to put name and photographs of Congress leaders if they are scared that Shri Modi will get the credit. “Please give us water and take the credit if you want. There cannot be any politics in this. This is for Gujarat,” he avowed.
The Chief Minister shared that he also met the Prime Minister a dozen times regarding the issue of the gates but while he kept saying it must be done, there is no action taken on this. He further said that these gates are as high as a six-storey building and would take each gate would take two to three years to build. In total there are 40 gates to be built but still the Centre has done nothing on the issue. Shri Modi also pointed out that the Congress ruled Maharashtra and BJP ruled Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have completed all their work but the Centre is refusing to do the needful. Shri Modi minced no words in taking on the Centre for their failure over the issue of providing crop insurance to the farmers of Gujarat, when the state received a bad monsoon for the first time in a decade last year. He asked whether the money for the crop insurance has met the same fate like that of 2G spectrum and India’s coal reserves? Shri Modi talked about how the state Government took key steps of waiving 50% of the power bill and interest concessions last year in the wake of the poor monsoon for the farmers.
Shri Modi declared that the panic in the Congress was visible and that their party is on the verge of facing a whitewash in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Porbandar, Banaskantha, Dhoraji, Jetpur, Limbdi and Morva Hadaf. He urged the Congress not to play politics over drought issues. “On one hand we are burning the midnight oil and tirelessly working towards welfare of the farmers and on the other hand Congress is making strategies to stop the state’s progress,” he affirmed.
Talking about Gujarat’s progress in agriculture, Shri Modi spoke on how technology has made a qualitative difference in the lives of the farmers. He also recalled how successive Congress Governments ignored the dairy sector in Kutch and Saurashtra but now this has changed and the dairy sector is gaining strength in the region. He pointed out that milk production has shot up considerably in the last decade and farmers are even getting more money in their pockets due to this. He particularly pointed to the empowerment of women when the dairy sector grows. Shri Modi spoke on the steps the Gujarat government is taking to promote seaweed cultivation and opined that this will help women a lot. He also talked about how the coast of Gujarat, which was earlier seen as a burden is not becoming a hub of development for the people.
On the occasion, various progressive farmers presented their agriculture produce to the Chief Minister. This included pomegranate and watermelon made using drip irrigation, tomatoes and chilies. The Salaya Nagar Palika welcomed Shri Modi. There was a presentation on Mega Seed Production High Tech Park in Junagadh and Shri Modi also honored progressive formers. Cheques were presented to Shri Modi for Kanya Kelavani initiative.
The Chief Minister noted how a lot of youngsters are being drawn towards agriculture and urged farmers to visit the various exhibits and learn as many news things as possible from there. “I am honoring many progressive farmers and I see most of them are around 35 years. Who imagined that the youth of Gujarat is excelling in farming?” he asked.
Ministers of State Shri Govindbhai Patel and Smt. Vasuben Trivedi spoke on the occasion. Agriculture Minister Shri Babubhai Bokhiria and Gujarat BJP President Shri RC Faldu were present on the occasion.
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.
