PM Modi addresses a public rally at Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu

Published By : Admin | February 10, 2019 | 17:55 IST
Congress leaves no opportunity to belittle our army: PM Modi
The good work of the NDA Govt has made some people very unhappy: PM Modi
The Opposition is good at one thing and that is to spread panic. Time and again, they have tried to mislead the farmers, workers and youngsters of the nation: PM

At a public meeting in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur, PM Narendra Modi said that the work culture of the NDA was different from previous governments. The PM launched a scathing attack on the Congress and remarked, “Those who got the opportunity to rule the nation for years did not bother about India’s defence sector. For them, this sector was only about brokering deals and helping their own set of friends… Why is it that every middleman caught has a link with some Congress leader of the other?”
 
Shri Modi said that the NDA Government’s approach to national security was different. “We dream of an India that is self-sufficient in defence production and where our forces have all the possible support they require in keeping our nation safe”, he added. In this context, the PM also highlighted about the two defence corridors being created in the country as well as fulfilling the long-pending demands of ex-servicemen regarding ‘One Rank, One Pension’. 
 
Further criticising the Congress for its approach towards the Army, PM Modi said, “The Congress leaves no opportunity to belittle our Army. One of their leaders used un-pardonable language for the Army Chief. When our Army went across the borders to do surgical strikes, the Congress questioned that as well. A few days ago, the nation saw with utter disgust a story of how top UPA minister kept pushing a narrative that our Army will do a coup. Every Indian knows that our Army can do no such thing but look at the Congress attitude”, remarked the Prime Minister.
Shedding light on development initiatives across the country, Prime Minister Modi stated that the NDA Government was leaving no stone unturned for future-proofing India. “The pace of road construction has doubled and projects like Bharatmala are connecting the remotest corners of the nation. Sagarmala project is harnessing the power of India’s coasts and setting the foundation for port-led development. Metro projects are being built in several cities across India”, said PM Modi.
 
Speaking about India’s growth story, the Prime Minister said, “India’s development has been noted by the entire world. This development has become possible due to the strengths and skills of 130 crore Indians. It has become possible because crores of honest tax payers are making an indelible contribution to the development of our nation.” The PM spoke at length about the benefits announced for tax-payers having an annual income upto Rs. 5 lakhs.
 
Taking a jibe at Shri P Chidambaram, PM Modi said, “I want to take you back to the UPA time. There was a very wise Minister from Tamil Nadu, the Recounting Minister. The man who thinks all the knowledge in the world resides only in his brains. In his typical arrogance he said- why is the middle class so worried about price rise, they buy such expensive ice cream and mineral water! Mr. Recounting Minister, middle class does not need the taunts by you and the Congress. They have rejected you and will continue to do so.”
 
PM Modi said that the good work of the NDA Government had made some people very unhappy. “Those who thought power was their divine right, those who thought only they are born to rule are disturbed because here is a Government that is working. Their unhappiness has turned into desperation and abuse. Whatever question they are asked, their answer has to have the word Modi! They are asked- what is your view towards agriculture welfare, their answer is Modi! They are asked- what is your plan for MSME sector, they say Modi”, Shri Modi added.
Enumerating on measures undertaken to curb corruption, PM Modi said, “The NDA Government in Delhi is putting a lock on the corrupt misdeeds of several people. This is exactly how the great K Kamaraj wanted a Government to be run- where there is zero tolerance towards corruption… Earlier, we had heard of a family pack in mobile recharges and ice-creams. Now, it seems there is a family pack for bail too!” said PM Modi.
 
Terming the Opposition to be funny, PM Modi said, “They say Modi government is a failure, Modi has done nothing, Modi is going to be badly defeated but still, they have to form big alliances to defeat Modi. What is the agenda of the so called alliance? What are the issues they are fighting? Nobody knows. Because their guns are only aimed at Modi!”
 
Attacking the grand-alliance as Maha-Milawat or adulterated alliance, the Prime Minister clearly stated, “Maha-Milawat is a club of rich people trying to promote their dynasties. They neither understand poverty nor do they have a vision to serve the poor.” 
 
Adding that the Opposition was good at only spreading panic, PM Modi said, “Time and again, they have tried to mislead the farmers, workers and youngsters of the nation.” In this context, the PM also spoke about the historic PM Kisan Samman Nidhi which was announced in the Interim Budget under which farmers having less than 5 acres of land will be given Rs. 6000 per year as support. The PM also questioned UPA’s poorly thought of waivers which come once in ten years.
Citing reform measures for the poor belonging to the General Category, PM Modi said, “Equality of opportunity is our commitment. That is why, Government brought a Bill to ensure 10% reservation for the poor of General Category. We did this without altering existing reservation system in the country, which has brought substantial benefits to Dalits, Tribals and OBCs.”
 
“For us, social justice is not a mathematical equation- plus here, minus there…it is an article of faith. For a long time, the Opposition spread panic on this issue. They did it when Vajpayee Ji was PM too. I dare them to give me one instance where the BJP has altered the social justice system in the nation. On the contrary, it was the Third Front Government, where both DMK and Congress were partners that removed reservation in promotions for SC and ST communities. It was the Vajpayee Government that passed a Constitutional Amendment to safeguard interests of SC and ST communities”, remarked Prime Minister Modi.
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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.