New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) In a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Thursday said the prime minister's statement that there is no need to despair and good times lie ahead would certainly ring true in a few months - with the general elections.
Modi, during his speech at the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the largest gathering of Indian diaspora in the world, elicited loud applause and laughter from the packed audience at the Vigyan Bhavan when he said: "We may have to wait a few months, but I sincerely feel that good times are coming."
Modi, who got a round of applause before he got up to speak and while he was being introduced, said "the prime minister had said a good thing during his speech here yesterday (Wednesday at the PBD) that there is no need to despair and very good times are to come". He paused waiting for the laughter and clapping to die down, and then said smiling "I don't need to say anything more.. we may have to wait a few months, four or six. But I sincerely feel that good times are coming."
Modi referred to two major events in history in which the diaspora had cometogether to support the country - one was duringnthe 1975 emergency and the second the 1998 nuclear test by the BJP-led NDA government.
"There are two events when the diaspora took a proactive role and with self-initiative stressed their Bharatiyata (Indianness)," said Modi.
"One was the 1975 Emergency, when all the Indians abroad got together and pushed for democracy. The second was the nuclear test by Vajpayeeji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee).," he said, adding that all the Indian diaspora had put their weight behind India to support the move and against the sanctions imposed by the US.
He said the two incidents stand out for the participation of the Indian diaspora.
He said with the general elections round the corner he was observing renewed enthusiasm among Indians abroad to participate. "I am observing with the 2014 elections that the Indians abroad are very enthusiastic and keen to contribute," said Modi.
On corruption, a question raised by one diaspora participant, Modi said the debate in the country is on "post corruption" measures - like Janlokpal and Lokpal - after corruption has taken place.
"The requirement is that there should not be any corruption, the focus should be on that," he said. He cited the Gujarat experience of putting state policy online in "black and white" as an effective measure to tackle corruption.
"Corruption can be easily tackled, it only needs resolve. the focus should not be on the sickness, but on health and prevention," he said.
He said the Gujarat government proposed to build a large statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat which would be higher than the Statue of Liberty to pay tribute to Patel and his contribution to a unified India.
He said in 2015 it would be 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa and that the PBD should organise special events to commemorate the centenary.
He said an India that is "developed, globally competitive and admired, as well as locally inspiring, inclusive, resilient and united" should be the aspiration of all as India celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022 as Amrut Mahotsav.
Modi said that India's governance was shifting from the centre to the states which would increase the involvement of the states in striking initiatives with other countries. "I think this is a great thing for India's federal structure that states should globally take new initiatives," he said.
|
|
Comments:
