Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.(PTI photo)
In the backdrop of the ongoing debate on 'intolerance', Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India draws its strength from its diversity and that the government will defend the equal rights guaranteed for every citizen under the Constitution.
"India, the land of your heritage, has remarkable achievements since Independence," PM Modi said, addressing the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur on the second day of his three-day visit.
"This was a nation made weaker by colonialism, torn by partition at its birth as Independent country... There were questions whether the infant nation will even reach its teen years. There were some who did not want it to," he said in his 45-minute address delivered in English.
"Today, India is not just united, but draws strength from its diversity. It is a nation, where every citizen belongs; where everyone has equal rights that the constitution guarantees, the courts protect and the government defends," the Prime Minister said.
Describing India as "a land of unparalleled diversity and vast social and political challenges", he told the audience -- which included Malay Indians mostly from Tamil Nadu -- that they "reflect India's diversity of languages, religions and cultures".
The Prime Minister's comments assume significance in the backdrop of the allegations of "growing intolerance" in society back home, with the Opposition and a section of the civil society levelling questions at the government.
During his recent visit to the UK, PM Modi had been asked by British media why "India is becoming an increasingly intolerant place". "India is the land of Buddha and Gandhi, we will not accept any deviation from our values. Every such incident is serious. We won't tolerate such incidents," he had said.
Today, talking about the role of his government, he said, "We have generations of our leaders to thank for bringing us this far. But we have a long way to go. The challenges we face and the goals we must pursue, are evident in villages and cities. And, my government has come into office to change that".
"We are eradicating poverty, by giving our people the fruits of modern economy, such as universal access to banks and insurance; not just tie them down in endless programmes," PM Modi said and added, "Where in the world will 190 million bank accounts be opened in a few months?"