Narendra Modi speaks at a NRI meet in Delhi
Narendra Modi speaks at a session of Pravasi Bhratiya Diwas in New Delhi. Mr Modi is the BJP's PM candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. The session is a meet of NRI's settled across the world.
Here are the highlights:
- How can we invest the western accomplishments in India is the question we should ask.
- Yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke and said that good days are going to come. But I think, we may have to wait 4-6 months.
- Everybody wants to develop faster. The faster this development, the more quickly our country will rise.
- In Gujarat, there is one initiative that should be highlighted in the country and the world. The statue of Liberty: Sardar Vallabhai Patel, he unified the country.
- We can see India as a free country because of him. We are making the World's biggest statue. This will be the twice the height of the Statue of Liberty
- We did a programme on December 15, on the death of Mr Patel, and we had a 'Run for Unity' and this run became a world record.
- We are working hard, so that we stand side-by-side with other nations.
- I urge you to start this programme in other countries, so that we can spread the word of India's development across the world.
- Mahatma Gandhi's views and teachings need to celebrated this year on the 150th birth anniversary. This is a great occasion for us.
- We will also celebrate our 75th Independence day in 2022, which is a milestone in any country. What kind of country should be given to Indians is the important question now.
- What can be greater for a locally inspiring, inclusive, resilient India. Basic amenities to all; from village to cities; from rich to poor.
- Quality life in villages and cities, flourishing agriculture, enabling rural prosperity. Equally involve women from homemaker to industries.
- All we need to do is to join our spirits and hands in one thing: United India, Grand India.
- The best tools are in our own hands, the best material is our own aspiration.
- Our tools lie in our democracy and demography.
- How we liberate using these two, will define the future of not just India but the world at large.
- No one will be disappointed at the India that will be built.
- Two big incidents occurred at which Indians played a huge role in history.
- One was in 1975, during emergency- democracy was hit and the entire country was up in arms.
- The second was when, Mr Vajpayee did the nuclear test and sanctions were imposed on India.
- I have seen these two incidents closely and the third is the 2014 elections, for which people across the world are eager to contribute.