Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the Indian community in Brussels.
Here are the highlights of his speech:
- Namaste. It is my good fortune that I have received an opportunity from the people-ambassadors (log doot)
- You impact and familiarise people overseas with our language and culture.
- Last week, Brussels witnessed a ghastly terror attack.
- To the people who lost their dear ones, I pay my respects to them
- Such a huge incident has happened here after a long time
- The world has now understood fully how dangerous terrorism is
- Terrorism is not a challenge to one country, one region, terrorism is challenging humanity
- That's why the need of the hour is anybody who believes in humanity, all powers, have to come together to fight terror
- Forces of humanity seem weak - (terms like) "Good terrorism, bad terrorism" unknowingly bolster terrorism
- India has been battling terrorism for over 40 years
- We have has lost more people to terrorism than many wars
- India used to scream out that terror is a grave danger and the world used to tell us this isn't terrorism this is a law and order problem
- And when ground shook beneath their feet, the world understood what terror is
- 9/11 attack shook the world and the world started understanding what India was dealing with
- But India never bowed in front of terror and the question of bowing doesn't even arise
- The fight against terror is big challenge
- I have spoken to world leaders and explained to them terrorism must be de-linked with religion
- No religion teaches terror
- Recently, liberal-Islamic scholars attached with Sufism came to India They said terrorists who associate their acts with religion are un-Islamic and this needs to be said again and again
- Bomb, guns and pistols cannot alone fight terrorism
- We have to create an environment in society
- But look at the misfortune of the world and humanity
- The United Nations has a definition of all things related to war, but for terrorism they have no answers
- I met leaders of the European Union today, we talked on many things but terrorism was the focal point of all discussions
- Leaders also acknowledged how we've been dealing with terrorism for 40 years
- The world is also passing through an economic crisis
- At this time, the world says in once voice - world bank, International Monetary Fund, ratings agency - they all say of there is a light of hope in the world it is ... India!
- India today is one of the fastest growing large economies in the world
- And this is not a result of chance; nor because of Modi either, it's all because of 1.25 crore Indians within India and abroad
- India is growing rapidly despite drought, bad weather
- If the direction is right, policies straightforward and if the disposition spotless, then India can move forward
- Many things which you don't see reported about on TV, papers
- You might see on the Narendra Modi app
- But I'll give you a brief on what we accomplished in 2015
- I am not just a Prime Minister but a 'pradhan-sevak'
- Our decision to have 5% ethanol in petrol led to record production of ethanol in 2015 leading to better income for farmers
- Our campaign on gas subsidy led to 9 million people surrendering their subsidy, helping millions of poor families to get gas connections
- There was record output of coal in 2015. Also record production of electricity and record cargo handled at major ports
- In 2015 the most milk was produced
- That means even animals were happy
- Cows, goats, were happy...We don't do vote bank politics
- We care for even those who don't vote (for us)
- Our Jan Dhan Yojana has led to 210 million new accounts, bringing millions into the banking sector
- Rs 34,000 crore deposited into banks by the poor under Jan Dhan scheme
- Perhaps you people cannot imagine what I saw - The affluence of the poor. We often see the poverty of the affluent
- On August 15, I announced we will bring electricity to 18,000 villages in 1,000 days
- Today 7 months or 250 days later, more than 7,000 villages have received electricity poles and wires
- You can check this out on the Garv app and website
- You can see where what is happening - minute by minute updates on your mobile phone
- We have set a target of 125 GW in India and the world doubted us
- I can proudly say that work in that regard is going on and we shall achieve our target
- India had two long running dispute with Bangladesh - of water and border
- After our government came to power, without any bullets
- The border dispute was resolved
- The water dispute was also resolved
- We gave an example to the world how to live with neighbours
- Some neighbours are there who can't understand it
- Now how can we change neighbours?
- But I hope they will understand it too
- On my Narendra Modi app people often send me suggestionsThese people have given me suggestions on how to improve ties between India and Europe
- These inputs give me great energy
- One user has written to me, that she wants to contribute her money to educating poor children
- You can keep in touch with me on the app
- This time in the Budget, we made a proposal. For NRIs who don't have PAN cards they are charged higher rate TDS
- This time we have made a provision for alternate documents
- Ports and airports will have single window clearances, Customs will be simplified, will increase the free baggage limit
- Bring something back to country
- You came in such large numbers I am very grateful
- Wherever you are, you are the true ambassadors of India
- India has a lot of scope for tourism
- 65% of India is below 35 years of age
- A country so young can achieve any dream
- India will fulfil its dreams
- I thank you once again!