Will build India of your dreams, says PM Modi to Indians at Madison Square

New York: Expressing a strong resolve to make development a mass movement in India and put every effort to take the country to new heights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he has not taken a vacation for even 15 minutes since he assumed the high office in May.

“I have not taken a vacation even for 15 minutes since taking office,” the Prime Minister said addressing some 20,000 cheering crowd at the Madison Square Garden.

In his 75-minute-long speech, Modi said India has huge talents and the country has the potential to lead the world in the 21st Century. “The 21st Century will be that of India. By 2020, only India will be in a position to provide work force to the world,” he said.

“Today India is the most youthful nation of this world. Today 65 percent population of the country are below the age of 35 years. What more asset a nation requires whose 65 percent population is below 35 years of age,” he said.

Echoing the famous “I have a dream” words of former American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told thousands of Indian Americans that “I have a dream (about India)” and “I will make the Bharat of your dreams.”

The Prime Minister said he was determined to make development a mass movement and affirmed that India will move ahead at a rapid pace. “A nation, whose youths are committed to make the future of the country, will not have to look behind. This country is going to progress with the support of the youths,” he said as the crowd continuously cheered him.

Listing out India’s advantages, the Prime Minister said that its three strengths were democracy, demographic dividend in which 65 percent of its population was under 35 years, and the demand for India because it was a huge market.

“My effort is to make development a mass movement. I am confident is that we will succeed. There is no cause for disappointment. This country is going to make rapid progress.  There are many expectations from the new government.  This government will be 100 percent successful in fulfilling the aspirations of people,” he said amid loud cheers.  “My dream is to see every Indian family has a home by 2022,” he said.      

Concluding his hour-long address, Modi thanked the 20,000-strong gathering gathered at the Madison Square Garden for their love which he said had remained unstinted for almost 15 years.

“You have so much love for me, probably no other Indian leader has received this kind of love… Mein iska karz chukaoonga (I shall repay this debt), to make the the Bharat of your dreams,” Modi said, to loud chants of “Modi, Modi”.

“Together we will serve our country, for the motherland where we got birth and our learning,” he said.  He ended his speech by loudly saying “Bharat Mata ki Jai” thrice, and asked the audience to raise their clenched fists in the air and repeat the invocation three times.  

He also referred to the Make in India campaign the government launched ahead of his US visit to invite investments and to manufacture in India as also the sanitation campaign to make a Clean India, a movement which he said would gladden the hearts of Indian abroad who often get turned away by India’s pervasive squalor.

He asked the Indian diaspora to connect with him directly online and also asked them to join in the endeavour to clean the Ganga river.  

Modi also announced visa-free arrival for US tourists in India and that Indian missions in the US would grant long term visas to US citizens, which was widely welcomed by the Indian Americans.

Ahead of the address, for which tickets were sold out days in advance, there were some performances by Gujarati and Rajasthani folk dancers and a song by noted singer Kavita Krishnamoorthy, who also rendered the Indian national anthem.

Capping two days eventful in New York, Modi travels to Washington Monday for summit talks with President Barack Obama, his top cabinet colleagues and Congressional leaders to renew and revive a bilateral dialogue and strategic partnership that seemed to have run into uncertain weather in recent times.

His address to the Indian diaspora comes a day after he enthralled a 65,000-strong youthful crowd at Central Park, unveiling to them his vision of a clean India with toilets for all, and ending with the iconic words “May the force be with you” from the evergreen hit Star Wars films.

IANS and PTI