Live: Modi thanks Obama for support for India's permanent UNSC membership demand

“I thank President Obama for responding to my call for a clean energy source. We should work together to advance this goal to ensure that affordable also becomes accessible to those who need it the most,” Modi said.

“Our defence co-operation is expanding. We had a successful cyber security dialogue…I’ve had excellent meeting with business leaders in San Jose,” Modi said.

“We will continue to work our bilateral framework on economic co-operation…My engagement in the US demonstrate the extra-ordinary depth in our relationships,” the Prime Minister added.

Modi thanks Obama for support for India’s demand for permanent membership to the UNSC

After this bilateral meeting with Barack Obama, PM Narendra Modi thanked Obama for his support for India’s demand for permanent membership to the UN Security Council. “I thank President Obama for support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UNSC,” Modi said.

“I value your (Obama’s) friendship and your commitment towards India-US relationships,” the PM said. “India and US are part of the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. Amid the problems that one faces today, our partnership is of great significance for us and the world.”

“President and I share an umpromising commitment on climate change without affecting our ability to meet development needs,” he said.

Modi meets Obama

Modi meets Cameron, Hollande

PM Modi met UK PM David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the UNGA.

PM Modi arrives in New York

The Prime Minister will also meet US president Barack Obama later today.

And the PM’s done. With a plug for Air India’s latest flight

And just like that the Prime Minister’s done. A rather abrupt end this. He thanks the audience, the Congressmen and women in the audience. 

“Bharat Mata ki..” " Jai," shouts the audience. 

“Your voice should reach India,” the PM chides the audience with a smile. 

The “Jai"s are a lot louder for the next two “Bharat Mata ki”. And then a couple of slogans in support of Bhagat Singh. 

“Give it up for Modi,” shouts the emcee. His name’s shouted, the PM walks on the stage as balloons falls from the rafters and ‘Chak De India’ booms on speakers. 

But wait he’s back!

“From 2 December there will be direct flights from Delhi to San Francisco by Air India. Thrice a week…Thank you” he said. It’s back to ‘Chak De India’ again and the Prime Minister’s off the stage now.

UN has to define terrorism quickly, says Modi

The Prime Minister said that the two biggest problems before the world are terrorism and global warming. 

On terrorism, Modi said he’d written to world leaders seeking to define terrorism quickly so that mankind didn’t suffer more. 

The Prime Minister said it was important to differentiate between humanitarians and terrorists. 

“It should be in black and white what is terrorism…As long as there is good terrorism, humanity isn’t safe. Terrorism is terrorism,” he said. 

The PM also took some credit for educating US state department officials about terrorism, saying that they had initially dismissed terrorism as a law and order problem. 

“It is the need of the hour that we recognise terrorism and that is the mission I am on,” the PM said. 

It is the UN’s responsibility to define terrorism so that world can decide the path it wants to walk on to achieve worldwide peace, he said. He said that the nation that had given the world Ahimsa now wanted peace across the world and the only way was to crush terrorism. 

He promised to take up the issue in the UN again. Nothing on global warming though. Hmmm.

PM Modi hardsells government’s achievements

“Isn’t corruption gone or not?” “Yes,” shouts the crowd. 

“Won’t it go for the poor?““Yes,” they shout again. And just like that the PM’s done talking about JAM. 

The Prime Minister is now talking about skill development. And then the Beti Bachao Andolan. And then the soil cards. The audience politely claps. He then spoke of urea and how the government had neem coated it. It can’t be used anywhere else, he pointed out. It’s not entirely a new concept though the Modi government has been pushing its cause harder (Read more here ) 

But that’s good enough for the audience. Finally something they can clap about. 

If I talk about everything we’ve done it could take 2 hours, he said, adding he was just showing the audience a trailer of what was to come.

Prime Minister touts his government’s biggest achievements: JAM

The Prime Minister’s got a new acronym out. This one’s JAM. 

J – Jan Dhan Bank Account

A – Aadhaar card

M – Mobile governance

He spoke about how nationalisation of banks almost 50 years ago hadn’t helped the poor. If 50 percent of the population didn’t have access to banks, how could the nation progress, he said. But now 18 crore new accounts have been opened by the poor, he said. He then gave his audience a primer on the scheme and said that he had seen the wealth of the poor. “We have heard of the poverty of the rich but I have seen the wealth of the poor,” he said. Rs 32,000 crore to be specific.

He then touted the Aadhaar scheme. “We have made it the central government’s focus,” he said. Didn’t dwell on it too much though. Not surprising. 

He also spoke of ensuring mobile governance. Then moved on to the LPG subsidy scheme, The audience is reduced to clapping now and a few titters here and there.

The Prime Minister then said that India was the only country to get its Mars mission right on the first attempt. “Mera bhi kuch aisa hi hua,” he said to cheers. He’s perhaps got the audience cheering at almost every alternate sentence. 

He pointed to the skepticism about the space program initially but pointed how it was now essential it was. He said he’d gotten the government moving on using space technology. 170 departments now used the technology, he said. 

India will be fastest growing, says Modi

“I believe the nation will go forward. I have this faith because my nation is still young,” he said. A young nation can do anything in the world, he said. 

This nation cannot trail others any more, he said. “Bharat mata ki jai,” shouts a member of the audience. Another shouts,“Inquilab zindabad.”

He spoke of how the BRICS acronym came about. “If you would have noticed there has been discussion a few years ago that we would need to change BRICS because India was tottering,” he said. 

But today I can say with conviction that if there is someone standing with confidence now it is ‘I’, he said.

That’s a really good pun from the Prime Minister. 

He then pointed to how all the ratings agencies have now said that the country progressing fastest is….“India,” shouted the audience.

Modi gets Silicon Valley certified

“More than Indians, you can see India in greater detail from outside,” he said after a cricket analogy. 

“You know everything…I had said that I will not be found wanting in work in any way,” he said reminding people of how he’d promised to work 24 hours. 

“After 16 months, I now want your certificate,” he said. If cheers are a certificate, he seems to have got it. 

“Did I fulfil my promise?” he asks.  “Yes,” shouts the crowd. It’s not hard to imagine someone in tears in that audience. 

Modi then spoke of how there were frequent allegations of corruption against Indian politicians. A reference to the ‘beta’ and ‘damaad’ got the most cheering.

Are there many against me? No, shouted the crowd.

“I promise I will live for the country and even die for it,” he said. The cheers just don’t stop.

21st century to belong to India, says PM

The Prime Minister said that when he had come to Delhi 16 months ago he didn’t even know the way to Parliament. People had given him a mandate, he said

“With your blessings, I am doing my best to fulfil it,” he said. The Prime Minister said that the world was now viewing India with a great deal of hope. 

“There is a debate for some time now. Whose is the 21st century?” he asked. “Modi, Modi,” shouted the crowd. 

The Prime Minister corrected them. “The 21st century is that of Asia. But now people are saying that the 21st century is going to belong to India,” he said. To be fair there was a lone voice in the crowd shouting that for a good two minutes earlier. 

So what’s the cause of this change? “Modi,” shouts the crowd. The Prime Minsiter corrects them. It’s not Modi but every person in the country deciding to change things, he says. 

He said the world’s nations were now trying to ally with India. “This atmosphere of faith will take India to new heights,” he said.

PM establishes historical connect with West Coast

The PM said that there were Sikh freedom fighters who had settled on the west coast and worked for the freedom of India. Slightly muted cheers. 

“But now the youth here are determined to get rid of the poverty of the country,” he said. Much more cheers. 

He then spoke of the first Indian to graduate from Stanford. Then the first Congressman from the state. And then he brings in Jayprakash Narayan who had come to the west coast for further studies. The historical connection’s been established firmly now. 

“This is why every Indian who thinks of you feels pride. That is why I am happy to meet you,” he said.

You’re the brain deposit of India, PM Modi tells cheering NRIs

“You have got the world to change its perception of India and I congratulate you,” Modi said. 

The Prime Minister said that there used to be a debate in India about stopping the brain drain. “But there will be many more brains in the country,” he said to cheers. 

Modi said instead of ‘brain drain’ it has been a case of ‘brain deposit’. Where does he get this stuff from?

The Prime Minister said that at the appropriate moment the ‘brain deposit’ would come good for India. More cheering. US Congressmen smile. Hopefully their translators are getting things right. 

The time is now ripe for the NRI community to aid India, he said.

PM credits NRI population for respect for Indians

The Prime Minister said that he’d last visited Silicon Valley 25 years ago and things had changed considerably. Modi said that people were more keen to make something of themselves and wanted to bring about change. 

“The people of this state respect Indians so much. For that I congratulate you,” he said to cheers. 

He spoke about how there was increased respect for India as a result of…(long pause and cheers) “Your fingers…” 

Modi spoke about how the work of Indians in US was forcing things to change across the world and those who ignored it were set to become obsolete. More cheers.

PM starts speech by invoking Bhagat Singh

The Prime Minister starts his speech by invoking  Bhagat Singh, who’s birthday it is in India presently. 

“Veer Bhagat Singh,” he says. “Amar rahe, amar rahe,” shouts the crowd. 

He then thanked everyone for being there and there was more cheering.

And he’s finally on the stage

So they announced. The big screens flashed his name but there was a minute before the Prime Minister began his walk down the red carpet. And the stadium erupted as he made his way to the stage. 

Modi made his way to the stage where there where he hugged the waiting Congressmen. And then came the US national anthem, followed by the Indian one by a choir dressed in Indian colours. And as they trailed off the crowd cheered. It’s go time for the Prime Minister.

Modi arrives at the San Jose venue

The Prime Minister is now in the venue. He’s meeting some people backstage and will be on shortly. Meanwhile, local Congressmen and leaders are being called on stage and cheered, rather like the Madison Square Garden. 

PM Modi set to speak shortly

The crowds are there. They are cheering and the stage seems set for the Prime Minister to make another blockbuster speech in the US. He’s had singer Kailash Kher prime the crowd with songs and in the pauses there are intermittent shouts of “Bharat Mata ki jai”  and “Vande Mataram” as the crowd waits for the chief guest to speak.

PM Modi gets emotional as Zuckerberg asks about his mother

Now, Zuckerberg asks PM Modi about his mother. 

“I would really like to congratulate Mark’s parents for giving birth to Mark, they have helped connect the world,” PM Modi says. 

Speaking of his mother, Modi says, “I came from a very humble family. It’s hard to imagine that a tea seller has become the leader of the world’s greatest democracy. For that I would like to thank the country.”

“My father is no longer with us. My mother is over 90 years old now. She does all her work herself. She is not educated, but through television she knows what is happening in the news,” he says. 

“When we were young, to get by, we used to go to our neighbours houses and clean the dishes, fill water,” PM Modi..

“So you can imagine what a mother has to do to raise her children,” says an emotional Modi.

India can’t reach full potential if women are imprisoned inside their homes, says PM Modi

Now, the next question is on Modi’s stand on women’s empowerment, the girl child and the role of women in a growing India. 

PM Modi says, “All societies believe in god, but mostly they are male., Only in India we have women goddesses — Durga, Kali, Amba.”

“But as far as the government is concerned, if we have to achieve economic goals, we cannot imprison 50 percent of our population inside our homes. Women must walk shoulder to shoulder with males,” Modi says. 

“As far as education is concerned and the health sector, there are a large number of women. We have now reservation for women in the police in some union territories where the government has jurisdiction,” says PM Modi.

India a paradis for investors, says PM Modi

“What is the secret to make in India?” asks Modi and says,“The low cost manufacturing, skill, man power, raw materials — these are what we have. I don’t think this is something that someone can ignore. Infact, it is a paradise for investors.”

Modi’s reply on if Make in India will be successful

Next question is on Make in India, and if it will be successful given the slow rate of reform.

“When you want to turn on a scooter, it takes half a second. But when you want to turn around a train it is much more difficult,” PM Modi says. 

“So how do you keep track of what is happening? In 40 years we have had 180 million people who didn’t have a bank account. After my government came to power, in 100 days 180 million bank accounts were opened. That is the speed of change.”

Want to connect Indian villages with optical fibre network, says PM Modi

The next question to PM Modi is what investment will the government make to increase connectivity. 

PM Modi says, “It is true that India we have had to focus on two things equally, one is physical infrastructure because that it is a requirement and next is digital infrastructure.”

“My conviction is that now in the 21st century, iways will become important. In India we have 600 thousand villages and about 2.5 lakh panchayats. What I hope is that in the next 5 years we will be able to link these villages with optical fibre network,” he says. 

“As for money, there is no dearth. There are coutries which don’t know where to invest, and I am giving them my address,” PM Modi says.

Social media can help govt take corrective measures,says PM Modi

PM Modi says, “With social media we have daily bonding. Right now with what I am saying, people are voting if Modi is good or bad.”

“Social media has the potential to show the government if it is taking a wrong path and then go for a course correction, it is a strength of a democracy,” he says. 

“You get real time updates, we can come to know instantly when something happens in any corner of the world. And if a government is alert it can take this information to take corrective measures,” says PM Modi.

I took to social media out of curiosity, says PM Modi

Mark Zuckerberg asks if when PM Modi thought about the potential of social media when he started using it. 

“When I took to social media, I did not think I would become the Prime Minister and hence think about how it could be used for governance,” PM Modi says. 

“I took to social media out of curiosity,” PM Modi says. 

He says, “I did not have the fortune of much education, but social media helped me gain knowledge. It broadened my horizen.”

People are more confident of India, says PM Modi at Facebook townhall

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of his aspirations by saying, “India is an 8 billion dollar economy, I want to make it a trillion dollar economy.”

His comments were followed by loud cheers from the audience. 

“Tourism has huge potential in India. In the last one and a half years, the view that people have of India… generally people are very proud. It is remarkable hpw the perception of India has changed so quickly,” he says.

I hope that you will be the voice of millions: PM Modi to Zuckerberg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says it is incredible that people in the US who want to start something are asked to come to India for inspirtation. 

“I hope that you will be the voice of millions of people all over the world and be aspirations for millions,” PM Modi tells Zuckerberg.

Impressed by the way PM Modi has used social media to connect with people, says Zuckerberg

Speaking of Digital India, Zuckerberg says, “I am personally impressed by the way PM Modi has used social media to connect with people of India be it women’s issues or to spread messages of peace.”

India has been important for Facebook, says Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg begins his one on one with Narendra Modi. “India has been an important place for Facebook,” he says. 

He says,“My mentor Steve Jobs told me to visit an Indian temple to find the vision for my company.”

Zuckerberg receives PM Modi at Facebook headquarters 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Zuckerberg at the Facebook headquarters

PM Modi arrives at Facebook head quarters 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Facebook headquarters for the townhall. 

While all eyes across India and US are on this meet, Facebook today has asked all its employees to wear strict formals.

Meeting with PM Modi was very good: Sundar Pichai

Tim Cook said Digital India was a gamechanger: MEA

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Apple CEO Tim Cook “expressed his great desire to be a part of PM’s Digital India initiative. He said it was a gamechanger.”

“PM also discussed ‘Apple Pay’ with Tim Cook. Using it for Jan Dhan Yojana could be explored,” ANI quoted Swarup as saying.