Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In an almost one hour speech to the US Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon a variety of themes. They were met with applause and standing ovation several times by the US Congress members, including Vice President Kamala Harris.
The speech this time was longer in duration than last time, which was about 45 minutes in 2016.
Here are the 15 key takeaways from the PM’s speech:
He reached out to the Indian American diaspora while also conveying to the political class of the US about the value they bring to the table.
“The Foundation of America was inspired by the vision of a nation of equal people throughout your history, you embrace people from around the world and you have made them equal partners in the American Dream..there are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber. And there is one behind me who made history.”
“I'm told that the Samosa caucus is now the flavor of the house. I hope it grows and brings the diversity of Indian cuisine.”
As a fellow democracy, he conveyed to the political class that there could be differences within, but countries’ political class should speak in one voice, keeping the country’s interests first.
“I can relate to the battles of pressure, persuasion and policy. I can understand the debate of ideas and ideology. But I'm delighted to see you come together today to celebrate the bond between the world's two great democracies. India and the United States." “There will be and there must be a contest of ideas at home. But we must also come together as one when we speak for our nation,” he said, in what could be seen as an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi’s statements overseas.
Modi made it a point to dwell on the values of democracy, something he has been confronted with questions, and in the US which is also facing its own challenges. And all this, with a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. for their contribution towards “liberty, equality and justice”.
“Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values. It has evolved over a long time and taken various forms of systems. Throughout history, however, one thing has been clear: democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse, democracy is a culture that gives wings to thoughts and expression. India has been blessed to have such values since times immemorial. In the evolution of the democratic spirit, India is the mother of democracy.”
Together we shall give a better future to the world and a better world to the future.
Modi touched upon one of his pet themes of freedom after foreign rule, and what that means to him.
“Last year, India celebrated 75 years of independence..We celebrated a remarkable journey of over 75 years of freedom after 1000 years of foreign rule in one form or another. This was not just a celebration of democracy, but also of diversity, not just of our constitution, but also a spirit of our social empowerment, not just of our competitiveness, and cooperative federalism, but also of our essential unity and integrity.”
Talking about 2,500 political parties, 22 official languages, thousands of dialects, and food changes every 100 miles, he said, “And yet we speak in one voice… We are home to all faiths in the world and we celebrate all of them diversity is a natural way of life.”
“Today, the world wants to know more and more about India. I see that curiosity in this house to be honoured to receive over 100 members of the US Congress in India over the last decade. Everyone wants to understand India’s development, democracy and diversity. Everyone wants to know what India is doing.”
He showcased the scale and magnitude of the Indian economy, and society, and the opportunities available.
“When I first visited the US as the Prime Minister, India was the 10th largest economy in the world. Today India is the fifth largest economy. And India will be the third largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but we are also growing faster when India grows, the whole world grows”.
So, from infrastructure development — homes (We have given nearly 40 million homes to provide sector to over 150 million people. That is nearly six times the population of Australia), national health insurance program (ensures free medical treatment for about 500 million people, greater than the population of South America), banking to the unbanked (nearly 500 million people benefited, close to the population of North America), more than 850 million smartphones and internet users in the country (more than the population of Europe).
From women President to elected leaders in Panchayats, to women in Armed Forces.
“Today in modern India, women are leading us to a better future…Today women serve our country in the Army, Navy and Air Force. India also had the highest percentage of women airline pilots in the world and they have also put us on Mars by leading our Mars vision.. I believe that investing in a girl child lifts the entire family, empowering women to transform the nation”, he said.
The youth are leading the tech revolution in the country. “The younger generation is also making India the hub of technology,” he said, and outlined mobile payments, apps, data science, and quantum computing.
“If you visit India, you will see everyone is using phones for payments including street vendors. Last year, out of every 100 Real Time digital payments in the world, 46 happened in India.”
“Earth is our mother and we are her children. In Indian culture, I deeply respect the environment”, he said. India became the only G20 country to meet its Paris commitments.
“Every individual can make a positive impact. Making sustainability a mass movement…Our vision is pro-planet progress, Our vision is pro-planet prosperity Our vision is pro-planet people.”
From Yoga to millets, vaccines to peacekeepers — how India has always been ready to share.
“We reach out to others during disasters as first responders, as we do for our own. We share our modest resources with those who need them the most. We build capabilities, not dependencies.”
How US is important for India and vice-versa, Modi made the case during his address. He called for working together in space, semiconductors, farming, artificial intelligence, energy and education, healthcare and humanitarian efforts
“When I speak about India's approach to the world, the United States occupies a special place. I know our relations are of great importance to all of you. Every member of this Congress has a deep interest in it. When defence and aerospace in India grow, industries in the state of Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Pennsylvania thrive.”
“When American companies grow, their research and development centers in India thrive. When Indians fly more, a single order of aircrafts creates more than a million jobs in 44 states in America,” he said.
“When American phone makers invest in India, it creates an entire ecosystem of jobs and opportunities in both countries. When India and the US work together on semiconductors and critical minerals, it helps in making supply chains more diverse, resilient and reliable,” he said.
Focusing his attention to the new sectors of defence and critical technology, he said, “We were strangers in defence cooperation at the turn of the century. Now, the United States has become one of our most important defence partners.”
Recalling the “deeply disruptive developments” in the last few years, he said, “With the Ukraine conflict, war has returned to Europe that is causing great pain in the region….countries of the Global South have been particularly affected. The global order is based on respect for the principle of the UN charter, peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“I have said directly and publicly, this is not an era of war,” he said recalling his words to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “but it is one of dialogue and diplomacy and we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering”.
He also took on China, as he said, "The dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo Pacific. The stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership.”
“We share a vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific… A region where all nations small and large are free and fearless in their choices. Their progress is not suffocated by impossible burdens of debt, where connectivity is not leveraged for strategic purposes,” he said.
Modi also said there can be "no ifs or buts" in dealing with terrorism and sought action against state sponsors of terrorism, in a veiled attack on Pakistan.
He said that more than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world.
"These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror," Modi said in his 60-minute address in English.
Underlining that India and the US come from different circumstances and history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that this visit is one of the “great positive transformation” and together they will demonstrate that “democracy is better and democracies deliver”.
He said that every Indian Prime Minister and American president has taken the relationship further, but this generation has the task to achieve greater heights.
He said, "we are united by a common vision and by a common destiny. When our partnership progresses, economic resilience increases, innovation grows, science flourishes, knowledge advances, humanity benefits. Our seas and skies are safer, democracy will shine brighter and the world will be a better place. That is the mission of our partnership. That is our calling for the century.”
“Even by the high standards of our partnership, this visit is one of the great positive transformations. together we shall demonstrate that democracy is better and democracies deliver. I count on your continuous support to the India US partnership,” the Prime Minister said.
