Modi’s US State visit: Key takeaways from the PM’s 2016 address to joint session of US Congress

Our founders created a modern nation with freedom, democracy, and equality as the essence of its soul. And, in doing so, they ensured that we continued to celebrate our age-old diversity. Today, across its streets and institutions, in its villages and cities, it is anchored in equal respect for all faiths; and in the melody of hundreds of its languages and dialects. India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one.

For my government, the Constitution is its real holy book. And, in that holy book, freedom of faith, speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights. 800 million of my countrymen may exercise the freedom of franchise once every five years. But, all the 1.25 billion of our citizens have freedom from fear, a freedom they exercise every moment of their lives.

More than fifteen years ago, Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood here and gave a call to step out of the ‘shadow of hesitation’ of the past. The pages of our friendship since then tell a remarkable story. Today, our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history. Comfort, candour and convergence define our conversations. Through the cycle of elections and transitions of Administrations, the intensity of our engagements has only grown. And, in this exciting journey, the US Congress has acted as its compass.

Our S&T collaboration continues to help us in cracking the age-old problems in the fields of public health, education, food, and agriculture. Ties of commerce and investment are flourishing. We trade more with the U.S. than with any other nation. And, the flow of goods, services and capital between us generates jobs in both our societies. As in trade, so in defence. India exercises with the United States more than we do with any other partner. Defence purchases have moved from almost zero to ten billion dollars in less than a decade.

Our people-to-people links are strong, and there is a close cultural connection between our societies. SIRI tells us that India’s ancient heritage of Yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the U.S. It is estimated that more Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curveball. And, no Mr Speaker, we have not yet claimed intellectual property rights on Yoga. Connecting our two nations is also a unique and dynamic bridge of three million Indian Americans.

My dream is to economically empower them (Indian citizens) through many social and economic transformations. And, do so by 2022, the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. My to-do list is long and ambitious. But you will understand. It includes a vibrant rural economy with a robust farm sector; a roof over each head and electricity to all households; to skill millions of our youth; building 100 smart cities; having broadband for a billion, and connecting our villages to the digital world; and create a twenty-first-century rail, road and port infrastructure.

India is already assuming its responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region. A strong India-U.S. partnership can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. It can also help ensure the security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on seas. But, the effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions framed with the mindset of the 20th century were to reflect the realities of today.

The fight against terrorism has to be fought at many levels. And, the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to win this fight. Mr Speaker, we have both lost civilians and soldiers in combating it. The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation. And, base it on a policy: that isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists; that does not distinguish between “good” and “bad” terrorists; and that delinks religion from terrorism.

The success of our partnership is also opening up new opportunities for learning, security and development from Asia to Africa. And, the protection of the environment and caring for the planet are central to our shared vision of a just world. For us in India, to live in harmony with mother earth is part of our ancient belief. And, to take from nature only what is most essential is part of our civilizational ethos. Our partnership, therefore, aims to balance responsibilities with capabilities.

My final thoughts and words would reiterate that our relationship is primed for a momentous future. The constraints of the past are behind us and the foundations of the future are firmly in place. In the lines of Walt Whitman, “The Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal.” And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play.