Diversity our pride and strength: PM Modi at Wembley

The Prime Minister added: “World leaders tell me that they run smaller countries and have so many problems, but they ask, ‘tell us Modiji, how do 125 crore people in your country live so peacefully and in harmony?’”

Narendra Modi with British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha meet artists and performers in a backstage area at Wembley Stadium in London. (Source: AP)

Referring indirectly to media reports in the UK over his human rights record in Gujarat and about the climate of intolerance in India, Modi said: “Don’t believe the India that you see on TV screens and newspaper headlines. India is far beyond those TV and newspaper headlines, India is much taller and bigger.”

Modi said that he had met some Sikh representatives in London on Thursday and “shared thoughts on various subjects”. “I understand their pain on some issues as well…I am working on them, you will see the results soon,” he said.

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He then praised the contribution made by the Sikh community in sacrificing their lives to defend the country and toiling on the fields to provide grain to the hungry.

Later, the Prime Minister referred to a teacher in Rajasthan, who created “50 (mobile) apps for students”, and said: “My Hindustan is in Alwar’s Imran Khan.”

Modi interacts with school childrens at Wembley Stadium. (Source: PTI)

Identifying terrorism and global warming as the two main challenges facing the world, Modi said that it was “the responsibility of all nations… and all citizens who value humanity” to join the fight.

Modi also referred to the Sufi tradition of Islam as “the best antidote to terrorism”. “If Sufism had been propagated more in Islam, people would not have picked up guns,” he claimed.

He also added that if Mahatma Gandhi’s path is followed, then “we can find solutions to both problems of terrorism and global warming.”

Taking a dig at the previous governments in India, Modi said that “for some reason, we have found happiness in nurturing poverty”. “We have bred poverty, we have been revelling in poverty,” said Modi.

Signalling that it was time for change, he reiterated that his flagship initiatives Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, electricity for 18,000 villages in 1000 days, toilets for girls and opening up business for FDI — “First Develop India” — was the way forward.

“The direction and pace of India’s change…very soon, we will start seeing the results,” he told the audience.

Fireworks lit up the Wembley stadium after Modi addressed the Indian diaspora.

He said that entire world is looking at India with hope and asked the question to the audience, Do you feel it or not”. The crowd said “Yes”, and then he said that “earlier they would shook hands, now they hold our hands…this change is an indication of India’s success”.

Demanding equality for India in the global order, Modi said, “Bharat ko sthan duniya mein barabari ka chahiye….ab duniya se meherbani nahin chahiye (We need an equal position in the world… we don’t need favours from the world). Now, whoever talks to us talks from an equal position.”

He also pitched for indigenous defence production, as he said that the brave soldiers of India need arms made by Indians. “We are dependent on other countries arms…but today, the good news is that all arms selling companies are talking to us,” he said.

Listing removing corruption as one of his top agenda, he said that Transparency International has recently moved India up – by 10 places – and cited it as an achievement. “For the first time, we are ahead of China,” he said.

There were also some light moments as Modi referred to “Brooke Bond and James Bond” while speaking about the rupee bonds issued by Indian Railways at the London Stock Exchange.

Much to the delight of the Indian community in the UK – which has a significant number of people from Gujarat – he announced London to Ahmedabad direct flights from December 15.

He also listed out some of the initiatives like the Madad portal, OCI and PIO card merger, e-migrate portal – for the benefit of the Indian community.

He ended his speech by exhorting the audience to “come and join the journey of progress in India”.

Modi was speaking after he was introduced to the gathering by British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose wife Samantha — dressed in a red sari — was also present. UK ministers Hugo Swire and Priti Patel were also present during the speech.

Cameron said, “They said that a chaiwalla cannot govern the world’s largest democracy, and he proved them wrong.” It was met with applause. And he also said that, “Modi rightly said that acche din aanewale hain, but I would go further, and say that with his leadership and vision, acche din zaroor aayenge.” He also said that he is waiting for the day when UK will have a British Indian Prime Minister.

The stadium saw an electric atmosphere with the Indian community trooping in since noon — almost five hours before the speech. Although the temperature dropped to 8 degrees Celsius, the crowd was noisy and boisterous throughout.

The speech was preceded by performances from Jay Sean, Alisha Chinai, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Shiamak Davar’s group. There was also a kaleidoscope of performances of Odissi, Kuchipuri and Bhangra dancers along with a Bagpiper band — and a Garba performance.

After the speech, Modi took a round of the stadium and waved at the audience, as the fireworks display got going.