Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, being held in Gandhinagar on Thursday.
Accompanied by Union Urban Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu, PM Modi was received at the Ahmedabad airport last night by Gujarat Governor O. P. Kohli and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, among others.
Earlier on Wednesday, Modi had reiterated his commitment for clean India by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The three-day conclave is being held at the Mahatma Mandir complex in Gandhinagar to mark the centenary of India’s, ‘Sarva Sreshtha Pravasi Bharatiya’, Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to India.
Here are the highlights of his speech:
I invite you, whatever it is that you possess, come with it and join us in this endeavour
The way cleanliness drive for river Ganga is an environmental matter, same way it can be the source of economic activity for people
Everything is not measured in dollars or pounds. The relationship we have with Pravasis is beyond that
Some people feel that this relation with the pravasis is driven by expectations, I think meeting our own people is a pleasure in itself
PIO and OCI have been merged and everyone would be able to enjoy same facilities now
We had said that a PIO card holder will be given visa all his life, it has been done
Before I was the PM, I used to meet people from different countries and would listen to their dilemmas
I can still recall there wasn’t any Indian who didn’t try to wipe tears off Gujarat when Kutch was hit by earthquake
I know when India goes through troubled times, Pravasis feel the pain. Whether in happiness or sadness, together
Have actively participated in Pravasi Bharat Divas events. Only time I didn’t was in Kerala, when I marked my presence through video call
I know for sometime now you did not really want to participate in Pravasiya Bharati Divas, but I always attended
Gandhiji infused spirit of freedom in every citizen during India’s freedom struggle, he made it a mass movement
United Nation celebrates many international days like Children’s Day, I suggested why shouldn’t we celebrate International Yoga Divas
I put forth the idea of Yoga day in the UN and 177 countries out of 193 were keen on co-sponsoring it
177 countries supported my proposal as co sponsors, including around 40 Muslim countries
The reason behind it is our rich tradition & high values that every Indian citizen is living with in different parts of world
It is not the immense wealth that Pravasis have that they are respected, people admire them for values they have
Having met people from distinct lands, I have found that whether rich or poor, every country looks up to India
It is the responsibility of every Indian, including Pravasis to become the driving force to achieve new results for India
Be it most developed nation of World or the poorest one, every nation is looking at India today
I have met more than 50 world leaders in the short span that I have been given this new responsibility. All the world leaders I met expressed desire to partner with India. Such opportunities do not come easily in a country’s life
The more the entire world gets to know about Mahatma Gandhi, it will be better. It has the strength to guide everyone
The reason behind it is our rich tradition & high values that every Indian citizen is living with in different parts of world
It is not the immense wealth that Pravasis have that they are respected, people admire them for values they have
Havng met people from distinct lands, I have found that whether rich or poor, every country looks up to India
It is the responsibility of every Indian, including Pravasis to become the driving force to achieve new results for India
Be it most developed nation of World or the poorest one, every nation is looking at India today
I have met more than 50 world leaders in the short span that I have been given this new responsibility. All the world leaders I met expressed desire to partner with India. Such opportunities do not come easily in a country’s life
The more the entire world gets to know about Mahatma Gandhi, it will be better. It has the strength to guide everyone
100 years ago, one ‘NRI’ returned to India and today one Gujarati NRI welcomes entire overseas Indian community
I welcome all of you and say that there are several opportunities waiting for you in India
World is seeing India with immense hope and optimism
African Congress was born on 8th January, that is today. Mahatma Gandhi gave a message that day, relevant today
Time is changing at a fast place, World is looking at India today with hope
I want to tell you that India is full of opportunities now
There was time when professionals in India travelled to distant lands to explore new possibilities. Now India awaits you with opportunities
