Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked one year in office with an address here on Saturday to the Indian community in China, which, he said, is relieved that the “bad days are gone.”
Taking a jibe at the UPA government and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who took a leave of absence in March, Mr. Modi said: “I have not taken one day off since that day [he assumed office]. I even work every Sunday, and will be in Mongolia tomorrow.”
Rebutting criticism of his frequent travels abroad, Mr. Modi said he was visiting countries to bring in investment. From China, he flew to Mongolia, and will head next to South Korea, making it the 18th country he is visiting since assuming office.
Mr. Modi said his year in office had given Indians abroad a new pride in the country. “Earlier, you felt ashamed of being born Indian,” he said. “Now you feel proud to represent the country. Indians abroad had all hoped for a change in government last year.”
My govt. has made expats proud: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark at a meeting with the Indian community here on Saturday that expatriates no longer feel ashamed of being Indians has touch a raw nerve with the Congress and other Opposition parties. Mr. Modi said his one year in office had given Indians abroad a new pride in the country.
The Congress had protested against similar remarks made by the Prime Minister in Germany and Canada last month, when he said he wanted to transform “Scam India” into “Skill India.”
Rebuts criticism
Mr. Modi, who rebutted criticism of his frequent travels abroad, flew directly from China to Mongolia. He will head next to South Korea, making it the 18th country he has visited since assuming office.
Big event
At least 5,000 Indians participated in Saturday’s event, which wrapped up Mr. Modi’s three-day tour of China. The organisers said it was the largest event of its kind. There are approximately 50,000 Indians based in China and Hong Kong, mainly students, businessmen and service sector employees. Many in the crowd had travelled by bus for hours to attend the event, from at least 10 Chinese cities, including the manufacturing hubs of Yiwu and Shenzen.
“We are very keen to hear Mr. Modi speak in China,” Moitree Singh, export worker, told The Hindu before the event. “But more than India-China relations, we are all keen to see what he achieves in terms of development in India.”
The event, held at an exhibition centre outside Shanghai, was ticketed at 400 Yuan (approximately Rs. 4,000) a person, Saikat Ghosh, organiser of the India China Association, told The Hindu.
However, the event, which included a musical performance by Rajasthani singers, was funded by Indian corporate sponsorships, with the biggest donations coming from the Adani Group and the Tatas. “In that sense, we couldn’t compete with New York’s Madison Square Gardens or Australia’s expatriate community events,” Mr. Ghosh said. “But unlike all of them, we are pioneers of a [bilateral] relationship that is yet to take off, and we hope Mr. Modi’s visit to China will change that.” Elaborate security arrangements were made for the event.
> In China, going beyond optics
In redefining India's geopolitical relationship, Modi would have to take a call on balance of power in Asia-Pacific
>Modi, Xi get down to tackling tough issues
Boundary row, trade balance dominate talks, writes Suhasini Haidar.
Takeaways from China
- 1 For enhanced border defence cooperation, a "hotline" to work between the Military Headquarters >Read more
- 2 ISRO and China space agency to sign Space Cooperation Outline for Deep Space Exploration >Read more
- 3 Sisterhood between Karnataka & Sichuan; Aurangabad & Dunhuang, Chennai & Chongqing, Hyderabad & Qingdao >Read more
- 4 Extend electronic tourist visas to Chinese nationals. India will celebrate the "Year of China" next year >Read more
- 5 Agreement on climate change later this year, will address mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer >Read more
- 6 China will open a new Consulate General in Chennai, India will open one in Chengdu >Read more
- 7 Tackle growing trade deficit by expanding economic relations in Infrastructure, IT, Pharma, Agriculture and Manufacturing >Read more
>To China with a clear strategy
India cannot overlook excess of nationalism, belief in exceptionalism in today's China
>A long march to a new relationship
India-China relationship today is marked by low levels of mutual trust, writes Nirupama Rao.