The world rightly sees this as India’s Moment, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the world’s best economists, analysts and thinkers have rightly expressed the view that this is “India’s Moment.”

He highlighted that the ‘India Moment’ being discussed around the world today is not ordinary, especially when the largest pandemic in a hundred years hit the world along with the ongoing war between two nations. “A new history is being scripted and we are all witnessing it together”, the Prime Minister remarked.

Speaking at the India Today Group conclave, PM Modi said, “The most special thing about the India Moment is that promise is coupled with performance.”

Listing out India’s achievements on a global level, the Prime Minister said that India is the world’s fastest-growing economy, ranks one in smartphone data consumption in the world, ranks one in global fintech adoption rate, is the second largest mobile manufacturer in the world, and houses the third largest startup ecosystem in the world among various other things. The world is showing its trust in India, he added.

Prime Minister recalled his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort 20 months ago when had said “This is the time and it is the right time.”

Throwing light on the nation’s achievements in the first 75 days of the year 2023, the Prime Minister informed that India’s historic green budget was launched, a new airport in Shivamogga, Karnataka was inaugurated, the next phase of Mumbai Metro was launched, the world’s longest river cruise completed its journey, the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway was inaugurated, a section of the  Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was inaugurated, Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai to Vishakapatnam were flagged off, IIT Darward Campus was inaugurated and the country dedicated 21 islets of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the 21 Paramvir Chakra Awardees.

He further added that India launched E-20 fuel after achieving 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, inaugurated Asia’s most advanced Helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumkuru and Air India placed the highest aviation order of all time. In the last 75 days, the Prime Minister informed that the milestone of 10 crore teleconsultations was achieved through the e-Sanjeevani app in India, 8 crore new tap water connections were provided, 100 percent electrification of rail networks was achieved, a new batch of 12 cheetahs have arrived at Kuno National Park, India’s Women Under-19 team won the U19 T20 World Cup, and the country felt the joy of winning two Oscars.

He also informed that in the last 75 days, 28 crucial G20 Meetings, the Energy Summit and the Global Millets Conference took place, and more than a hundred countries took part in the Aero India Summit in Bengaluru.

Besides, the UPI linkage was created with Singapore, India initiated ‘Operation Dost’ to help Turkey, and the Indo-Bangladesh gas pipeline was inaugurated earlier in the evening. “All this is a reflection of the India Moment”, the Prime Minister remarked.

The Prime Minister underlined that today, on one hand, India is building physical infrastructure like roads, railways, ports, and airports while on the other hand, there is an unprecedented attraction for Indian culture and soft power in the world.

“Today yoga has become popular all over the world. Today there is enthusiasm for Ayurveda and there is enthusiasm about the food and drinks of India”, the Prime Minister said. He noted that Indian films and music are attracting people’s attention with their new energy.

The Prime Minister also noted that India’s millets – Shree Anna is also reaching the entire world. The Prime Minister highlighted that India’s ideas and potential towards ‘Global Good’ is being recognized by the world, be it the International Solar Alliance or the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

“That’s why today the world is saying – This is India’s Moment”, the Prime Minister remarked. He said that all of these have a multiplier effect and informed that most of the countries are themselves returning India’s ancient idols.

In an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Indian democracy, the Prime Minister said that there are pessimistic talks of humiliating India and breaking the country’s morale when the country is full of self-confidence and determination, and foreign countries are also hopeful about India.

“Whatever India is achieving today, it is due to the power of our democracy, the power of our institutions”, PM Modi remarked.

He said that the world is witnessing the democratically elected government of India take decisive decisions. He informed that India has created many new institutions in the past years and gave the example of the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

He also noted that many elections were successfully held in the country amid Corona. “In the midst of the global crisis, today India’s economy is strong, the banking system is strong. This is the strength of our institutions”, he said. He informed that the government has given 220 crore doses of corona vaccine so far. “I think our democracy and our democratic institutions are being attacked the most because of this. But I am sure, even in the midst of these attacks, India will move fast towards its goals, and will achieve its goals”, he added.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the headlines of yesteryear usually unearthed scams worth lakhs of crores in various sectors and the public being out on the street in protest, but the headlines of today, the Prime Minister interjected, comprise of the corrupt taking to the streets due to action in cases of corruption.

He also underlined that the present government had increased the speed and scale of action to tackle poverty. He gave examples of building more than 11 crore toilets at a record pace, 48 crore people being added to the banking system, and the money for pucca houses being sent directly to the bank account of those beneficiaries.

The Prime Minister informed that more than 3 crore houses were built and handed to the poor in the last 9 years. He highlighted that women also have ownership rights in these houses and said that India’s Moment is bound to come when poor women feel empowered. He also pointed out how Rs 2.5 lakh crore had been sent directly to the accounts of 11 crore small farmers.

He emphasized the importance of trust of the people of the country in its government and expressed satisfaction that today the citizens have developed the belief that the government cares for them. “There is a human touch and sensitivity in good governance. We have given human touch to governance, and only then one can witness such a big impact.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to expand the role of Indian Media globally and said, “We have to strengthen India Moment with ‘Sabka Prayas’ and empower the journey of a developed India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”