PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden…reports Asian Lite News
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Monday (local time) said that the partnership with India is one of the most consequential relations for the US, adding that Washington is looking forward to deepening economic ties and enhancing security cooperation.
“We are very much looking forward to hosting PM Modi for the State visit later this month,” said Patel. PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and we look forward to continuing deepen our collaboration on a number of issues, whether it be enhancing security cooperation, deepening our economic ties, deepening trade issues,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs informed through a press statement on Wednesday.
The United States Congress has also invited PM Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his visit to the country on June 22, according to the statement released by US Congress.
“During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for India’s future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to Modi.
#WATCH | Vedant Patel, US Principal Dy Spokesperson speaks on the question of PM Narendra Modi's Official State Visit to the United States on June 22, 2023 pic.twitter.com/Wle8aw1iBW
Meanwhile, the White House said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between US and India.
PM Modi’s visit “will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of the family and friendship that link America, Americans and clearly, Indians together. And so that’s very important to the (US) President,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre on PM Modi’s state visit to the US.
Pierre further said: “The President and the First Lady are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi for the official state visit which is going to happen on June 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Joint Session of U.S. Congress, in Washington DC, in June 2016.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries jointly invited PM Modi to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress, reports Yashwant Raj
US Congress leaders have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of lawmakers during his upcoming state visit in June, setting him up to become the first Indian leader to this rare honor Washington D.C. affords to foreign leaders.
There is however, no word yet from New Delhi if the Prime Minister has accepted the invitation.
“During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for India’s future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries jointly wrote in a letter to Modi on Friday.
This is a bipartisan invitation that underscores the bipartisan support enjoyed by US ties with India, transcending the parties in power on both sides or the occupants of 7 Race Course and the White House.
Prime Minister Modi is coming to the US for his first state visit on June 22 at the invitation of President Joe Biden, with a state dinner, which is being accorded to an Indian leader after 14 years. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the last, hosted by former President Barack Obama in 2009.
But Modi will have the singular honor for an Indian Prime Minister to address the US Congress twice. His first was in 2016, and that speech is remembered for a formulation that he had used to describe the arduous journey taken by the bilateral relationship: it had “overcome the hesitations of history”.
In 2016, Modi became the sixth Indian Prime Minister to address Congress, jointly or separately: Jawaharlal Nehru was the the first, addressing the House and Senate separately in 1949, Rajiv Gandhi became the second in 1985, P.V. Narasimha Rao became the third in 1994, Atal Bihari Vajpayee the fourth in 2000 and Manmohan Singh the fifth in 2005.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Joint Session of U.S. Congress, in Washington DC, in June 2016.
Modi could now become both the sixth and seventh Indian Prime Minister to speak to Congress, and the first to do so twice.
This invitation to Modi was initiated by two members of the House of Representatives who head the India Caucus — Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and Micheal Waltz, a Republican.
They first indicated they were planning to ask Speaker McCarthy to invite Modi at an India summit they hosted on Capitol Hill in April for lawmakers, policy experts and Indian American community leaders to talk about the future of the India-US relationship.
They wrote to Speaker McCarthy last week requesting him to invite Prime Minister Modi, and the four congressional leaders, representing both the Democratic and Republican parties, took it up.
Sydney, May 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Australian PM Anthony Albanese during an Indian community event, in Sydney on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Modi credits Indian diaspora in Australia as being a force behind mutual respect and trust between the two countries…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his key address to the Indian diaspora at a community event during his Sydney visit, highlighted “mutual trust and respect” are the foundation of the close historical ties between India and Australia.
Noting that bilateral ties between India and Australia were earlier seen to be defined by 3Cs- Commonwealth, cricket and curry- and then by ‘democracy, diaspora and dosti’ and later ‘energy, economy and education’ emerged as a key component, Modi said that he believes the relationship is “beyond this” and “it is mutual trust and mutual respect”. Addressing a community event in Sydney on the second day of his visit to Australia, Modi credited the Indian diaspora in Australia as being a force behind mutual respect and trust between the two countries.
“Earlier, it was said that India and Australia relation is defined by 3Cs- Commonwealth, Cricket and Curry. Then it was said that our relationship is defined by ‘Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti. Some people also said that our relationship depends on Energy, Economy and Education. But I believe that the relation between India-Australia is beyond this, it is mutual trust and mutual respect,” he said to a packed arena at Sydney Olympic Park.
Modi held meetings with business leaders of top Australian companies in Sydney on Tuesday, During the meetings, he called for enhancing cooperation with the Indian industry in areas such as technology, skilling, and clean energy.
Modi will have bilateral talks with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. At their bilateral meeting, the leaders will discuss trade and investment, including efforts to boost trade between the two countries through a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and work to strengthen people-to-people links, renewable energy, and defence and security cooperation, said the official statement released by the Australian government.Australia is the 13th largest trading partner in 2022-23.
Among those who had gathered to greet Modi included 91-year-old Dr Navamani Chandra Bose who journeyed from Melbourne to meet the Indian prime minister in Sydney, according to The Australia Today.
She was full of energy and passion and very happy to travel by “Modi Airways.” “Very happy today and it’s going to be a great event,” said the nonagenarian who arrived by the ‘Modi Airways,’ a specially chartered flight that took off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
Modi kick-started his day-2 of Australia visit on Tuesday with a meeting with the Executive Chairman of Fortescue Future Industries, an Australia-based Green energy and technology firm.
John Andrew Henry Forrest AO, nicknamed Twiggy, is an Australian businessman. He is best known as the former CEO (and current non-executive chairman) of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) and has other interests in the mining industry and in cattle stations.
According to the Financial Review, Forrest was the richest person in Australia in 2008. The Prime Minister also met Paul Schroder, CEO of Australian Super, in Sydney.
He was appointed Chief Executive of Australian Super on October 1, 2021, and is responsible for the leadership and strategic development of the fund as well as the provision of advice to the board.
In his second meeting, Modi interacted with Gina Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting.
Georgina Hope Rinehart AO was born on 9 February 1954, is an Australian billionaire mining magnate and businesswoman. Rinehart is the Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a privately owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father, Lang Hancock.
“Fostering India-Australia collaboration in the mining and minerals sector. PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with Georgina Hope Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting Group, Roy Hill and S. Kidman & Co, in Sydney,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Modi also met other Chief Executive Officers in Sydney. Modi also met celebrity chef and restaurateur Sarah Todd. Sarah Todd took to Instagram handle and dropped pictures with PM Modi from the meeting.
Sharing the pictures, she wrote, “An incredible honour to be invited personally to meet one on one with the visionary leader, Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi today in recognition of my work and achievements.”
Today’s talks with PM @AlboMP were comprehensive and wide-ranging. This is our sixth meeting in the last one year, indicative of the warmth in the India-Australia friendship. In cricketing terminology- we are firmly in T-20 mode! pic.twitter.com/uD2hOoDL6H
Later in the day, Modi and Australian PM Albanese reached Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park to address the Indian diaspora, a gathering of up to 20,000 people, at a community event.
He was greeted at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park with Vedic chanting and other traditional types of welcome. After a traditional welcome, PM Modi and Albanese greeted each other with a warm hug and walked into Sydney’s biggest stadium to reverberating cheers. He was also welcomed in India traditions. Priests were present at the event and chanted prayers.
A cultural program was held at the Qudos Bank Arena. Various cultural performances were performed by various artists, Bharatnatyam, Garba and other dance forms were performed at the event. (ANI)
Upon PM Modi’s arrival, the Indian national anthem was played and the two prime ministers stood still in respect. PM Modi was also accorded a guard of honour on his arrival…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a 12-step programme to propel India’s partnerships with Pacific Island countries.
“It will fulfill the developmental aspirations of the people of the region and consolidate shared vision of a free, open and prosperous Indo- Pacific. fulfil consolidate the shared vision of a free, open and prosperous Indo- Pacific,” Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The prime minister made the announcement while co-chairing the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit in Papua New Guinea today.
Taking to Twitter, the MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi listed out all the 12 steps announced by PM Modi. The first of the announcements include opening up a new 100-bed regional super speciality hospital in Fiji and to set up a Regional IT and Cyber Security Training Hub in Papua New Guinea.
“Sagar Amrut Scholarships -1000 scholarships in the next 5 years, Jaipur Foot Camp in Papua New Guinea in 2023. Thereafter, two camps annually in other Pacific Island Countries,” Bagchi said.
“FIPIC SME Development Project, Solar project for Government buildings, Provide desalination units for drinking water, Supply sea ambulances, Set up dialysis units, Set up of 24×7 emergency helpline, Set up of Jan Aushadi Kendras, Set up Yoga centres,” he added.
PM Modi arrived in Papua New Guinea on May 21 at the Port Moresby airport where a rare moment was witnessed by the audience. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape touched PM Modi’s feet and sought his blessings.
Upon PM Modi’s arrival, the Indian national anthem was played and the two prime ministers stood still in respect. PM Modi was also accorded a guard of honour on his arrival.
PM @narendramodi is on his way to Port Moresby to chair the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit.
This is PM Modi’s first tour to PNG, as well as the first-ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister to the Indo-Pacific country.
Today, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd FIPIC Summit where he stated that India believes in multilateralism and supports a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
After the Summit, PM Modi met Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr, Premier of Niue Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi, Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka, Marshall Islands minister kitlang kabua, Secretary General of the PIF Henry Puna, and many other Pacific-Indo Countries on the sidelines of FIPIC Summit. (ANI)
The Congress-led alliance got a comfortable majority of more than 335 members out of 543 with the help of its allies whereas the BJP managed to win only 138 seats despite riding high on its India Shining campaign…reports Anandh Singh
The thumping victory in the Karnataka assembly polls has given the Congress a much needed boost as it had been on a losing spree in several assembly elections after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. And with the victory in one of the big southern states, the Congress feels that what it managed to do in 2004 can be repeated in the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections “as there is no invincibility to the BJP”.
The Congress had won 145 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections when the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee recommended premature dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha (in accordance with a provision of the Constitution) to pave the way for early elections apparently in view of the good showing of the BJP in the Assembly elections in four states.
However, despite many poll analysts believing that the NDA would manage to pull in the Lok Sabha elections, the result was completely the opposite and the Congress, which had remained out of power for eight years from 1996 to 2004, managed to come to power.
The Congress-led alliance got a comfortable majority of more than 335 members out of 543 with the help of its allies whereas the BJP managed to win only 138 seats despite riding high on its India Shining campaign.
Congress treasurer Pawan Bansal said, “We will win. We may not have done well for some time but it does not mean that we will not bounce back. We will bounce back. And it will happen.” He was responding to a question, if he feels that the Congress can pull off another 2004 in 2024.
Commenting on the reason why he feels the Congress will make a comeback in the Lok Sabha elections next year, Bansal, who had also served as minister in the UPA government said, “The popularity of the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the BJP is on its way down. So there is every reason that if we get our own act together then the BJP would be defeated.”
He said, “It (BJP) has been defeated and it will be defeated, there is nothing invincible about it.”
When asked about the party’s attempt to bring the like minded parties together ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections next year, Bansal said, “All the opposition leaders were here in Bengaluru (for the swearing in ceremony of the Congress government in Karnataka) and they joyfully participated in the swearing in ceremony here.”
Bansal added that “I cannot talk of the contours as such like what would happen and how it would happen” (about like minded parties coming together), but I am certain that the party will get all together and defeat the BJP. What will the contours, I cannot say at this juncture but one year is a long period in politics,” the veteran leader stated.
Meanwhile, Manish Tewari, who also served as a Union Minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, cited the results of the Karnataka assembly elections where the people rejected the BJP.
Tewari said, “Karnataka elections clearly demonstrate that there is a fatigue with the central government because the entire campaign in Karnataka was not fought on local issues but was led by the national leadership of the BJP. So therefore under those circumstances 2024 is quite doable for Congress.”
When asked about the party’s attempts to bring together the like minded parties, the Congress leader said, “Well let’s see, it’s a work in progress. More importantly there is fatigue on the ground and so therefore other people are also seeing what is happening.”
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress was reduced to 44 seats and till 2019 it lost state after state in the assembly elections. Even in 2019, despite projecting former party chief Rahul Gandhi as the face of the party and launching an aggressive campaign targeting the BJP over the alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, the party could manage to win only 52 seats.
Following the dismal performance of the party, many party leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, Jitin Prasada, RPN SIngh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sushmita Deb and several others left the party.
The Congress in April this year initiated the talks for bringing the like minded parties together after party chief Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the Janata Dal-United leader, an alliance partner of the party in Bihar along with the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on April 12 and the talks of bringing the like minded opposition parties together gained momentum.
Since then Nitish Kumar has met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Barring Patnaik, all the opposition leaders have spoken on the need of bringing the like minded parties together ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, the Congress is also hopeful in 2024 that with the success of the over 4,000 km Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, it could change the fortunes of the party as it has energised the party’s cadres in several states across the country.
The party leaders also feel that the result of the Karnataka assembly polls has given it confidence after a gap of several years. The Congress last year only won in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.
The last Summit of the FIPIC took place in Jaipur, India, on 21 August 2015 with all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs)…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape next week.
The Prime Minister will visit Papua New Guinea on May 22, which will be the first visit by an Indian PM. PM Modi is all set for his three-nation visit, which will start with Japan attending the G7 Summit and then he will go to Papua New Guinea and lastly, he will visit Australia.
The last Summit of the FIPIC took place in Jaipur, India, on 21 August 2015 with all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
During the two FIPIC Summits, India announced initiatives across a wide array of areas to assist the PICs in facing challenges and achieving aspirations for the well-being and development of its people.
A landmark initiative launched under the rubric of the Act East Policy for the PICs is the FIPIC.
PM Modi hosted the First FIPIC Summit in Suva on 19 November 2014 during his historic visit to Fiji, with the participation of all 14 PICs – Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Palau, Nauru and the Solomon Islands.
A major part of India’s engagement with PICs is through development assistance under South-South Cooperation that is mainly in the form of capacity building (training, scholarships, grant-in-aid and loan assistance) and community development projects.
Development partnership has been extended to PICs for socio-economic progress, through community development projects such as solar electrification, supply of agricultural equipment, computers and LED bulbs for schools, sewing machines, dialysis machines, portable sawmills, boats and pick-up trucks, vehicles, construction of sea wall, and coral farms, etc. PICs have been appreciative of developmental cooperation with India.
Initiatives in the region have included the setting up of Information Technology Labs in the PICs. Centres for Excellence in IT (CEITs) have been established in various PICs.
All the PICs countries are vulnerable to climate change and to the effects of rising sea levels. Initiatives like International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) complement our relationship with PICs. Under the CDRI framework, India, along with Australia, the UK and small island developing states (SIDS) launched the ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ (IRIS) on the sidelines of the COP26 at Glasgow on 2 November 2021 to assist the SIDS from disasters and to mobilize technology, finance, and necessary information for Pacific islands and CARICOM nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
#PapuaNewGuinea High Commissioner Paulias Korni spoke to @RRRameshRRR about the third summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (#FIPIC), which Prime Minister @narendramodi will co-chair in Port Moresby on 22 May
Initiatives have been taken in meeting the challenges of climate change that threaten all the PICs. A project for solar electrification of 2,800 houses in 14 PICs has been undertaken under which 70 women solar engineers (called Solar Mamas) have been trained and the electrification process is underway. This project, while addressing climate change and goals of sustainable development, also aims to provide livelihoods to women
Development partnership with PICs has included support to infrastructure development, with a focus on sectors of education, health and culture.
Other community development projects have included revamping libraries and school buildings, renovating of colleges and provision of IT infrastructure to educational institutes, apart from setting up digital libraries.
India has also supplied indelible ink to Fiji and Papua New Guinea for use in their general elections. A landmark programme in the health sector has been the Jaipur Foot Camp fully funded by the Government of India organized in Fiji in collaboration with the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Customized prosthetic limbs were provided to around 600 Fijians during the Camp.
India has been providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the PICs from time to time. India has assisted various PICs with the supply of Covid-19 Vaccines and Medical supplies during the pandemic.
Apart from bilateral engagements, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund was created in 2017. It aims to support demand-driven sustainable development projects in developing countries, focusing on LDCs and small island developing states. PICs have been beneficiaries of this fund. (ANI)
Together, we’ll continue to support the country’s manufacturing growth and create opportunity.” – CEO Doug McMillon.” The meeting was held on Thursday…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his meeting with Walmart Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon was a fruitful one and that he was happy to see India emerge as an attractive destination for investment.
On Sunday, PM Modi tweeted, “The meeting with Mr. Doug McMillon, CEO of @Walmart, was a fruitful one. We had insightful discussions on different subjects. Happy to see India emerge as an attractive destination for investment.” The Prime Minister’s tweet was posted with the retweet of a tweet from Walmart Inc’s handle which was posted on Saturday. The tweet posted by Walmart Inc was, “The visit with Prime Minister @narendramodi reinforces the shared value we bring working alongside India. Together, we’ll continue to support the country’s manufacturing growth and create opportunity.” – CEO Doug McMillon.” The meeting was held on Thursday.
“The visit with Prime Minister @narendramodi reinforces the shared value we bring working alongside India. Together, we'll continue to support the country's manufacturing growth and create opportunity.” – CEO Doug McMillon pic.twitter.com/NYlLAn3WOD
Prior to this on Friday, Walmart Inc on its official Twitter handle said, “Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi for a great conversation. We are working toward exporting $10B (USD 10 billion) per year from India by 2027 and are committed to strengthening logistics, skill development & supply chains to make India a global export leader in toys, seafood & other goods.”
Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon McMillon reinforced the company’s continued commitment to building an ecosystem of suppliers and partners in India, including small and medium enterprises, to meet the company’s goal of sourcing USD 10 billion of India-made goods each year by 2027, according to a statement from the company.
“We are committed to India and are here for the long term. I was excited to meet with the diverse Indian ecosystem of suppliers, small and medium enterprises, merchants and partners who are innovating and driving growth and opportunities,” said McMillion said in a statement. (ANI)
According to some studies, about 100 crore people have connected to the Mann Ki Baat at least once…reports Asian Lite News
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ created history with 100th episode on April 30. It is a unique form of communication between the Head of the State with public to share collective aspirations, wisdom and experience to find ways to solve the problems facing the country and bettering the lot of people, society and nation.
The programme had been initiated on October 3, 2014. Since then, the outreach and influence of the programme increased. The programme is broadcast in 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects and 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili by more than 500 broadcast centres of the All India Radio.
It is time now to review the purpose and achievements of the programme. Some of the achievements are simply staggering. According to some studies, about 100 crore people have connected to the Mann Ki Baat at least once.
It is also one of the few exemplary programmes which is based on a conversation with people about their dreams, aspirations, setbacks and concerns and the possible way out. By talking about grass root change makers and successes and achievements of very ordinary people, Mann Ki Baat has also highlighted the importance of positive action and inspired many for the same.
The programme has upheld and furthered tradition of effective communication of the government head with “we the people”. The overbearance of the people of India during demonetization move and compliance of people in India to strict Covid norms and restrictions followed by their readiness to adopt vaccination are the outstanding examples of effectiveness of such communication.
'Mann Ki Baat' is an excellent platform for spreading positivity and recognising the grassroot changemakers. Do hear #MannKiBaat100! https://t.co/aFXPM1RyKF
Earlier, a former Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Jai Jawan Jai Kisan slogan and a call for maintaining one time fasting to feed the famine affected compatriots in the late Nineteen Sixties was one such occasion in the living memory when people took the communication so seriously.
At an intellectual plain, it is important to analyse the myths about the Mann Ki Baat. Some people describe Mann Ki Baat as a platform and mechanism to publicize Prime Minister’s views and rhetoric and make his presence felt on certain frequencies among the people. It is seen more as part of electoral mobilisation and publicity of government’s programmes and achievements.
Practically viewed there is no problem in all these objectives of Mann Ki Baat, if such allegations are taken to be true as long as there are no ethical and constitutional issues. But if a little rational approach is taken, it is always desirable to have mechanisms for communication and conversation of leaders with the people. It could be seen as one of the finest ways to ensure this.
James A. Winans, one of the first modern speech teachers and an advocate for teaching communication in higher education, said there were “two motives for learning to speak. Increasing one’s chance to succeed and increasing one’s power to serve.” The Prime Minister of India is adept in both kinds of communication but Mann Ki Baat, falls in the second category.
Narendra Modi may not be a great orator, but he is a communicator par excellence. When he speaks, he connects with public to the level that they are not only convinced and stirred emotionally to work towards unleashing their own potentials but also inspired to become an agent of change and progress and give back to society and nation.
The beauty of Mann Ki Baat lies in the fact that before it is shared with public on various media platforms, it begins with an intrapersonal communication, a kind of internal vocalization or reflective thinking and talking to oneself. Intrapersonal communication helps build and maintain our self-concept.
We form an understanding of who we are based on how other people communicate with us and how we process that communication intrapersonally. This particular attribute differentiates the ordinary people from the extraordinary since ages and at list noticeably in two great Indians Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. The semblance of the same could be very well traced in the Mann Ki Baat.
The intrapersonal communication later becomes a public communication. Public communication, nevertheless, a sender-focused form of communication in which one person is typically responsible for conveying information to an audience.
But in Mann Ki Baat, it becomes truly public communication when the audience also participates in it through a mechanism. When the Prime Minister solicits suggestions before the episodes of Mann Ki Baat about what people think should be covered, the communication becomes two-way. Suggestions coming from the public are suitably included in the Mann Ki Baat.
It becomes a public communication also because the Prime Minster talks about many flagship programmes of welfare and provisions which could eliminate poverty, raise standard of living and improve security of the country, the things which matter too much to the people.
Sharing information is vital to win the trust of the people and it is this trust that converts power of the executive into authority. Power alone is not enough for authority, the leaders require credibility for authority. Mann Ki Baat as a platform of public communication has served the purpose.
Mann Ki Bat is more about the quality of ideas, arguments, and organization rather than the performance and delivery aspects of public speaking. The relevance of the theme and its national and human purpose has always remained more important in the programme than the importance of “oratory” or “elocution.” The softness of the Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat spreads the feeling of sitting in front of a friend, philosopher and guide.
The expanse of the coverage is not borne out of academic excellence, but reflection, introspection and practical wisdom. Sometimes the coverage of issues are so wide and comprehensive that many wonder and left awe inspired how a busy state head like Prime Minister could engage so deeply and seriously with public and their concerns. It requires more of “emotional intelligence” than “intelligence quotient.” If Mann Ki Baat proves anything, it is that the Prime Minster of India is very rich in emotional intelligence.
Mann Ki Baat has promoted inclusivity. A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) found that 76% of the Indian media
persons believe that Mann Ki Baat has played a significant role in introducing the “Real Bharat” to the countrymen. According to the study, the programme has acquainted people with what is happening in other parts of the country and inspired them by referring to grass root level innovations and social initiatives.
With 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat, Narendra Modi is falling into the pantheon of leaders who are known for using the medium of radio effectively for communication with people. Radio is an important means of communication with people world over, more particularly the US. The weekly address of the President of the United States is the weekly speech by the President of the nation. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first US President to deliver such radio addresses.
Barack Obama used YouTube for regular video addresses as President-elect and since his inauguration the weekly addresses have continued on the White House website. It has long become customary for the President’s Weekly Radio Address to be followed by a response from the opposition party.
British war-years Prime Minister Churchill’s memorable radio broadcasts are viewed as the benchmark for Prime Ministerial broadcasting, which later politicians often sought to match. Today given the resounding success and popularity of Mann Ki Baat, many people now feel that a US like system of response from opposition about their alternative views could only add to promotion of such public communication and conversation.
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters during a roadshow in Kochi, Kerala,on Monday, April 24, 2023. (Photo:IANS/Twitter)
“During my Mann Ki Baat radio programme I do get a lot of letters and in the upcoming 100th edition of it, I will again take up the issues of the youth,” said Modi…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking to the youths who had turned up in huge numbers on Monday evening said the BJP will always be with the youth, while the traditional fronts have failed in their duty to lift the youth.
“Over the years a lot of opportunities for the youth in Kerala were lost due to the ideological difference of opinion between two traditional political fronts. While one party gave more importance to develop their party, the other political front gave more emphasis to one family and both of them failed the youths,” said Modi.
“We the BJP are trying hard to improve exports from here, but some here are engaged in gold smuggling and are letting the youth down,” said Modi.
He said this at the SH College ground while speaking to more than 20,000 youths waiting for him.
“The country is progressing rapidly and I want Kerala also to make use of it and be part of it. I want that you the youth should script a new history for Kerala and you should take the lead for it and I am ready to follow you,” said Modi to huge applause.
കാലഹരണപ്പെട്ട രണ്ട് പ്രത്യയശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളാണ് കേരളത്തെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ വികസന യാത്രയ്ക്ക് ഊർജ്ജം പകരാൻ സംസ്ഥാനം ബിജെപിയെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കണം. pic.twitter.com/SNa0bJcx4w
He then spoke about the huge potential that tourism offers to Kerala and asked the youth to make use of it.
“During my Mann Ki Baat radio programme I do get a lot of letters and in the upcoming 100th edition of it, I will again take up the issues of the youth,” said Modi.
Turning to political issues of how the BJP is being perceived, he told the youth that the country is getting divided in the name of caste, creed, religion and the youth should come forward against it.
“Be it in northeast or in Goa, some big communities have appreciated the BJP and in Kerala also there is scope for change in this respect,” added Modi.
Modi arrived at Kochi around 5 p.m. for a two-day trip to Kerala, dressed in typical local style and surprised many when he decided to walk a good part of the 1.8 kms as part of his roadshow.
While the original programme was that he will be in a vehicle, he surprised everyone when he decided to walk down the streets.
Thousands of people were waiting for long and they were taken aback when they saw Modi walking past waving to them.
As he walked the people showered flowers on him.
After walking for about 20 minutes he got into his vehicle but stood and greeted the people waiting on either side of the road and also on top of the buildings.
He reached the venue to a tumultuous welcome and greeted the people on the dais. The star of the moment appeared to be Anil Antony, son of the country’s longest serving Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who had joined the BJP earlier this month.
Seeing Anil, Modi stopped near him, patted him on his shoulder and exchanged pleasantries.
On Tuesday he will reach the state capital to flag off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat train and launch a slew of projects. Around noon he will fly to Surat.
PM Mod demanded comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements before the G20 summit takes place..writes T Brajesh
Days after voicing concern over growing anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan extremists on foreign soil, during talks with various world leaders including the Prime Ministers of the UK and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to see strong, convincing and credible action by the foreign governments against these elements.
He is keen to see that governments in the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia have something “substantial, concrete and significant” to share with India in terms of action taken against the pro-Khalistan extremists.
PM Modi wants envoys and diplomats at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also ministers to keep interacting with their counterparts in these countries as a follow-up exercise on the action taken against the Khalistani extremists, diplomatic sources told The Sunday Guardian.
“After all, the heads of these countries have promised PM Modi to take strong steps against the elements who were found involved in anti-India activities abroad,” sources added. “Ministers, diplomats and security officials have been asked to mount pressure on these foreign governments in this regard during different meetings in India and abroad,” sources aware of the meetings at South Block told The Sunday Guardian.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will also, in talks with his counterparts from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries, step up pressure for action against pro-Khalistan elements, sources added. Only a fortnight ago, NSA Doval discussed the heightened pro-Khalistan activity in the UK with Tim Ballow, who was on his way to Kerala to attend a G20 Sherpa meeting. “By the time the world leaders assemble here for the G20 Summit in September this year, there must be a comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements.” This is the clear message from PM Modi, sources said.
London, Mar 20 (ANI): Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India, in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
In a telephonic conversation with UK PM Rishi Sunak recently, PM Modi called for strong action against “anti-India elements”. Sources say PM Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. “When PM Modi invited Sunak for the G20 summit soon after raising this issue during the conversation, the PM in fact indicated that India would want to hear something on the action part before the summit takes place,” said informed diplomatic sources.
Bali, Nov 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with his United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak on the first day of the 17th G20 Summit, in Bali on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Sunak conveyed to the PM that the UK considered the attack on the Indian High Commission in London by Khalistani elements to be “totally unacceptable” and assured the security of the Indian mission and its personnel. “But the time for rhetoric is over, there must be tough action now,” officials said, referring to “the instructions that have come from the top government leadership” here.
PM Modi was equally serious about action against Khalistanis during talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. PM Modi raised the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples in Australia by Khalistani extremists. Sources said that Australia has already launched a massive crackdown against Khalistani sympathisers.
According to sources, the Australian high commission has briefed the Indian government that three Khalistani supporters have been detained in Melbourne by the police there, and more are being rounded up on the basis of inputs provided by those in custody. The government system in New Zealand is also reportedly taking action on similar lines.
During his meetings and talks with counterparts in the US, Canada, the UK, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been flagging the issue of anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan elements. Recently, he spoke on this issue with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Indian missions in London, British Columbia and San Francisco were vandalised by pro-Khalistan extremists following the police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.
San Francisco, Mar 23 (ANI): Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate amid heightened security, in San Francisco on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
During talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, two weeks ago, Jaishankar had put pressure on Ottawa seeking action against Khalistanis in Canada, terming the Khalistan issue as a national security concern for New Delhi.
The Canadian government is reported to have shared its action plan to be carried out against these elements in future. “However, India is waiting for reports on the actual action taken,” an official said.
In what is being viewed as part of the campaign to build pressure on foreign governments, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on 12 April called for action against Khalistani extremists for the attack on the Indian high commission in London. “Trade talks are underway but some credible action should be taken against the incident that happened in Britain,” said Goyal.
In another significant development that underlines the positive results of PM Modi’s diplomacy, a delegation of Sikh Americans told the visiting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently that “the steps taken by PM Modi in the interest of the Sikh community, including their long-pending demands have resulted in the fizzling out of the separatist Khalistan movement”.
The delegation applauded the Modi government for being there for Sikhs and for implementing several demands for the Sikh community in the past nine years. It said that it is because of this, the Khalistan movement has fizzled out in the US. On this, diplomatic sources said, “The government here is waiting for a word from the Biden administration on the action taken in the US and on the over-all status.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is doing its part significantly in creating pressure on the UK and other countries to take action against the Khalistani extremists. MHA officials used the recently held India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue to discuss Khalistani activities in the UK and the protests and violent clashes at the Indian mission in London.
The dialogue, held in New Delhi, was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The UK delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft. The Indian officials asked their UK counterparts to keep a close eye on Khalistani activities in their country and take action against the accused accordingly. Sources said that UK officials were told that Khalistani activists were plotting terror activities to be carried out in India.
In a strong message to Britain, the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the misuse of UK asylum status by pro-Khalistan elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India. New Delhi also assured better cooperation with London to enhance the monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistan extremists.
