Tag: Modi

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PM, Jaishankar speak to French leaders as Paris-Washington ties fray

Modi tweeted after his virtual interaction with French President Emmanuel Macron that they discussed “closer collaboration between India and France in the Indo-Pacific”, reports Arul Louis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held discussions on the Indo-Pacific with leaders of France, whose relations with the United States is fraying over Washington’s actions in the region.

Modi tweeted after his virtual interaction with French President Emmanuel Macron that they discussed “closer collaboration between India and France in the Indo-Pacific”.

“We place great value on our strategic partnership with France, including in the UNSC (Security Council),” he said.

Macron responded in an effusive tweet, “Thank you for reaffirming the importance of our strategic partnership. India and France are strongly committed to making the Indo-Pacific an area of cooperation and shared values. We will continue to build on this.”

He prefaced it by writing in Hindi, “Namaste priya saathi, priya mitra (Namaste dear comrade, dear friend).”

In New York, Jaishankar began his round of diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High Level Week on Tuesday by meeting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves LeDrian.

He called Paris a “strategic partner” and said at the Security Council the two countries are “solid partners”.

Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting that they had a comprehensive discussion “on Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific and other contemporary issues”.

He later met with Quad partner and Australia Foreign Minister Marise Payne and tweeted that they “took forward the strategic conversations” from their last meeting.

He added that he “was apprised of the recent developments in the Indo-Pacific”.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in a Quad summit with US President Joe Biden and Prime Ministers Yohihide Suga of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia, the allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

India, which has strong defence ties with France that sells it advanced aircraft, is caught in the middle of the dispute between its Quad partners, the US and Australia, and France.

France recalled its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra protesting against the manner in which Biden’s administration worked out a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines undermining a contract worth more than $50 billion for France to supply submarines to Australia.

LeDrian has called it a “back-stabbing” and said that Biden’s “brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision” reminded him of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies.

France has to ensure that India, one of its biggest defence clients, is not wooed away through its close Quad ties.

Underlining France’s concerns over India and the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar and LeDrian held a phone conversation last Saturday.

Closer in the Indo-Pacific region, Jaishankar met with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, whom he described in a tweet as “a key ASEAN partner”.

He said that they discussed regional developments and added, “Shared interests and common perspectives drive our strong cooperation.”

Jaishankar also met with Foreign Ministers Hossein Amirabdollahian of Iran and Sameh Shoukry of Egypt in a morning of whirlwind diplomacy.

Iran is a direct neighbour of Afghanistan and developments there impact it as it does India.

The “meeting reaffirmed our convergence on regional issues”, Jaishankar tweeted.

India has routed aid to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port it is developing in Iran.

Besides agreeing to build on bilateral cooperation, Jaishankar tweeted that he and Shoukry exchanged views on Afghanistan and the GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam).

Egypt and Sudan are locked in a dispute with Ethiopia over a dam project, which they say can disrupt the Nile on which they depend for their water.

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Modi, Biden to discuss ways to fight ‘common enemy terrorism’

During US trip, Modi will also meet one-on-one with five chief executives of top American companies on September 23, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will have the opportunity to talk about the broader threat of terrorism and situation in Afghanistan, said a senior Biden administration official, adding that they will discuss ways to work together to fight a common enemy of terrorism.

Prime Minister Modi and Biden will hold the first in-person bilateral meet on September 24 in the US. The meeting will take place before the first-in-person Quad Leaders meeting.

In a briefing, the official said: “This will be the first in-person meeting [of President Biden] with Prime Minister Modi on Friday, and it will be an opportunity to really go from strength to strength from the point of view of our global partnership with India, by working together to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific and our two countries were both vital in the global fight against COVID-19. And by taking conservative actions to address the climate crisis.”

The official said that the discussion between Biden and PM Modi will give momentum to the Quad discussion.

“In the bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, the two leaders will have the opportunity to talk about the broader threat of counterterrorism, and the situation in Afghanistan and how we can work together to fight, a common enemy of terrorism, as well as to talk about a range of issues that development will have the opportunity to compare notes,” the official said.

The official also sketched out how President Biden will use his speech at the United Nations on Tuesday to stress that ending the military engagement in Afghanistan will open a new chapter of “intensive diplomacy.”

President Biden will leave the White House on Monday afternoon to travel to New York. Biden is to meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres late on Monday afternoon, give his first speech as president to the UN General Assembly at mid-morning on Tuesday, meet Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison afterward in New York, then return to Washington to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“The president will essentially drive home the message that ending the war in Afghanistan closed a chapter focused on war and opens a chapter focused on … purposeful, effective, intensive American diplomacy,” the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United States this week to attend the first in-person Quad Leaders Summit and address the UN general debate.

He will also have a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. This will be PM Modi’s second visit abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. His first such visit was to Bangladesh earlier this year.

During the significant visit to the US, PM Modi would on September 24 participate in the Leaders’ Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework in Washington along with his US, Japanese and Australian counterparts.

The bilateral meeting with the US President is also scheduled for the day. This is PM Modi’s first visit to the US since Joe Biden became the President.

Meeting with Harris

Modi will also have bilateral meetings with vice president Kamala Harris (September 23) in the course of a busy three-day trip to the US that will see him addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the first speaker of the day.

According to people in US and Indian diplomatic circles, Modi will also meet one-on-one with five chief executives of top American companies on September 23. While Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to be one of the five who will meet the Indian PM in Washington, the other names are still being finalised. The same day, Modi will also have bilateral meetings with Suga and Morrison.

On the second day of the visit, the Indian PM will attend a series of meetings at the White House. This will be his first meeting with Biden after the latter became US President and his first ever in-person meeting with Harris. He has met Biden before, on his first visit to the US as prime minister in 2014. Biden was vice-president at the time in the administration of President Barack Obama.Modi is expected to leave for New York soon after the Quad dinner on September 24.

Modi last addressed UNGA in-person 2019 as the 2020 meetings were held virtually amid a raging Covid-19 pandemic that had hit New York state and city the hardest in the US at the time, turning them into ground zero of the worst public health crisis faced by the world in more than 100 years.

While Air India has asked permission from Islamabad for overflight of PM Modi’s Air India One Boeing 777-300ER jet, the aircraft has enough range to avoid Pakistani airspace on its direct flight to Washington.

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At SCO summit, PM says radicalisation biggest challenge to peace

Modi says the summit should develop a shared template to fight radicalism and extremism and work to develop a strong network among moderate, tolerant and inclusive institutions and traditions associated with Islam, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke about increasing radicalisation, which he said has become the biggest challenge to peace, security and trust deficit in the region, in his address to the plenary session of the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe.

In his virtual address, Modi said recent developments in Afghanistan had made this challenge clearer.

He said the summit should develop a shared template to fight radicalism and extremism and work to develop a strong network among moderate, tolerant and inclusive institutions and traditions associated with Islam.

“Twentieth anniversary of the SCO is the right time to think about the future of SCO. The biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and trust deficit and root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation. Recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear,” he said.

He further said no connectivity initiative cannot be a one-way project. “To ensure mutual trust, connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent and participatory. There should be respect for the territorial integrity of all countries,” Modi added.

“India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. We believe that landlocked central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market,” he added.

“This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of SCO. I welcome Iran as a new member country of the SCO. I also welcome the three new dialogue partners – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar,” he further said.

Modi welcomed the new members and dialogue partners to the summit and greeted the people of the host country, Tajikistan. “This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of SCO. I welcome Iran as a new member country of the SCO. I also welcome the three new dialogue partners – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar,” said PM Modi.

Speaking about the ongoing Afghanistan turmoil, its internal and external implications, and issues pertaining to regional security, PM Modi stressed on global effort in order to bring peace in the region.

“20th anniversary of SCO is right time to think about future of SCO. The biggest challenges in this area are related to-peace, security and trust deficit, and root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation. Recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear. We should take a joint step to restore peace in the region.”

Moderate and tolerant Islamic values are already there. SCO should help propagate such ideas in the region, the Indian Prime Minister added.

Further in his address, Prime Minister Modi endorsed trade routes for land-locked Central Asia countries with India.

“SCO expansion shows the impact and influence of this growing organization. Connectivity is the biggest issue in Central Asia. India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market.”

It is to be noted that this is the first SCO meet being held in-person and virtual, and the fourth where India will take part as a full-fledged member. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier in the day met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed the border row with him on the sidelines of the summit. While PM Modi joined the meeting via video link, Jaishankar is in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.

The SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) comprising Russia and Central Asian States will hold a joint summit meeting on Afghanistan.

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COVID-19 India News

Use local traditions to help vaccination drive: Modi

Addressing the gathering, Modi said that Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a champion in the fight against the largest epidemic in 100 years…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the local traditions should be used to help the vaccination drive. He was interacting with the healthcare workers and beneficiaries of the Covid vaccination programme in Himachal Pradesh via video conferencing.

Addressing the gathering, Modi said that Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a champion in the fight against the largest epidemic in 100 years.

“Himachal has become the first state in India to have administered at least one dose of corona vaccine to each one of its entire eligible population which underlines the importance of ‘Aatmvishwas’ and ‘Aatmnirbharta’,” said Modi.

While talking to Dr Rahul of Civil Hospital at Shimla, the prime Minister lauded the team effort for minimising the vaccine wastage. Talking to a vaccination beneficiary, Modi inquired about the facilities of vaccination and how they dealt with the rumours regarding vaccination.

The Prime Minister spoke to ASHA worker Nirma Devi from Kullu, and enquired about her experience with the vaccination drive.

The Prime Minister emphasised to use the local traditions in helping the vaccination drive in his virtual address. He praised the model of dialogue and collaboration developed by the team and asked about how the team travelled long distances to administer vaccines.

The PM said that the world’s biggest vaccination programme is continuing due to the efforts of people like Karmo Devi.

Karmo Devi of Una has the distinction of vaccinating 22,500 people. He praised her spirit as she kept on working despite a fracture in her leg.

Lauding the efforts of doctors, ASHA workers, Aanganwadi workers, medical personnel, teachers, and other staff in the vaccination drive against Covid, PM Modi said that the success of vaccination in India is the result of the spirit and hard work of its citizens.

India is vaccinating at the record speed of 1.25 crore vaccines per day. This means that the number of vaccinations in India in one day is more than the population of many countries.

Recalling the mantra ‘Sabka Prayas’ which Modi mentioned during his Independence Day speech, he said that this success is a manifestation of that. He praised the dialogue and collaboration model and expressed happiness that even in a remote district like Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal has been a leader in giving 100 per cent first dose.

“This is the area which used to be cut off from the rest of the country for months before the Atal Tunnel was built,” said PM Modi, while admiring the state’s efforts to not allow any rumour or disinformation to hamper the vaccination efforts.

“Himachal is a proof of how the country’s rural society is empowering the world’s largest and fastest vaccination campaign,” said PM Modi.

Referring to recently notified Drones rules, PM Modi said that these rules will help in the spheres of many sectors like health and agriculture and will open doors for new possibilities.

He inspired the farmers and gardeners of the state to make farming in Himachal complete organic within the next 25 years.

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Modi may visit US this month, meet Biden

If the schedule works out as per ongoing discussions, the window of opportunity that is being explored is September 22-27, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Washington DC and New York in the last week of September, according to top government sources. This will be his first visit to the United States since President Joe Biden assumed office early this year.

If the schedule works out as per ongoing discussions, the window of opportunity that is being explored is September 22-27, said sources.

This will be Modi’s first in-person meeting with Biden. The two have met virtually on at least three occasions — the Quad summit in March, the climate change summit in April, and the G-7 summit in June this year.

Modi was supposed to travel to the UK for the G-7 summit where he could have met Biden, but had to cancel the trip due to the second Covid-19 wave across India.

Afghan issue

With the situation in Afghanistan unfolding rapidly, Modi’s visit is significant. Besides meeting Biden, he is expected to have important meetings with the top echelons of the US administration.

Modi last visited the US in September 2019, when then US President Donald Trump had addressed the Howdy Modi event — the Prime Minister’s “abki baar Trump sarkar” line had not gone down well with the Democratic party’s establishment.

Two years since, it will be an effort to reach out to the Democratic establishment, which has been quite vocal about the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the strategic side, the two sides will work on an ambitious agenda on the Indo-Pacific – with the Chinese challenge being one of the shared concerns. In this context, an in-person Quad leaders’ summit is being planned in Washington DC, around the same time as Modi’s visit.

But Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga’s decision on Friday to step down after a one-year tenure has put a spanner in the works. Sources said that while an in-person summit for all the Quad leaders looks like a remote possibility, a “hybrid format” could be an option, where at least two leaders – Modi and Biden – join in person, while Australia’s Scott Morrison and Japan’s Suga join virtually.

Shringla, Sherman talks

In a bid to give shape to the PM’s agenda, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met top Biden administration officials in Washington DC, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, and held substantive discussions with them on the strategic bilateral ties and regional and global issues like the current situation in Afghanistan.

This was the first high-level discussion between the officials of the two countries after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan on August 31.

Shringla, who arrived in the US capital on Wednesday from New York, met Blinken on Thursday at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. Shringla had a series of meetings throughout Thursday, including with his American counterpart Sherman.

Shringla and Sherman discussed a broad range of shared priorities, including continued coordination on Afghanistan, strengthening Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad, addressing the climate crisis and the pandemic, and preparations for upcoming dialogues, such as the 2+2 Ministerial, said US State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

The two diplomats agreed to remain closely coordinated on shared goals and priorities to deepen the US-India partnership, Price said in a readout of the meeting.

Shringla also met Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya.

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PM speaks with European Council President on Afghanistan developments

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on bilateral and global issues, in particular, the situation in Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke on phone with President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan and the implications for the region and the world.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders unequivocally condemned the horrific terror attack at the Kabul International Airport that resulted in many casualties.

They emphasized the importance of a stable and secure Afghanistan and discussed the potential role India and the EU could play in this context.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on bilateral and global issues, in particular, the situation in Afghanistan.

In the meanwhile, Slovenia, which holds the rotating Presidency of Council of the European Union for the period July to December 2021, has planned to host an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on September 3, which will be attended by EU Foreign Ministers.

This format, known as the Gymnich meeting, is a highlight of each Presidency.

According to persons familiar with the development, a special invitation has been extended to EAM S Jaishankar by the EU Presidency to participate in this informal meeting and interact with the EU Foreign Ministers.

Focus of discussions is likely to be on developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific (EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is expected in September 2021). (India News Network)

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Modi speaks with Israeli PM, discusses potential to further expand ties

Prime Minister Modi reiterated his congratulations to Bennett for assuming office as the Israeli Prime Minister earlier this year…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett have agreed on the potential to further expand cooperation between the two sides, especially in the areas of high-technology and innovation

During a phone call on Monday, they discussed concrete steps that could be taken in this regard.

They decided that the two Foreign Ministries would work on preparing a roadmap for further enriching the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, an official release said.

The leaders expressed satisfaction over the remarkable growth in the bilateral relationship in recent years.

According to the release, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India greatly values its robust cooperation with Israel in areas like agriculture, water, defence and security, and cyber-security.

Naftali Bennett

Recalling that next year would mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to PM Bennett to visit India.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated his congratulations to Bennett for assuming office as the Israeli Prime Minister earlier this year.

The Indian Prime Minister also conveyed his greetings and good wishes to Bennett and the people of Israel for the coming Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah. (India News Network)

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PM chairs key meet on Afghanistan situation

Though the details of the meeting were not shared, it is leant that the government’s highest decision making body discussed the tense security situation there, reports Asian Lite News

Amid the evolving situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the meeting.

Though the details of the meeting were not shared, it is leant that the government’s highest decision making body discussed the tense security situation there.

The government’s priority is to safely evacuate the remaining Indians left there and also ensure the security of Hindus and Sikhs there.

India has initiated various development projects in Afghanistan both by the government and the private sector and their future hangs in the balance due to the political developments in that country.

The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.

In view of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, the government decided that the Embassy personnel in Kabul would be immediately moved to India. This movement has been completed in two phases and the Ambassador and all other personnel reached New Delhi on Tuesday.

“We have been issuing periodic travel and security advisories for all Indian nationals in Afghanistan, given the deteriorating security situation there. Those already in Afghanistan were urged to return immediately while others were advised not to travel there,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Nevertheless, we understand that a number of Indians are stranded in that country, some of whom are employed by third country organisations. Our immediate priority is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently present in Afghanistan. They and/or their employers are requested to urgently share the relevant details with the MEA’s Special Afghanistan Cell,” the statement added.

“As regards Afghan nationals, our visa services will continue through an e-Emergency visa facility, which has been extended to Afghan nationals. We have already received requests from Afghan Sikh and Hindu community leaders, and we are in touch with them,” the MEA said.

Deve Gowda urges Centre to act ‘humane’ on Afghan crisis

Describing the ongoing chaos in Afghanistan as a “difficult moment for India”, Janata Dal (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Tuesday appealed to the Central government to respond in a “humane manner”.

Taking to Twitter, Gowda, who served as Prime Minister from June 1, 1996, to April 21, 1997, said India should develop an independent policy towards Afghanistan, which has now come under the Taliban.

“Reports from Afghanistan show how fear and uncertainty have gripped the country. It is a difficult moment for India and the entire region,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

“We have to respond in a human manner besides developing an independent policy of fostering friendship and peace in our neighbourhood,” the JD-S supremo added.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the Afghanistan crisis, Karnataka’s Energy and Kannada and Culture Minister, V. Sunil Kumar in his tweet stated that the inhuman Taliban has taken over the Afghanistan capital, leading to the suspension of women’s rights and the taking over of a radio station that now broadcasts Quran instead of music.

“Such fanaticism is exceeding the extreme limits. I pray for the defeat of fanaticism and the return of democracy,” Kumar said, slamming the Talibani regime in his tweet.

Iran to make efforts to stabilise Afghanistan: President Raisi

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his country would make serious efforts to stabilise Afghanistan as the country’s government fell on Sunday and the Taliban took over the control, a media report said.

“The military defeat and pull out of the US from Afghanistan must be turned into an opportunity to revive life, security and sustainable peace in the country,” Tehran Times quoted Raisi as saying.

“Iran will make efforts for the stability of Afghanistan as today’s first need, and as a neighboring and brotherly country invites all groups to agree on a national consensus,” Raisi added, Tehran Times reported.

Tehran has been closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, the Taliban in the first presser announced that “soon they will reach a settlement through which an Islamic government will be established in the country.

The terror group entered Kabul on Sunday and took control of the presidential palace as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

Taliban leaders have been discussing future government plans in Doha after gaining control of Kabul.

“We want to establish a government that includes all sides,” Taliban spokesperson Mujahid Zabiullah said, adding that they want an end to the war.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Taliban had announced a “general amnesty” for all Afghan government officials and urged them to return to work. 

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PM for everyone’s effort for inclusive development

On the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for the country’s transformation to newer heights, new levels of prosperity, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for the country’s transformation to newer heights, new levels of prosperity, world-class modern infrastructure, and access to quality facilities for all Indians irrespective of the region and class they belong in the next 25 years.

However, he reminded the citizens that a resolve means nothing without the efforts to back it. “A resolve will remain incomplete till it is not matched with valour and hard work. Therefore we have to achieve all our resolves through ultimate valour and hard work,” Modi said from the ramparts of the the Red Fort.

Addressing his eighth Independence Day address, Modi virtually prophesized next 25 years till the centenary year of Independence as ‘Amrut Kal’, during which India will transform itself to newer heights. “25 years of Amrut Kaal. We should not wait for that long to meet our goals. We must set out for this immediately. This is the time, the right time. We should change ourselves according to the changing world. We will work with the motto of Sabka saath, sabka vikaas, sabka vishwas aur sabka prayaas,” Prime Minister said adding that country should aim to achieve new levels of prosperity and ensure that the quality of access to facilities are not different in urban and rural areas; and government should not be an impediment for public and country should have modern infrastructure which is no less than world standard.

In this context, he appealed to governments at every level to bring down compliance burdens for citizens in a mission mode.

At a time when his government has come under fire for the alleged snooping using the Pegasus spyware, the Prime Minister intensely pitched for reduced role of the government in citizens’ life. “We want such an India where the governments do not interfere in the lives of the citizens,” he said.

He also assured that his government is working for freeing people and system of the archaic laws. “Earlier, the govt was sitting in the driver’s seat. Maybe it was needed at that time. But the time has changed now. Efforts have increased in the last seven years to free the people from the web of unnecessary laws and procedures. Several unnecessary laws have been scrapped so far. Our priority will be to ensure that the services reach the last person seamlessly. For the all-round development of the nation, it is essential to end the unnecessary interference of govt and government procedures in the lives of people,” he said.

While “Atma-Nirbhar” (self-reliant) economy was one of the main themes of his Independence Day speech last year, it was not as much this time. In its place, Prime Minister speech today sought to appeal to the economic agents in the country to aim for “world class” and “next generation” targets for the global economy as it reshapes after the pandemic.

The major highlight of the Prime Minister’s address was his pledges for the new India. “We have to work together for Next Generation Infrastructure. We have to work together for World Class Manufacturing. We have to work together for Cutting Edge Innovation. We have to work together for New Age Technology,” he said.

For this purpose, Prime Minister emphasised the need for world-class infrastructure to achieve these aspirations and open new economic opportunities. For this purpose, he announced to launch Prime Minister Gati Shakti national master plan. He suggested that the plan will be Rs 100 lakh crore worth of infrastructure schemes that will generate employment opportunities. Though he did not dwell much on the contours, it appeared a version of National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) announced by the government earlier. The Prime Minister suggested that this new master plan will keep the foundation of a holistic infrastructure plan that will not work in silos.

Against this backdrop, he urged Indian manufacturers to produce world-class goods in the new economy and assured government support in their endeavors to break new grounds in the global economy. “Every product is a brand ambassador. It should give them (users abroad) pride. You should dream to capture global market. Government is with you in every way,” Prime Minister said.

He also reiterated the slogan he had introduced during his first tenure as the Prime Minister. “A time comes in the development journey of every country when that nation defines itself from a new end, when it takes itself forward with new resolutions. Today, that time has come in India’s development journey. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas‘. Now, ‘Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s effort) is important for the achievement of all our goals,” Modi said. He further added: “Development should be inclusive. Whether it is our eastern India, North East, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh including the entire Himalayan region, be it our coastal belt or tribal region, it will become a big base for India’s development in future.”

If this was the major economic outline announced by the Prime Minister today, for the welfare sector, he outlined “saturation” philosophy for eligible beneficiaries of different welfare scheme. “We have to move towards saturation: 100 per cent villages should be connected through roads; 100 per cent families should have a bank account; 100 per cent beneficiaries should have Ayushmaan Bharat card; 100 per cent eligible persons should have Ujjwala Gas connection,” the Prime Minister gave some of the examples suggesting that the government will now target saturation level coverage of eligible beneficiaries of different welfare programmes launched by the government.

PM Modi reasoned that the saturation level target will cut down corruption of during the implementation of these schemes. While some of the scheme, say like bank account, may mean universalisation of bank accounts, it does not mean universalisation of every welfare scheme but only saturation of those eligible under the criteria for each welfare scheme.

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INDIA @75

As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day on August 15, we take a look at what Indian and world leaders said.

Our youth is the ‘Can Do’ Generation, and they can achieve everything they set their mind to. Our actions today will determine our future. Our today will set the theme of our 100 years of India’s Independence.
— Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

I wish all those celebrating today, in India, in the United States, and throughout the world, a safe and happy Indian Independence Day.
— Joe Biden, US President

Biden

I take this occasion to convey our appreciation to the government and people of India, particularly the Embassy of India team here, for the support during these difficult times.
— Lotay Tshering, Bhutan’s PM

Lotay Tshering, Bhutan’s PM

On this great festival, I bow to the great freedom fighters who sacrificed themselves for freedom and all the brave soldiers dedicated to the security of the country. Your sacrifice and dedication will always inspire us to serve the nation.
— Amit Shah, Union Home Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

While non-violence is our ultimate duty, protecting the integrity of the nation is also equally important. Therefore, we are ready to sacrifice anything for the unity and integrity of the nation.
— Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

We attained Independence after a long struggle, now we are working towards becoming a ‘New India’ as we celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ this year.
— Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker

The fight against farm laws is not political. It does not matter who is in power where. We need to stand by what is right and to ensure that our rights under the Constitution are not crushed.
— Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM

On the 75th Independence Day, let us all come together to strengthen our voices against all forces that aim to stifle our freedom. We must never forget the sacrifice of those who fought a long and hard battle for this day.
— Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM

For the independence of Mother India, there was resistance from the British in every corner of the country including villages, towns and forests. On the occasion of Independence Day, let us salute all the revolutionaries who have amazed the whole world with their indomitable valour and give meaning to the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Jai Hind!
— Yogi Adityanath, UP CM

Today, let’s take the pledge that we will liberate our country from the shackles of poverty, caste discrimination, gender inequality, communal ideologies, sectarianism & all social injustices to recapture the meaning of freedom in all its glory. Happy Independence Day.
— Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala CM

Our curriculum teaches physics, chemistry but not patriotism. Our new ‘Deshbhakti Curriculum’ will instil patriotic values in our children.
— Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM

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