In UAE, PM raises cyber radicalisation
■Says tech should be used for development, not destruction ■Charms Indian diaspora
Dubai, Feb. 11: Showcasing India’s aspiration to lead in the global arena, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned the world against the misuse of cyberspace to ensure it does not become a source of radicalisation, asserting that technology should be harnessed as a tool for development, not destruction.
The comments by Mr Modi come at a time when the world community is engaged in efforts to address the misuse and abuse of cyberspace by terrorists and hackers.
Highlighting the role being played by technology in India’s development during his plenary address at the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai, Mr Modi said, “We must make technology a means of development, not a means of destruction. Technology has empowered common man via minimum government, maximum governance.”
“On the other side, we are investing large portion of money, time and resources on missiles and bombs,” he told the gathering that included Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice- president and Prime Minister of UAE and the ruler of Dubai.
He also addressed members of the Indian community at the Dubai Opera House and said that those who visit India between 2022 and 2024 will be able to travel in the bullet train. “This will not only provide a boost to the railway network but will also give a boost to the innovation and technology sector. In New India, we no longer procrastinate. In New India, there are no scams,” he said..
At the Summit, he expressed concern over attempts by some people to radicalise the cyber space with the use of technology, referring to its use by jihadists to recruit cadres online.
About 80 per cent of the local population in UAE is Muslim, about 8 per cent are Hindu and 5 per cent Christians.
India is the ‘ Guest Country’ at the sixth edition of the World Government Summit.
Highlighting India’s digital initiatives, Mr Modi said that in e- governance “E stands for effective, efficient, easy, empower and equity.”
Mr Modi said India aspires to assume leadership position in artificial intelligence, nano technology, cybsersecurity and cloud computing. Hailing India’s satellite programme, Mr Modi said the cost of the Mars orbital programme is just ` 7 per kilometre. “If you take a cab in India, you may pay ` 10. But the cost of India’s
If you take a cab in India, you may pay 10. But the cost ` of India’s access to Mars is just 7 per ` kilometre — Narendra Modi, PM
access to Mars is just Rs 7 per kilometre,” he told the gathering, amid a big applause.
Mr Modi said that 65 per cent of India’s population is under 35 and the dream of a new India will be achieved by empowering the youth with technology.
“We have built a technology system, so that India has become a major innovation country in business ventures,” he said, adding that by 2022, the income of farmers will be doubled.
He hailed the use of technology by the Dubai government, saying a desert has been transformed. “It’s a miracle,” he said, describing the Gulf emirate as an example for the world.
The Prime Minister said that sometimes it looks like the mankind is not only making technology an instrument to conquer the nature but also making a mistake of fighting with it.
“Its cost is very high. For the future of mankind, we should not fight with the nature but find a way to coexist,” he said.
“We need to follow the six Rs that stand for reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture, this will lead us to point where we can rejoice,” the Prime Minister said, amid applause.
Noting that 9.5 per cent of the world’s population lives below the poverty line, despite the tremendous population growth, he said, “Today there are great challenges... Poverty, unemployment, education, housing and human catastrophes.”
“We can all overcome them through development. This is what my government is working on using technology,” he said.
Stating that his government’s mantra is “sabke saath, sabka vikas”, Mr Modi said India has focused on the key sectors to empower its 125 crore people i. e one- sixth of humanity, contributing to the development of mankind as a whole.
Mr Modi later arrived in Oman, the last destination on his three- nation tour, and was accorded a ceremonial reception. He also met deputy Prime Minister for the council of ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and deputy Prime Minister for international relations and cooperation affairs Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said.
More than nine million Indians work and live in the Gulf region. In Oman, they constitute the largest expatriate community.
While addressing the diaspora at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman, he took a dig at the Congress and said India’s image had suffered due to a long list of scams in the previous regime and his government worked hard to change the “style of misgovernance”.
On the first leg of his trip, Mr Modi had travelled to Ramallah, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to make an official visit to Palestine. From there he visited the UAE, before arriving in Oman.