Modi in US touts his record
INDIA USING TECHNOLOGY TO CHECK CORRUPTION AND BRING TRANSPARENCY, PM SAYS
India using technology to check corruption and bring transparency, PM says
Projecting his government’s success in the areas of fighting terror and graft, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that there has not been a single blot of corruption against his regime and no country has questioned the surgical strikes conducted across the border.
Addressing the Indian diaspora here, he also promised a supportive environment for developing the country matching the progress in the US.
Calling corruption the root cause for which previous governments were changed in India, Modi said his government has emerged corruption-free in the past three years.
‘Surgical strikes’
“Governments were changed because of corruption. The common people hated this ... There has been not a single blot on our government in the past three years. And governance is being modified so that honesty becomes an inbuilt process,” he said to a cheering audience.
“Technology is helping with that,” Modi said.
“Increased usage of technology brings transparency in systems. When I think of a developed India, I think of a healthy India, particularly the good health of women and children of our nation,” he said.
Talking about the army’s surgical strikes on terror launching pads across the border on October 26 last year, the Prime Minister said no country has questioned the government’s action.
“The entire world could have raised many questions and pointed fingers at us over the surgical strikes. But, not a single country questioned India’s surgical strikes against the terrorist launch pads in Pakistan [last year]. Those [Pakistan] who suffered because of this, is a different thing,” Modi said.
Maintaining that the entire world is suffering because of the menace of terrorism, which is against mankind, the Prime Minister said, “When India spoke about terrorism about 20-25 years back, for many countries, it was beyond their understanding. For them it was a law and order problem, because they were not the sufferers. Today, it is not required to explain what’s terrorism. Terrorists have themselves explained it to them.”
“But when India conducts surgical strike, the world understands India is a patient country but if required, it knows how to demonstrate its ability,” said Modi. “We are bound by international laws. We believe in the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). This is our character,” he added.
We are bound by international laws. We believe in the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). This is our character.”
But when India conducts surgical strike, the world understands India is a patient country but if required, it knows how to demonstrate its ability.” Narendra Modi | Indian Prime Minister
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the increasing “convergence” of US-Indian interests and values, as he prepared for his first face-to-face meeting yesterday with President Donald Trump.
Modi brimmed with optimism about the future of trade and diplomatic relations between the world’s two largest democracies in an opinion piece appearing in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal.
Following a visit to the United States one year ago, when he addressed a joint session of the US Congress, Modi wrote that he returns “confident in the growing convergence between our two nations.”
“This confidence stems from the strength of our shared values and the stability of our systems,” the Indian leader wrote.
“In an uncertain global economic landscape, our two nations stand as mutually reinforcing engines of growth and innovation,” he said in the daily.
“Whenever India and the US work together, the world reaps the benefits.”
Modi and Trump were due to hold afternoon talks and a working dinner at the White House, though no press conference is scheduled.
Business-friendly India
On Sunday, the Indian leader met with top American executives, painting for them a picture of a business-friendly India with “minimum” governmental encumbrances.
That message is expected to resonate with Trump, who has proposed streamlining what he calls business-hampering US regulations and cutting the budgets of several US government agencies.
“India believes that a strong America is good for the world,” Modi told the CEOs, according to the foreign ministry in New Delhi. Despite the upbeat rhetoric, the relationship between the two leaders has hit some initial snags.
Trump accused India of seeking to profit from the Paris climate accord as he announced the US withdrawal from the deal this month — drawing sharp denials from New Delhi.
A proposed overhaul of H-1B visas — used by thousands of Indian software engineers to work in the United States — has also caused concern in New Delhi.
In an uncertain global economic landscape, our two nations stand as mutually reinforcing engines of growth and innovation. Whenever India and the US work together, the world reaps the benefits.” Narendra Modi | Indian Prime Minister