Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the crowd at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. (AFP photo)
At a Toronto ice hockey arena dressed up in Indian colours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today talked about the change his government has brought in India. And, he emphasised, in the relationship with Canada, using the lyrics of an old Bollywood song to make his point.
Bollywood was the flavour for much part of the welcome for PM Modi organised by the Indian diaspora at the Ricoh Coliseum; it included a performance by popular singer Sukhwinder Singh. The 8000-strong audience chanted "Modi, Modi" and cheered every punchline in PM Modi's speech, just over an hour long.
"There is a new atmosphere of trust in our nation," said the PM, taking a dig at the previous Congress government when he added, "Those who had to spread filth, have done so and gone, we are cleaning up behind them. India is a large country and it will take time to clean...you can see there is a change in the people."
There were more jibes at his political rivals like when he talked about the colour saffron, associated politically with his party the BJP and affiliated organisations. "Saffron colour resembles energy, some make their own interpretations, let them," he said with a smile. "I'm interested in nuclear, solar energy."
India, Prime Minister said, had many problems and "development is the one-stop solution to all problems." He stressed on skill development, saying, "Earlier India was known as 'Scam India', we want it to be known as 'Skill India," adding, "I can tell you, India has the strength, what is needed is opportunity."
After signing a uranium deal in Ottawa, PM Modi arrived in Toronto and walked on to the stage with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper and his wife, Laureen Harper, who wore a saree. The leaders walked around the arena waving to the diaspora, and in their speeches talked about the warm relationship that India and Canada share.
"India and Canada are like that "2ab" that comes from the formula of (ab)square," the Prime Minister said to cheers, adding, "You can imagine that Canada plus India can be such strong power in the world."
He again pointed out that no Indian Prime Minister had made a standalone, bilateral visit to Canada in four decades. "What didn't happen in 42 years, I did in 10 months," PM Modi said.
He shared that he had an "old relationship with this city...I had visited this city when nobody knew me." He thanked Canada, which, he said, "became a partner of vibrant Gujarat in 2003," when he was chief minister of that state.
In his speech, Mr Harper quoted Vivekananda as he praised the Indian community in Canada.