PM Narendra Modi has started speaking at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event
PM Modi arrived in the UK today. His official engagements began
with a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest,
including cross-border terrorism, visas and immigration.
PM Modi has started speaking with host Prasoon Joshi at '
Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath', a diaspora event in London. The event is currently being broadcast live.
The two leaders said trade between the UK and India had grown strongly over the last year and agreed to build on the recommendations of the UK-India joint trade review to reduce barriers to trade, to make it easier to do business in both countries and enable a stronger bilateral trade relationship for the future.
Both prime ministers discussed a new UK-India Tech Partnership, which will create thousands of jobs and generate significant investment in both our economies.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event:
The diaspora event, 'Bharaat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' has now ended.
"I always welcome criticism. People sometimes ask me why don't I speak up against them. But my job is not to shut the mouth of people who are criticising me, it's my job to think where I am going wrong," says PM Modi.
"Modi was not born to get his name included in the pages of history. I just want to do my job and nothing more than that. I do not want to be immortalized in the pages of history," said PM Modi.
"I believe some things are inbuilt and I am not saying this to praise myself. But when I was in Gujarat as a Chief Minister, people used to buy me luxurious things. I started auctioning those gifts and the money earned from that used to be donated for education of the girl child. More than Rs 100 crore was donated for the cause doing this," said PM Modi.
Do you think people realise the amount of change that's taking place?
"If you remember what condition the country was in earlier, you'll be able to make the difference. When I had become the CM, I had to learn a lot. People used to tell me that the one thing they wanted was electricity while having their meals. Gujarat became the first state to have 24x7 electricity. This was then. If you look at what we were and where we are, I think people will realise that we have left no stone unturned in bettering the condition of the country," says PM Modi.
PM Modi on rape
"Rape is rape ... How can we accept this?" PM Modi said, adding that people needed to ask more questions of the perpetrators, reported news agency Reuters.
"This is a matter of great concern for the country and these sinners are somebody's sons... The rape of a (daughter) is a matter of worry, a shame for the country," he added.
How is the Modi model of governance different, an audience member asked PM
"When someone comes to power in government, they want to do something. But the governments in our country have made the people dependent on them. I think that concept works against us. Instead, empower the poor. Create an ecosystem where people are not scared to do something. If they fall somewhere, the government can help them get up," said PM Modi.
Santosh Patil from Karnataka asked PM Modi on how Basaveshwara influenced him
One of the things I wanted to do in London was to pay homage to Bhagwan Basaveshwara: PM Modi.
"It is an unfortunate thing that after independence, there has been an effort to put an end to our culture and tradition. We do not know about our greatness. We talk about democratic values to people. Basaveshwara had called for this place where everyone used to come to discuss issues and come up with solutions. There was no question of caste or gender. Everyone was equal. He taught us what democracy is or what equality is. He had also said where there is stagnancy, there is an end. Where there is speed, there is growth," said PM Modi.
"If people call it Modicare, so be it": PM Narendra Modi
"We are working with a holistic approach for the health sector at the same time we're working towards more cleanliness. Now if people call it Modicare so be it," he said.
"There have been talks of Modicare in India. Will this lead to a major change?" Prasoon Joshi asks PM Modi
"There are three things I want: education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the aged," said PM Modi.
"If one person in a family falls ill, everyone suffers. So we have taken a holistic approach for medical care. It has 2 components. First, we want to create more than 2 lakh wellness centres in the country and second, to strengthen preventive health. We are also working on women and child healthcare. We have extended maternity leaves to 26 weeks," he added.
"The medicines that used to be available for Rs 100 earlier are now available for Rs 15," PM Modi added.
"I believed that they (the people of India) were ready to make a small sacrifice for honesty, transparency," PM Modi on notes ban
"I had met the PM of Argentina who told me that when note bandi happened, me and my wife thought you were gone. The government was attacked on TV channels everywhere but I had faith in the people. I believed that they were ready to make a small sacrifice for honesty, transparency," said PM Modi.
"I have turned co-operative federalism to competitive co-operative federalism": PM Modi
I have tried to turn cooperative federalism to competitive cooperative federalism for India: PM Modi
"If there are a million problems, there are a billion solutions too": PM Modi
"I had never thought that i could change the country alone. But I believe that if there are million problems then there are billion solutions too," said PM Modi, referring to the Indian population.
"I do not have an influential grandfather or grandmother, I come from nowhere," says PM
"There is no doubt in the country that I work hard. I do not have an influential grandfather or a grandmother. I come from nowhere and that is what i want to tell the people of the country. Even I am a simple man with the same kind of flaws that you have. I am just like you. I have a student inside me who tries to learn," PM Modi said.
"There is a reason that I understand these issues and want to bring a change to uplift people. It's because I did not have to read a book to understand what poverty is. I have faced it myself," said the PM.
"A poor woman has to wait till the sun sets to go to the bathroom. Imagine the kind of pain she goes through. I had decided to change this and that has resulted in open-defecation free places," he said.
"Even today, 4 crore families in our country are living without electricity. I have made a decision to change this. I want to empower the poor for them to fight for the poor in order to destroy poverty," he added.
PM Modi on rape and crimes on women
"Everytime in our country. It's always the woman who is questioned. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son," said PM Modi.
"We have such good policies. In spite of that, it is not reaching the people. When a child is raped, we cannot compare these incidents in numbers for different governments. Rape is rape, he said.
"I wouldn't say that in the 70 years of independence, no other government has ever focused on these issues (toilets, hygiene). That would unfair. I have always said that every government has made its share of contributions," said PM Modi.
Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated: PM Modi
"We have always informed them whenever we retaliated. Have never his anything," PM Modi on Pakistan
"We have always informed them whenever we have retaliated. We informed them too, that we have done what we think is just. We never hid anything. They (Pakistan) should know that India has changed now," said PM Modi.
"We informed them about surgical strikes too. That we have done what we think is just. We never hid anything. They (Pakistan) should know that India has changed now," he said.
On being asked about surgical strikes
"Surgical strike is embedded in the history of India. In any era, India never tried to take over the land of any other country. Very few people know that in World War I and II, we did not have to capture anyone's land, neither did we need to fight for ourselves. India is one greatest peacekeeping forces in the world. It has never been in the character of India to capture someone's land. But if someone is trying to attack the people of my country, kill them, attack even if they do not have the force and attack from the back when they do not have the guts to face us, then Modi knows how to give the right answer," says PM Modi.
"We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted," he said.
"In railways, there are facilities for senior citizens. Till now, 40 lakh senior citizens voluntarily said they would not derive those benefits in AC coaches as they could afford that. If I had imposed the rule, people would have started talking ill about the government. There is no dearth of honest people in the country as a government it is our duty to understand them and unite them. We need to leave the arrogance of being a government behind and work with the people to take the country ahead," said PM Modi.
"Today the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement, participative democracy makes good governance possible" said PM Modi.
"Democracy is not a labour contract, it is about participation. When there is a natural calamity. More than the government, the people unite and play a greater role," he said.
"Since 1857 to 1947, when the first battle for independence took place, someone or the other has given his or her life for the country, has ended up in jail for the country. Sacrifice for the country never ended. But what did Mahatma Gandhi do? He gave the same struggle a new definition. He turned independence struggle into a people's movement," says PM Modi.
"When you compare the work with that of ten years back, you will be able to see the difference. If your motives are good, your intentions are pure, then with the same facilities, with the same system you will be able to do things in a new way," said PM Modi.
"Besabri is not a bad thing. If a person has a cycle, a person aspires a scooter. If a person has a scooter, a person aspires a car. It is nature to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational," says PM Modi.
"There are expectations from the people. I don't think impatience is wrong. We never knew that the country would develop at this pace. Work being completed 3 times faster than before. People have expectations because there is trust," says PM Modi.
"Today, India is progressing at a great speed, a speed that nobody would have ever thought of. It's because of the people's trust in us," says PM Modi.
"When I was the chief minister, people's demands would keep increasing, but people make demands from those who they know are capable of fulfilling them," PM Modi said.
On being asked how PM Modi looks at impatience"I look at it in a different manner. The moment we start becoming content, life stops there and then. In every age, in every era, I every condition, we should always try to do something new. That motive gives speed and if someone says that impatience is bad, I would say they've become old," says PM Modi.
"I am happy that today there is a ambition in the heat of 1.500 crore Indians. A lot of you, who must have left the country long back would not know that about fifteen to twenty years back, when the country was in crisis. People were impatient even then," said PM Modi.
"In a democracy, when the people decide something then even a tea-seller can get to represent them at the royal palace," says PM Modi.
A video, called 'Badlaav Aur Besabri' was been shown.
"The person in the Railway Station was Narendra Modi. The person in the Royal Palace in London is the Sevak of 125 crore Indians," says PM Modi.
On being asked by Prasoon Joshi about beginning his life from a Railway station and coming for the programme from the Royal Palace, PM Modi replied, "The railway to royal palace journey has taught me a lot. It has made me who I am. But royal palace is not mine. This Narendra Modi is only a worker of these 1.5 crore Indians."
PM Modi thanks host Prasoon Joshi and the Indian diaspora present at the event.
"Greetings to all the Indians present here. I am grateful to all of you that i got the chance of this visit. Its easy for you to make poetic reference but the journey of life is very difficult ," says PM Modi.
PM Modi has arrived at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' eventPM Modi has arrived at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event. He has reached the stage and will start speaking soon.
Prasoon Joshi has started speaking at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event
PM Modi In UK: Indians Await PM Modi's Address
NDTV spoke to the Indian community who are attending PM narendra Modi's address in London. A group pf Indians held silent protests outside the venue, expressing their anger and sorrow at the recent rape cases in India that caught international attention. PM Modi is in the UK on a four-day visit.
PM Modi and British PM Theresa May at the India-UK CEOs ForumBritish PM Theresa May and PM Modi participated at a business event in London, the India-UK CEOs Forum. The event was held for strengthening business ties between India and the UK. The forum was attended by 30 CEOs from India and the UK.
PM Narendra Modi is set to speak at 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath', a diaspora event in London
Bhagwan Basaveshwara devoted life towards furthering social equality, says PM Modi
Welcome UK Joining Solar Alliance, Will Give Strength To Fight Global Warming: PM Modi
Welcome UK Joining Solar Alliance, Will Give More Strength To Fight Global Warming
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the UK joining the International Solar Alliance saying that the two countries have taken up the cause for the well-being of our future generations. He also said actionable work is being done in the area
NASSCOM, Techuk Launch New UK-India Tech Alliance During PM Modi Visit
NASSCOM and TechUK, the leading technology trade bodies of the two countries, today launched a new UK-India Tech Alliance during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK. The announcement is part of the UK-India Tech Partnership, finalised earlier today by Prime Minister Modi and Theresa May following their bilateral talks at Downing Street, which also includes the creation of a UK-India Tech Hub.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Theresa May for hosting him saying that the meeting would add "new vigour" to India-UK relations. "This gesture shows your respect for 125 crore Indians," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured his British counterpart Theresa May that the UK's withdrawal from the European Union offers opportunities to further increase bilateral trade ties as the two leaders had fruitful discussions on multiple aspects of India-UK relations and issues like counter-terrorism, radicalisation and online extremism.
PM Narendra Modi pays tributes to Lingayat philosopher BasaveshwaraOn his UK visit, PM Modi paid floral tributes at the bust of Lingayat philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara at Albert Embankment Gardens on the Thames river in London.
The event was organised by The Basaveshwara Foundation, a non-profit organistion based in the UK. The organisation had earlier installed the statue of Basaveshwara, according to news agency PTI.
According to a PTI report, India has recognised Basaveshwara as one of the pioneers of democracy and his statue was installed in the Indian Parliament during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
India had also released a coin and a postal stamp as a mark of respect for Basaveshwara and his contribution to Indian society, according to news agency PTI.
PM Narendra Modi shares a few light moments with Prince Charles at the Science Museum
Akademi South Asian dance group puts up a performance for PM Modi, Prince Charles
PM Modi had earlier met British PM May over breakfast
Here is PM Modi's schedule for the rest of the day
Prime Minister Modi is also expected to welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member. This will be followed by PM Modi attending a special technology event hosted for him by Prince Charles.
The 'Tech Summit' is part of India-UK bilateral ties. Prince Charles is expected to drive in to the event in a fully electric Jaguar for the first time. Jaguar-Land Rover has made tremendous strides since it was taken over by the Tata's.
From here, PM Modi will have a brief stop to garland the Basaveshwara statue, which he had inaugurated during his last visit to the UK in 2015, on the banks of the river Thames. This will be followed by his second meeting with Theresa May at an event hosted by the British prime minister at the Francis Crick Institute.
Prime Minister Modi will then have an interaction with Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases. Both he and Prime Minister May will initiate the India-UK CEOs Forum, where both prime ministers will interact with top CEO's from India and the UK to take business interests forward.
PM Modi has met his British counterpart in a breakfast meeting and discusses a number of issuesDuring the talks, PM Modi and PM May discussed a wide range of issues, including cross-border terrorism, immigration and visas. They met at the British PM's official residence at 10, Downing Street.
Both the prime ministers are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding or MoU on the return of illegal immigrants. The agreement had expired in 2014. India and the UK are expected to sign around dozen agreements across different sectors.
