A day before his first meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Indian Americans on Sunday. He talked about cross-border terrorism and the surgical strikes carried out by India across the Line of Control last year. The US has made counter-terrorism a crucial plank of his administration.
Surgical strikes showed the world that India can exercise “self-control.” But, when needed, it can also show its strength, Modi said during a 45-minute speech. He also presented an account of his three-year-old government’s achievements, plans, and vision.
India is bound by the laws of global order, the PM said. But he added that for the sake of its “sovereignty, security, common good, peace and progress, it was prepared to undertake the hardest of steps” and measures. “We have always done that and no one in the world can stop us,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi said his government had also emerged corruption-free in the past three years. “Previous governments changed because of corruption. The people hated this… There has been not a single stain on our government for the past three years. And governance is being modified so that honesty becomes an in-built process… Technology is helping with that,” he said.
PM also praised external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for her ministry’s actions to aid Indians “anywhere”. “The way Sushma Swaraj has worked and helped every Indian abroad is commendable. It is now well known in India that when anyone in trouble tweets to Sushma, she promptly replies and the government takes prompt action,” Modi said.
The Indian government had helped around 80,000 Indians abroad in the past three years, said Modi.
