Sydney: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he was overwhelmed and honoured by the reception that he had got at the Allphones Arena here.
The PM posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter: “Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled. Will never forget this day.”
In another tweet he said: “My deepest gratitude to the Indian community in Australia for the splendid community programme. Will always remember the warmth and enthusiasm.”
Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled. Will never forget this day. pic.twitter.com/uGeVUGkCQQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
My deepest gratitude to the Indian community in Australia for the splendid community programme. Will always remember the warmth & enthusiasm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
Some of his other tweets are as follows:
With @BrettLee_58. His love for India is truly admirable. pic.twitter.com/LaA0176v3E
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
Thank you Ramesh Chandra ji! It was great meeting you during the programme in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/17CPRPTJNB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
Amazing welcome in Sydney. Glad to be here. pic.twitter.com/6sv2kmz8dh
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
Here is the video of my speech at the Allphones Arena. http://t.co/8w2tSMxMmg
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014
Addressing a frenzied crowd of around 20,000 in the packed Allphones Arena here, Modi had said, “This welcome, this respect, this enthusiasm I dedicate it to the people of India," as per PTI.
He is the first Indian PM to visit Australia in 28 years.
Modi announced that his government was working on to facilitate visa on arrival for Australian tourists and said the PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status will be merged ahead of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas to be held from January 7 in Ahmedabad.
Modi had announced merger of PIO and OCI during his visit to the US in September but had not given a timeline then.
he Prime Minister also referred to economic reforms unveiled by his government and said India has become an attractive destination for investment.
He also said FDI in Railways has been hiked to 100 per cent and hoped that Australian companies will invest in creating rail infrastructure in the country.
The PM called upon Indians across the world to convert the atmosphere of hope and optimism into a reality of meeting the expectations and aspirations of people in India.
Modi said on the basis of his experience of the last six months, he could see no reason why the aspirations of millions of Indians could not be fulfilled.
He referred to Swami Vivekananda's dream of seeing Mother India as a 'Vishva Guru' once again, and said he believed that dream would be a reality.
"Do you share the dream", he asked the cheering crowd.
The Prime Minister exhorted people to recognise the strength of India's democracy. "Let us now do all we can for India's benefit. And then India will work for the benefit of mankind," he said.
"Governments cannot make a country. People make a country," he said.
The Prime Minister also stressed on the Clean India campaign saying that more tourists would come if the country was cleaner.
He also asked the Indian diaspora to extend their support to the campaign and said they can contribute significantly in developing the villages they come from. "I request you to contribute. God has given you so much."
Modi said while "some people" dream of doing only big things he was interested in doing "small things" like building toilets and ensuring cleanliness.
Talking about the strength of democracy, he said "Look at the strength of democracy. Would I have been here if it weren't for democracy? The power of this democracy brought me here."
The Prime Minister mentioned the work his Government was doing and the new policies and schemes his Government had launched including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the Make in India initiative.
Talking about India's youth power, Modi said "Mother India has 250 crore arms, 200 crore of those arms are younger than 35. It's the youth of India who can help us fulfill our potential."
With PTI inputs
