PM inaugurates Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas with poll pitch

January 22, 2019 12:47

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi today.

For the first time, the three-day-long convention is being organised from January 21 to 23 instead of January 9 to allow participants to visit the Kumbh mela in Prayagraj and attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

The theme of this year's convention is 'role of Indian diaspora in building new India', a statement from the prime minister's office said.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth will be the chief guest of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention, while Himanshu Gulati, member of Parliament of Norway, will be the special guest. Excerpts from the PM's speech:

-- I want to express my condolences over the passing of the Dr Shri Shri Shivkumar Swamiji at the Siddhagaga Monastery of Tumkur. I had the opportunity to meet him and receive his blessings," the Prime Minister said.

-- I am happy to be in my beloved Kashi today for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. This is an excellent forum to engage with the Indian diaspora, which is distinguishing itself all over the world.

-- The campaign to communicate with all Indians around the worldwide was started by the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee and this is the first convention after him.

-- Varanasi has been the centre of knowledge, religion and so I want to declare it as India's Brand ambassador. Earlier people said India cannot change. But, we have changed this thinking. we have shown change. The world these days looks at our advice with seriousness. As a result we bagged the environment award and Seoul prize.

-- IN the past 4.5 years, our government has given around Rs. 5.78 lakh crore directly to people through different schemes. We have transferred it to their bank accounts.

-- All of you who have settled in whichever country, have shown in the role of leadership in almost every area of the society. Mauritius PM has been promoting it. Countries like Portugal, Trinidad-Tobago and Ireland have also gained the leadership of competent people whose roots are in India.

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