Continuing his tirade against opponents of demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed those criticising the Government’s move as “anti-people”, saying “It is unfortunate that some political worshippers (rajnaitik poojari)of black money are calling our efforts anti-people.”
Addressing the huge gathering at the ongoing 14th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bengaluru, the Prime Minister Modi said the government had taken up ‘a big fight’ against corruption and black money, which had been gradually making the polity, society and administration “hollow”.
Asserting that the Government was committed in its fight against black money and corruption, the Prime Minister thanked the overseas Indian community for their support to it.
Emphasising the role played by overseas Indians in the country’s development, the Prime Minister said they have made an “invaluable contribution” to the Indian economy by investing about 69 billion US dollars.
“For me, FDI has two definitions - one is ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ and the other is ‘First Develop India’,” he said, asserting that “I can say with full confidence that the 21st century belong to India.”
Indian-origin Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, was the chief guest of the convention, which was attended by Chief Ministers of several States, including Siddaramaiah of Karnataka, partner to the event, and Central Ministers.
Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa, Modi said, this day marked the return to India of one of the greatest Pravasis and that his Government’s priority was to convert “brain drain” into brain gain”. The Government will soon launch a skill development programme ‘Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojna’ for the Indian youth seeking employment abroad, he added.
He said the Government’s effort was to provide maximum facilitation and ensure least inconvenience for those workers who seek economic opportunities abroad. Modi said Indian diaspora represents the best of Indian culture, ethos and values and is respected for its contributions and said welfare and safety of all Indians abroad was his Government’s “top priority”.
“Hum passport ka colour nahi dekhte khoon ka rishta dekhte hain (We don’t see the colour of the passport, but see the blood relation),” the Prime Minister said.
“The security of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost importance to us... Security of all Indians abroad is top priority,” he said.
“We welcome all your efforts that seek to strengthen India’s partnership with the overseas Indian community,” he said. Bengaluru — India’s IT capital is hosting what has been touted as the largest convergence of Indian diaspora, with more than 6,000 delegates from across the world registering for the event.
Prime Minister also announced that his Government is working to put in place procedures for making descendants of the indentured labour living in Fiji and other countries eligible for OCI cards.
“Starting with Mauritius, we are working to put in place procedures so that descendants of Girmitiyas could become eligible for OCI Cards. We remain committed to addressing similar difficulties of PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States,” he said.
Girmityas are descendents of indentured Indian labourers who were brought to Fiji to work on sugarcane plantations in mid-1800s. The Prime Minister also urged the People of Indian Origin (PIO) to convert their cards into Overseas Citizen of India cards, reiterating the Government’s decision to extend the deadline for these card conversions from December 31 last year to June 30, without any penalty.
Observing that there are over 30 million overseas Indians living abroad, he said they were not just respected for their numbers, but for the contributions they have made to the societies they live in.