US Prez lauds India for unity in religious diversity
India and the US are natural partners and both the countries are committed to defend their people from radical Islamic terrorism. This was the focal point of visiting US President Donald Trump’s riveting speech made before a capacity crowd at Motera stadium here on Monday. The crowd erupted in a thundering applause when the US President said his country “loves India and its people.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke both before and after the US President, hailed Trump’s visit as a “new chapter” in ties between the two countries.
Both the leaders made these points during a public event “Namaste Trump” at the new look Motera stadium shortly after Trump arrived here to commence his two-day visit to India. He was accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration.
Modi and Trump will hold talks in New Delhi on Tuesday wherein the two countries will ink a $3 billion defence deal for 24 Naval multi-role helicopters and six Apache attack helicopters for the Army. While the Naval helicopter deal is about $2.6 billion, the Apache contract is over $980 million. Trump announced in his speech here about the two deals. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Modi had cleared the two defence deals last week.
While the chemistry between Modi and Trump was fully evident as the two leaders shared many hugs and heaped praise on each other in front of 1,00,000-strong enthusiastic crowd, the traditional and colourful welcome left the US President impressed.
“Five months ago, the US welcomed your PM at a giant football stadium, and you welcomed us at the world’s largest cricket stadium. Thank you for spectacular welcome. We will always remember this remarkable hospitality,” Trump said.
Known for his fondness to tweet, Trump earlier took to Twitter and tweeted messages in Hindi, including one expressing eagerness to visit India, to which Modi responded by tweeting the Sanskrit phrase, “Atithi Devo Bhava (guest is god)”.
Talking about India’s rich culture and extraordinary diversity repeatedly, Trump said India is always admired around the world as the place where millions of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Jews worship side by side in harmony as it has great tradition of embracing individual freedom, rule of law, dignity of every human being.
“The First Lady and I have travelled 8,000 mile around the globe to deliver the message to all citizens across this nation — America loves India, America respects India, and America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people,” Trump said.
During his nearly 30 minutes long speech at the stadium, Trump also said, “While our nations have many differences, they are both defined and propelled by a fundamental truth — the truth that all of us are blessed with divine light and every person is endowed with a sacred soul” and quoted Swami Vivekanand.
On his maiden visit to India as the President of the United States, Trump, who was welcomed by Modi on his arrival here, said his country will remain a “loyal” friend of India and called Prime Minister Modi an “exceptional leader” who works day and night for the country.
“India and the US are committed to fight terrorists and their ideology, that is why my Government is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups,” the US President said.
“Under my Administration we unleashed the full power of the military on blood-thirsty killers of ISIS in Iraq and in Syria. Today the ISIS territorial caliphate has been 100 per cent destroyed and the monster known as Al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, is dead,” he said.
He also announced that the two countries will firm up defence deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday and that the US will become India’s premier defence partner. “US looks forward to providing India the best and feared equipment on the planet,” he said.
“India and US have natural and enduring friendship,” Trump said to a cheering crowd. Trump said both countries are working on a “fantastic trade” deal, and observed that Modi is a “tough negotiator”.
The US President also praised Modi, saying the Prime Minister is a “living proof” of what an Indian can achieve with hard work as Trump referred to his humble background as a tea-seller. Modi praised Trump’s leadership in containing terrorism.
Trump said as the world’s largest economy, India gives hope to all humanity and has become an economic giant. “There is a difference between a nation that rises by coercion and one that rises by setting its people free -- that is India. India and the US have natural and enduring friendship,” he said.
He also touched on India’s cultural diversity and riches as he highlighted the success of its blockbuster movies like DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) and Sholay, and its sporting icons like Sachin Tedulkar and Virat Kohli.
He highlighted the boom in the US economy under his presidency and added that India will soon be home to the biggest middle class as it will eliminate extreme poverty in next 10 years.
Addressing the gathering, Modi termed the visit as a “new chapter” and said the relations between the two countries are no longer just another partnership but a far greater and closer relationship.
Welcoming the US President to “world’s biggest democracy”, Modi said foundations of new alignments, challenges, opportunities and changes are being laid.
“India and the US relations and cooperation will play an important role in deciding the course of world in the 21st century. I am of the categorical view that India and the US are natural partners,” Modi said.
Underscoring the strong ties between the two nations, Modi said the US is now India’s largest trading partner and the Indian military is involved in its biggest war exercise with the US.
Modi said Trump’s visit is a new chapter in the relations. “A chapter that will become a new document of progress and prosperity of the people of America and India,” he said.
Modi said the two countries also share spirit of enterprise and innovation, shared opportunities and challenges and shared hopes and aspirations. The Prime Minister also appreciated Trump Administration’s efforts in the field of health.
The biggest strength between two people or nations is trust, Modi said while quoting an old adage that “friendship is where trust is unshakable”.
Highlighting the achievements of the country, Modi noted that India not only has the world record of sending the maximum number of satellites simultaneously, but also is making the world record by doing the fastest financial inclusion.
“Increasing manufacturing in India, expanding infrastructure, will bring new possibilities for America. In this era of Industry 4.0, the expansion of the digital economy in India will create many investment opportunities for the US as well,” Modi said.
Industry 4.0 has been defined as a name for the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. Modi also said we are inspired by a long-term vision, not just short term considerations.
“Our bilateral relations will grow, our economic partnership will expand, our digital cooperation will increase,” he said.
The Indo-US ties are no longer just another partnership but have touched far greater heights, and the Trump’s trip with his family shows this, Modi said.
The PM said today 130 crore Indians are jointly building a ‘new India’. “Our youth power is full of aspirations. Setting big goals, achieving them is becoming the hallmark of new India today,” he said.
Modi noted that India not only has the world record of sending the maximum number of satellites simultaneously, but also is making the world record by doing the fastest financial inclusion.
“Today the country with which India has the most extensive research and development partnership is America,” he said.
Referring to military ties, the Prime Minister said the two countries have participated in a number of bilateral military exercises. “We can make an effective contribution not only in the Indo-Pacific region, but in the peace, progress and security of the whole world,” he said.
Referring to the key decisions taken by his Government in the recent past, Modi said not only 1,500 obsolete laws have been scrapped to clean up the statute books, new legislations have been enacted to empower society.
“Be it the rights of transgender persons, making law against (the practice of) triple talaq to respect Muslim women, extending priority to the disabled, giving 26 weeks of paid maternity leave -- many such rights have been extended to various sections of society,” he added.