Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
International

Narendra Modi Connects With Indian Diaspora In Ireland, Promises More Visits

IANS, 23 Sep, 2015 11:54 AM
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday connected with a rapturous Indian diaspora in Dublin, promising more prime ministerial visits to Ireland in future.
     
    Modi, who is on a day-long visit to Ireland, in his address to a crowded reception by the Indian diaspora apologised for not being able to give the Indian-origin people more time.
     
    Taking a dig at previous governments for not having visited Ireland earlier, Modi said "There are many who would remember that sometime (in the distant past) an Indian prime minister came to Ireland" evoking laughter from the rapturous crowd.
     
    Modi's visit is the first prime ministerial visit in 59 years.
     
    In a veiled dig at previous Congress-led governments, he said that every year when Indian dignitaries fly to the US, they have to fly via Ireland, implying that earlier the leaders did not bother to visit the country.
     
    "When people have to go from Delhi to New York, they have to fly this way. But your love for me drew me here, and pulled me down from the sky," he said to loud cries of "Modi, Modi".
     
    Modi said he spoke at length with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and had a very good meeting and there were many areas of convergence between the two sides.
     
    "I think Ireland-India relations should be mere stronger," he said.
     
    Modi said that in 2016, when Ireland celebrates the centenary of its independence, India would also participate in the celebrations.
     
    Modi congratulated the Irish children who recited Sanskrit shlokas in his welcome.
     
    In another veiled dig at the opposition, Modi said "I congratulate the children for reciting Sanskrit shlokas. In Ireland, we can do it, but in India if we did this, then so many questions would be raised on secularism issues", evoking loud laughter.
     
     
    He said that "now there is a change", and that people across the world have accepted yoga as a way to healthcare.
     
    "The entire world is following yoga - for holistic healthcare, preventive health care. Now yoga is connected to wellness too."
     
    On India's growing stature, Modi said countries were now increasingly paying attention to India.
     
    In another jibe at previous governments, he said that earlier people while referring to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) would talk of "B,R,C and S, as the 'I' (India) had fallen off the map," he said, evoking titters among the gathering.
     
    Modi said that now the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund were saying that "in BRICS, if there is any one strong factor it is I (India)."
     
    He said all the rating agencies were saying that India is the fastest growing economy in the world, and "if this trend continues, then in another 30 years, there will be no sign of poverty (in India)".
     
    Modi said India will be able to meet the challenge of keeping the growth rate high, thanks to the strength of its demography of 65 percent of the population aged below 35 years.
     
    He apologised for not having more time to spend with the diaspora.
     
    He later posed for pictures with some of the diaspora members.
     
    Connecting with India's diaspora is a major focus of Modi's trips abroad. Ireland has a 26,000-strong Indian community.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    British-Indian Hotelier Prashant Sengar Jailed For 22 Months For Groping Women Jobhunters

    British-Indian Hotelier Prashant Sengar Jailed For 22 Months For Groping Women Jobhunters
    The Warwick Crown Court on Friday found Prashant Sengar, 40, the owner of "Spicy Affair" restaurant in Warwicksire's Leamington Spa, guilty of seven charges of sexual assault

    British-Indian Hotelier Prashant Sengar Jailed For 22 Months For Groping Women Jobhunters

    Jean Chretien On The Election Warpath, Says Harper Has Shamed Canada

    Jean Chretien On The Election Warpath, Says Harper Has Shamed Canada
    Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien injected himself into the federal election campaign Saturday with a scathing critique of Stephen Harper's foreign policy.

    Jean Chretien On The Election Warpath, Says Harper Has Shamed Canada

    Indian-American Students Begin Business Incubator To Help Startups

    Indian-American Students Begin Business Incubator To Help Startups
    Westview High students Aman Sharma and Bhavin Gupta have already helped three startups through their Oregon Business Incubator

    Indian-American Students Begin Business Incubator To Help Startups

    Indian Man And His Pakistani Driving Instructor Face Trial In UAE On Graft Charges

    Indian Man And His Pakistani Driving Instructor Face Trial In UAE On Graft Charges
    The Indian bribed the Pakistani instructor 500 Dirhams ($136) to manipulate the number of lessons he took and clear him in five driving tests so that he could get a driving licence earlier.

    Indian Man And His Pakistani Driving Instructor Face Trial In UAE On Graft Charges

    'Dangerous' British Racist Man Gets Life Term For Trying To Behead Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra

    'Dangerous' British Racist Man Gets Life Term For Trying To Behead Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra
    Zack Davies, 26, regarded as a white supremacist inspired by IS executioner Jihadi John, was earlier jailed for 14 years for attacking Sarandev Bhambra

    'Dangerous' British Racist Man Gets Life Term For Trying To Behead Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra

    Two Indian Haj Pilgrims Killed, 19 Injured In Makkah Grand Mosque Accident

    Two Indian Haj Pilgrims Killed, 19 Injured In Makkah Grand Mosque Accident
    Saudi authorities said late Saturday that Islam's annual haj pilgrimage won't be affected by Friday's crane collapse that killed 107 and injured 238 pilgrims at Makkah's Grand Mosque

    Two Indian Haj Pilgrims Killed, 19 Injured In Makkah Grand Mosque Accident