At an opportune cusp of circumstances, blessed with a vibrant democracy, with 65 percent of its people under the age of 35, and a market of 1.25 billion people, India will scale new heights in the near future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday.
Addressing an around 20,000-strong gathering cheering Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden, Modi said India is the youngest nation in the world and also the country with an ancient civilisation.
He said 65 percent of the people are under the age of 35 and with the IT ability of Indians "there is no need for such a country to turn back and look".
Modi said it is "important to recognise our strengths and mobilise them to go forward fast".
Referring to the elections, in which he led the Bharatiya Janata Party to power, Modi said the 1.25 billion people of the country had given their blessings to govern and it was akin to god's own blessings.
He said democracy is India's biggest strength and also its demographic dividend.
The third advantage is the demand - "the entire world has its sights on India and it knows that its 1.25 billion people is a huge market", he said.
"These three things are present in one country, this is not there anywhere in the world. And on the basis of this India will cross new heights - it is my belief," said Modi to loud cheering and chants of "Modi, Modi".
PIO cardholders to get lifelong visa
PIO card holders will get lifelong visas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday to thousands of cheering Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden here.
"Happy?" he asked as the crowd cheered his announcement with chants of "Modi, Modi".
"There is even more to come," he said smilingly.
He announced that NRIs staying in India for long had to visit the police station, and "there is no need for them to do that anymore".
Modi said the government will join the People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes for the diaspora and a new scheme would be announced soon.
He also said the Indian missions in the US would grant long term visas to US citizens and US tourists would get visa on arrival in India.
Indians have woven magic with the mouse
India was once known as a world of snake charmers, now the magic that its people have woven "with the mouse" in the IT sphere is world-renowned, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi here Sunday.
"I was in Taiwan some years ago, someone wanted to ask a question and was hesitating. He asked if I won't feel bad, I said go ahead. He said I heard India is a land of black magic and snake charmers. I said no, our forefathers maybe would play with snakes but we play with the (computer) mouse," he said in his address to a gathering of Indian diaspora at the Madison Square Garden.
Madison Square Garden a premier venue for sports, entertainment
Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan is the city's premier venue for sports and entertainment, but has also played a key role in US politics - launching three presidents on their way to the White House.
Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush received their presidential nominations at their party conventions held at the indoor arena built in 1968.
In 1971, MSG figured in a major South Asia-related event. Ravi Shankar and former Beatle George Harrison organised the Concert for Bangladesh, which raised $250,000 for Unicef relief operations. Ali Akbar Khan, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and ex-Beatle Ringo Starr played in the concert.
The primary use for MSG is as a sports arena. It is the home of the New York Rangers ice hockey team and the Knicks basketball team. The first Joe Frazier-Mohammed Ali boxing bout was held here.
Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, John Lennon, Elton John, Rolling Stone, U2, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Billy Joel have all performed here.
The arena is built on top of a major transportation hub, the Pennsylvania Station. The Amtrak long-distance train system, several subway lines and the Long Island Railroad connect there
