‘When India grows, whole world grows’ Key takeaways from PM Modi’s address to joint sitting of the US Congress
5 min read 23 Jun 2023, 08:03 AM ISTIndian PM Modi addressed US Congress, becoming the first Indian PM to do so twice; he spoke about terrorism, unity in diversity, the Indian economy and more.
PremiumPM Modi in US: In a historic moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed to the joint sitting of the US Congress. The Prime Minsiter has become the first Indian PM to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. During his address, the Prime Minister spoke about terrorism, unity in diversity in India. He also said that India would become the 3rd largest democracy soon.
"It is always a great honour to address the United States Congress. It is an exceptional privilege to do so twice," said the Prime Minister.
PM Modi said, “In the past few years, there have been many advances in AI, Artificial Intelligence. At the same time, there has been even more momentous development in other AI, America and India."
PM Modi in US LIVE Updates:
A look at key highlights from PM Modi's address to the US Congress
- PM Modi in his address to the Joint Meeting of the US Congress spoke about terrorism. He said that more than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world. He added that there can be ‘no ifs or buts’ in dealing with terrorism and sought action against state sponsors of terrorism. "These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror," he said.
- He also said that this is not an era of war but it is one of dialogue and diplomacy and we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering
- PM Modi also made a strong push for reforming multilateral institutions, including the UN, and spoke glowingly of India's ties with the US, saying the two countries stand at a new dawn in their relationship that will not only shape their destiny but also that of the world. "We share a vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific, connected by secure seas, defined by international law, free from domination…"A region where all nations, small and large, are free and fearless in their choices, where progress is not suffocated by an impossible burden of debt, where connectivity is not leveraged for strategic purposes, where all nations are lifted by the high tide of shared prosperity," he said.
- The Prime Minister during his address also spoke about unity in diversity in India. He also defended his government's record on democracy and human rights, asserting democracy is "in our spirit...and flows in our veins" and that there was no discrimination against minorities. "We have twenty two official languages and thousands of dialects, and yet, we speak in one voice. We are home to all faiths in the world, and we celebrate all of them. In India, diversity is a natural way of life," he said in a clear rebuttal to the charges of India's democratic backsliding under him.
- PM Modi also spoke about women empowerment, he said, “Today, in modern India women are leading us to a better future. India's vision is not just of development which benefits women, it's of women-led development where women lead the journey of progress."
- PM Modi also spoke about the Indian Economy and said that the country will soon become the third largest economy. He said when he first visited the US as prime minister in 2014 India was the 10th largest economy in the world. "Today, India is the fifth largest economy. And, India will be the third largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but we are also growing faster. When India grows, the whole world grows. After all, we are one sixth of the world's population," he said.
- Today, the United States has become one of our most important defence partners. Today, India and the US are working together in space and in the seas, in science and in semiconductors, in startups and sustainability, in tech and in trade, in farming and finance, in art and Artificial Intelligence..., He said.
- The Prime Minister added, “...We became the only G20 country to meet its Paris commitment. We made renewables account for over 40% of our energy sources 9 years ahead of the target of 2030. But we did not stop there. At the Glasgow Summit, I proposed mission LiFE...Our mission is pro-planet progress, pro-planet prosperity, pro-planet people."
- During the joint sitting, PM Modi said, “Our vision is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas'. We are focussing on infrastructure developments. We have given nearly 40 million homes to provide shelter to over 150 million people, which is nearly 6 times the population of Australia."
- PM Modi received standing ovation and applause when he said, "There are millions here, who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber. There is one behind me, who has made history. I am told that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House." PM Modi concluded his address to the joint sitting of the US Congress with a standing ovation and loud cheers from the Congressmen. 15 standing ovations, 79 applauses marked PM Modi’s address to the joint session of the US Congress. US Congressmen also lined up to take autographs and selfies with the Prime Minister after his address to the joint sitting of the US Congress.
