New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scheduled a busy itinerary in the US and hours after his UN speech he headed to a festival in New York’s Central Park on Sunday.
Using the unusual platform of a rock concert, Mr Modi invoked “can do” attitude of youth to change India and the world while addressing a thousands-strong crowd which gathered for “Global Citizen Festival” here.
Amid performances by various singers, he was introduced to the crowd by Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman as some ne who started as a “tea salesman” and went on to become the Chief Min-ister of Gujarat and then the Prime Minister of India.
Mr Modi hailed New York as a “great city,” saying that it has “assimilated the world in itself.”
Switching to English to address young Americans, the Prime Minister, hailed the Global Citizen Festival for its focus on eradicating poverty.
“Because you are the future. What you do today, will decide our tomorrow. I feel a current of hope in this park. Among you, I feel confident about the future,” he said to polite cheers.
“Some believe that the world changes with the wisdom of the old. I think that the idealism, innovation, energy and ‘can do’ attitude of the youth is even more powerful,” he said, adding, “That is my hope for India too (for) 800 million youth joining hands to transform our nation.”
After a seven-minute speech in English,
Mr Modi read out a Sanskrit scripture calling for “peace in the world” and greeted the largely American crowd with a “Namaste” amid cheers and claps.
