Modi said corruption, terrorism and inflation were unchecked, but India was now far more secure economically and socially.
New Delhi: Sprinking his addres liberally with Gen Z-friendly phrases such as “OG”, and referring to the 'Dhurandhar' Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) 13 years after his last speech there which gained immense traction and asserted that that India was not only growing at 7.8 per cent but also creating employment opportunities despite wars and disruptions. This demonstrated the country's strength, Modi said, and added said that those responsible for pushing the economy into the “Fragile Five” in 2014 could not digest it.
Addressing the SRCC centenary celebrations, Modi, frequently referring to his speech of 2013 as then Gujarat Chief Minister, also said that those who once spread terror have been silenced. Today if Pakistan commits any misdeed, the Indian Army would strike back on their own soil. He said from Jammu and Kashmir to the Northeast, there is peace and Naxalism has been dismantled.
Praising the SRCC's alumni, Modi said: “If I put it in your language, the alumni here are the OGs.” He also said: “Dhurandhar na ho lekin dhoom machai hei (They may not be the stalwarts, but they have made a splash)”.
Recalling that the country was struggling on every front in 2013, Modi said corruption, terrorism and inflation were unchecked, but India was now far more secure economically and socially.
However, some people's frustration was increasing after seeing this, he said. “For such people, I had given a homoeopathy dose from the Red Fort (during Independence Day address)... 'dimagi Naxal'.
“When I said 'dimagi Naxal', all such people came to the forefront and started criticising me. People who were promoting dimagi Naxalism, their true colour can be witnessed by the people,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the world was at that time worried about India's policy paralysis before the 2014 polls, but today was talking about India's policy dynamism.
Modi said that in other words, India is not only growing, but also creating employment opportunities. “They once called us the 'Fragile Five'. Today, they are talking about India as the fastest-growing major economy,” he said.
“In 2013, when I came to SRCC, I presented a vision. Whatever I said back then was my conviction... I gave the example of a glass filled with water. Some people see the glass as half full... It was a time when the country was lacking hope. So I said, 'I see the glass as fully filled',” he said. “Those who saw the glass as half empty in 2013, when I had visited the SRCC, still chose to see it the same way today.
“India's 7.8 per cent growth has also come at a time when the war in West Asia is ongoing and when disruptions related to trade have persisted. Achieving such growth during that time demonstrates India's strength,” he said, referring to GDP growth rate for April-June quarter.
He said that in the past six years, the country had faced many challenges, be it Covid or the conflicts in West Asia, and every time, it was said that PM Modi would not be able to survive these challenges. “But India has such immense capability that the wishes of those who want to see India fail are repeatedly being left unfulfilled,” he said.
Modi said that 13 years ago, the seniors of the present generation of students could not dream of doing many things, but today, the current generation is dreaming big because India has created the ecosystem to achieve those dreams.
“I am happy that you are all ambitious. Ambition comes from the environment around you. Today, you talk about start-ups, becoming entrepreneurs and bringing innovation to agriculture,” he said.
Outside the campus, the prime minister said, the students will find two types of people--”those who positively transform the power of society into the power of the nation and the others who turn into angry uncles (naraz fufa) as soon as any work begins”.
He said such “negative people's favourite activity is to oppose every task and they have just one dialogue – Why do we need this'.”
The Prime Minister said in 2013, when he talked about 'Make in India', people in that ecosystem thought it was not possible, and they still mock 'Make in India'.
“But now, you are witnessing the brand value of Make in India. Today, every person has a smartphone. Made in India smartphones are reaching every corner of the world. In 2014, India used to import mobile phones. Today, India is exporting mobile phones worth more than ₹2.5 lakh crore,” he said.
Modi said India will have its own space station, and everyone will witness that day too. “When India one day hosts such Olympics that the world will be left in awe. These are not mere words; these are resolutions, and work is underway in the country to turn these resolutions into reality,” he said.
