Davos (Switzerland): Sending out a strong message against protectionism and inward-focused economic policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said such tendencies can be as dangerous as terrorism and climate change, as he pitched for creating a “heaven of freedom” free from divisions.
Mr Modi, who became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit here in two decades, talked about grave concerns facing the world, including terrorism and climate change. In a nearly-hour-long speech delivered in Hindi, which caused an initial flurry in the audience as people reached for their translation headsets, Mr Modi sought to hard sell India as an investment destination, saying those wanting wealth with wellness and peace with prosperity should come to the country.
Seen as an apparent reference to America First, especially since US President Donald Trump would be coming to Davos, Mr Modi said, “Many countries are becoming inward focused and globalisation is shrinking and such tendencies can’t be considered lesser risk than terrorism or climate change.”
His opening address was a moment of personal triumph for Mr Modi once shunned by the West for failing to prevent communal rioting in his home state. The occasion also recognised India’s growth as an economic and geopolitical power. Protection-ism is rearing its head and there is risk of new tariff and non-tariff barriers coming up, he said.
Mr Modi arrived in the ski resort town of Davos on Monday for a one-day trip. His visit was marred by travel delays with heavy snow making it impossible for Mr Modi to take a helicopter to Davos from Zurich and the roads were clogged with traffic.
Globalisation losing its lustre: PM
Noting that in an interconnected world, globalisation is losing its lustre, the prime minister wondered “do global organisations created after the Second World War really reflect the aspirations and dreams of mankind today? With respect to the developing countries there is a very big gap.”
Asserting that India is proud of its democracy and diversity, Modi said the country has always contributed towards global peace as well as believed in values of integration and unity.
Stating that terrorism is dangerous, the Prime Minister remarked that worse is when people say there is a difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terror, besides noting that it is painful to see some youngsters getting radicalised.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that a predictable, stable, transparent and progressive India is good news in an otherwise uncertain global environment.
“Let us create a ‘heaven of freedom’, where there is cooperation and not division, fractures,” Modi told the gathering even as he stated that issues of peace, security and stability have emerged as serious global challenges.
The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World’ and referring to it, Modi said it was relevant for him as Indians have always believed in uniting and not dividing people.
“There are many questions before us that require answer for generations to come. Is the existing international system promoting fractures and rift in this world? Can we remove these rifts and distances to make a good shared future?” the Prime Minister said.
“We always talk about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family),” the Prime Minister said, adding that the problem today is lack of consensus to tackle the problems.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister noted that Gandhi had said, “I don’t want doors and windows of my house to be closed and I want winds of cultures of all countries to come inside but I won't accept it if that uproots my own culture.”
The Prime Minister also quoted Sanskrit shlokas to emphasise that “we are children of mother earth”.
