WarsawPrime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw, Poland, as part of his “historic” visit to the Central European country. He was greeted with thunderous applause and chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” after becoming the first Indian leader to visit the country in 45 years.
“You all come from different parts of Poland, you all have different languages and values, but you are all linked with the interests of India… I am very grateful for this welcome. There are several countries where no Indian leader has ever come. But now, circumstances have changed. For decades, India’s policy was to keep itself equally distant from all countries. Today, India’s policy is to foster closer relations with all,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that today’s India talks about development for all and thinks of the benefit of all. “We are proud that the world sees India as a Vishwabandhu… It is not a question of geopolitics, but of values. India has provided a space in its hearts and on its land to those who were not welcome anywhere,” he added.
Poland, a “partner” of Sanatana’s approach
The Prime Minister termed Poland as a “partner” of India’s Sanatana values and recalled the contribution of Jam Saheb of Nawanagar in sheltering thousands of Polish women and children escaping from the Soviet Union during World War II. “I feel good after seeing that Poland is keeping alive the path created by Jam Saheb. When Gujarat faced a severe earthquake two decades ago, Jamnagar too was caught in its path. Poland was one of the first countries to offer help,” he added.
He also announced the launch of the Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Action Programme under which India will invite 20 Polish youth every year as a tribute to Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji. He also recalled the efforts of the Kolhapur Royal Family to set up a refugee camp at Valivade, Kolhapur to shelter those fleeing Soviet repression in their home country.
“In every corner of the world, Indians have played vital roles. In the 21st century, India is moving forward on the path of development based on its pride in traditional values and heritage… We Indians are known for our efforts, our excellence and our empathy. Wherever we go, we Indians are seen putting in maximum efforts, be it in business, caregiving or in industry, Indians are making the nation proud of their efforts,” he added.
“This is not an era of war”: PM Modi reaffirms dialogue and diplomacy
The Indian Prime Minister laid special emphasis on empathy and stated that India is the first country to offer help to any country facing a crisis. “India said that humanity comes first during COVID-19. We provided vaccines and medicines to over 100 countries. Wherever there are earthquakes or natural calamities, India always maintains its mantra of ‘humanity comes first’,” PM Modi said, affirming India’s role as a first responder.
“India does not believe in war, but in peace. India’s concept is clear: we are not in an era of war. It is time to come together to face the challenges that pose the greatest threat to humanity. That is why India emphasizes dialogue and diplomacy,” he added, thanking Poland for the help it has provided to Indian students stranded in Ukraine.
“Poland has opened its doors to our students. When I meet Indian students rescued from Ukraine, I realise that they appreciate them (Poland) deeply. On behalf of 140 million Indians, I salute Poland. There are several similarities between the societies of India and Poland. India is a vibrant, participatory democracy. Indian citizens have unwavering faith in democracy, as was seen in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections. Recently, elections were also held in the European Union in which 180 million voters participated. In India, the figure was 640 million,” he added.
READ ALSO | PM Modi pays tribute to the Monte Cassino and Valivade-Kolhapur monuments in Warsaw | VIDEO
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.