India has risen, possibilities are immense: PM Modi at 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

New Delhi/ Gandhinagar: Seeking a deeper engagement of the Indian diaspora for the nation’s growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said a “whole lot of possibilities’ awaited them in India as it had ‘risen’ with new strength.”

In his address at the 13th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Gandhinagar on Thursday, which marked the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa, he said the whole world was looking at India with great expectations, and what was needed was the confidence and the capability.

Describing the Indian diaspora as ‘great capital’ for the country, the PM urged the 25-million-strong community spread across 200 nations to help transform the nation. “I am convinced that people of Indian origin are our capital and strength,” he said, adding, “If we focus on this segment, we can create a lot of respect for the country globally.”

Referring to the merger of Person of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizenship of India cards through a recent ordinance and extending visa-on-arri-val facilities to nationals of several countries, Mr Modi said his government had fulfilled the promises made to them.

Exhorting the diaspora to participate in the Clean Ganga initiative, he said the exercise was not only important from religious and environmental perspectives, but also the key to economic development of over 40 per cent of India’s population.