PM Modi seeks public support to uproot corruption
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address to the nation on the 15th of August, called upon all Indians to work together towards the progress of the nation and to rise up against corruption and nepotism. “Until and unless, people have the mentality of penalizing the corrupt, the nation cannot progress at the optimum pace. Another evil we need to come together against is nepotism. We need to give opportunities to those who are talented and will work towards the progress of the nation,” he said.
Over the past decade, India has emerged as a force to reckon with and is viewed as the fastest growing economy in the world. Consequently, India is considered one of the most attractive markets for global investors. The Modi government has also consistently taken great effort to improve India’s Ease of Doing Business, making the country the most preferred destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world.
Prime Minister Modi has paid special emphasis on engaging the youth of India having understood that nurturing the talent of its youth, from scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs to sportspersons, the energy and expertise of the young is receiving unprecedented institutional support is the best way to accelerate the country’s progress. He has also placed greater emphasis on nurturing a culture of innovation to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit.
India’s biggest strength is its diversity. Prime Minister Modi noted that two of the biggest challenges for India are corruption and dynastic politics. For its neighbor Sri Lanka, these are two of the most significant challenges.
While promising to eradicate corruption from the country, the Indian PM also appealed to the Indian people to come together as a society to punish those who have propagated the evil of corruption.
“Unless people have the mentality of penalizing the corrupt, the nation cannot progress at optimum pace,” he asserted.
PM Modi also took a shot at the Opposition parties over dynasty politics.
“Our many institutions have been affected by family rule, it harms our talent, nation’s capabilities and gives rise to corruption,” he said.
Therefore, he urged the Indian people to support him in fighting against nepotism.
As the President of Sri Lanka RanilWickremesinghe noted during a recent speech, “India today is becoming a world power and it is still on the rise and by the mid-century when we are no longer there, you could see a powerful India playing a dominant role on the global stage.”
India recently celebrated its 75th Independence Day (15th August) and it is significant for Sri Lanka due to the close bond the two countries have shared over many decades. During Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, it was its neighbor India that came to the rescue with financial assistance, as well as assistance in many areas including assistance to resolve the fuel crisis, which almost crippled Sri Lanka.
India’s development is beneficial not only to India, but to Sri Lanka as well. Sri Lanka can be assured of assistance whenever needed.
Meanwhile, India has made its mark as a major stakeholder in the region and most importantly, India is shifting away from strategic ambiguity to strategic freedom, with the goal of making its own decisions and shaping a future of the Indo-Pacific which is free from military confrontation and the provocative tactics that have been present in the region in the past.
The history of Indian foreign policy suggests that it works hard to keep to what it sees as Indian values and norms. A basic ‘non-violence’ principle has been a popular customary norm in Southeast and East Asian countries, as like any country that has experienced the use of force, is understands its long-term importance to foreign and domestic policy.
India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific is one focused on the common good in the region.
What this shows is, as India has increased its stakes in economic, strategic, security, defence, cyber, technological, space, and digital cooperation with its neighbours in the Indo-Pacific, it has stayed committed to the inclusive nature of the region by keeping to its word on the importance of “ensuring broad inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific”.
Indian Prime Minister Modi’s focus on inculcating national pride to Indians at a very young age is definitely something that Sri Lanka can learn from. As he pointed out a sense of national pride should be instilled in the hearts of children at a very tender age. “I want to salute the little children between 5 and 7 years of age. The nation’s consciousness has been awakened. I have heard from countless families that 5-7 year old children tell their parents that they do not want to play with foreign toys. When a 5-year-old child makes such a resolution, it reflects the spirit of self-reliant India in him and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ ( ‘self-reliant India’) runs through his veins,” PM Modi noted.
In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians to embrace the “PanchPran” (five vows) by 2047 when the country celebrates 100 years of independence. The first vow, he said, is for India to become a developed country in the next 25 years. It was a “big resolution”, the PM said.
Sri Lanka’s President RanilWickremesinghe has clearly understood the significant role India plays in Sri Lanka’s future. In fact, during his recent speech while accepting a Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, that was gifted by India he advised rising politicians in Sri Lanka, those who aspire for higher office, to get to know their Indian colleagues, get to know them well and get to deal with them, warning them that if they do not do that, it will be difficult for them to look at issues and understand what each other says. “We have common viewpoints in many areas. We are but a small country in the middle of the ocean, while India, while looking after its own interests must also look at its role as a global power. But it is essential that we speak to them. After all India is our closest neighbor and there are many issues that are common to us of which we understand, of which we have to resolve. Not only issues pertaining to Indo-Lanka relations but to the region and to the world. So in these areas it is possible for us, and it has been on many occasions for us to come to an agreement or have a similar viewpoint with India. It is with those that we consolidate.” Wickremesinghe pointed to the common heritage the two countries share, adding that those are what are common to both countries. (Agencies)