PM Modi, in his address to the joint session of the US Congress, spoke on themes ranging from the Ukraine war to terrorism to women's empowerment to environment concerns.
Indian American diaspora while also conveying to the political class of the US about the value they bring to the table.
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“The Foundation of America was inspired by the vision of a nation of equal people throughout your history, you embrace people from around the world and you have made them equal partners in the American Dream..there are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber. And there is one behind me who made history.”
As a fellow democracy, he conveyed to the political class that there could be differences within, but countries’ political class should speak in one voice, keeping the country’s interests first.
“I can relate to the battles of pressure, persuasion and policy. I can understand the debate of ideas and ideology. But I’m delighted to see you come together today to celebrate the bond between the world’s two great democracies. India and the United States.”
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“There will be and there must be a contest of ideas at home. But we must also come together as one when we speak for our nation,” he said, in what could be seen as an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi’s statements overseas.
A big shoutout to democracy and its value:
Modi made it a point to dwell on the values of democracy, something he has been confronted with questions, and in the US which is also facing its own challenges. And all this, with a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. for their contribution towards “liberty, equality and justice”.
“Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values. It has evolved over a long time and taken various forms of systems. Throughout history, however, one thing has been clear: democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse, democracy is a culture that gives wings to thoughts and expression. India has been blessed to have such values since times immemorial. In the evolution of the democratic spirit, India is the mother of democracy.”
Together we shall give a better future to the world and a better world to the future.
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Modi touched upon one of his pet themes of freedom after foreign rule, and what that means to him.
“Last year, India celebrated 75 years of independence..We celebrated a remarkable journey of over 75 years of freedom after 1000 years of foreign rule in one form or another. This was not just a celebration of democracy, but also of diversity, not just of our constitution, but also a spirit of our social empowerment, not just of our competitiveness, and cooperative federalism, but also of our essential unity and integrity.”
