Indians are Now Excited to Return to Their Country, Says PM Modi in Seoul: Highlights

Seoul:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the South Korean capital of Seoul this morning. He is addressing a reception organised by the Indian community, which 1500 people are expected to be attending.

Here are the highlights of what he has said:

• First, we had a ‘Look East’ policy. Now, we have an ‘Act East’ policy.


• We have been part of talks for BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.


• There had been worries that BRICS was beginning to fail because the ‘I’ was hanging.


• But now, over the past one year, the ‘I’ has become strong.


• It has now come to a point where BRICS cannot exist without the ‘I’.


• India is now the fastest-growing economy of the world.


• This century was called the Asian century. That idea was was dwindling earlier. But now, it seems it is possible.


• I decided to first come and meet you and then get work.


• South Korea was called the ‘Lamp of the East’ by Rabindra Nath Tagore.


• There used to be a point in time when people used to regret being born in India and leaving the country saying it is no good. They wanted to leave for better opportunities.


• Now, those people are saying they are ready to come back even if their incomes are lower than in other places. The mood has changed.


• There has been great technological advancement in Korea.


• All of you here, should be able tpo help us with technological advancement when we need it.


• What happens in India must affect you as someone who is witnessing it from inside.


• You must have all information of what is happening in India, in spite of being so far.


• Every country has problems.


• After coming here, you must have realised that every country has problems.


• Till 30 years ago, didn’t South Korea have problems?


• But we need to work towards getting out or resolving these problems.


• I have come with one medicinal herb that I am offering as a remedy to India’s problems. And that medicinal herb is ‘development’.


• Development is not just about making big buildings or good roads.


• I want to improve the quality of life.


• When I became Prime Minister, I was shocked. The news that was coming out was not that Modi is doing this or Modi is doing that.


• The news that was coming out was that people have started going to the office on time.


• That pained me. It should have been a matter of course, not something out of the way. Do we tweet when we have a good meal made by our mothers? No matter how good it, we treat it as a matter of course.


• For any country, diplomatic relationships with its neighbours is of highest importance.


• We have done nothing new. We have only done what comes naturally to humans – humanity.


• We have chosen the path of humanity to reconnect to the world.


• We can reconnect to the countries on basis of humanity.


• Discussions on SAARC are emerging again.


• We have given precedence to humanity issues in SAARC, in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.


• Nepal’s Prime Minister has openly said that he found out about the earthquake from Modi’s tweet.


• Bangladesh has a history of instability.


• In one year in government, we resolved the boundary issue with Bangladesh.


• I appreciate all the parties of the country for their support on this issue.


• This was historic, because it was the first time that both the Lower House and Upper House of Parliament passed a bill unanimously.


•