Asserting that he has given a new meaning to "development" during his 12-year rule in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said that the greatest challenge facing India is restoring the trust of the people.
Modi made the remarks in his video-link address to the people of the Gujarati community living in 20 cities across the United States, which lasted for more than an hour and was followed by a questions and answers session.
In his address, Modi lashed out at the United Progressive Alliance government and alleged that people of India have lost "trust and confidence" in the Centre, due to its "poor governance" and high corruption.
"I feel biggest crisis (today) is lack of confidence. We need to get this trust back. This cannot be merely done by words: Biggest need today is trust," Modi said while speaking to the audience from different cities of the US, including New Jersey and Chicago.
Besides the overseas Gujarati community across the country, who had organised the event on the occasion of the Gujarat Divas, Indian students in several US universities, like the University of Maryland, had gathered together to watch Modi's live address.
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'Why did India retreat from its own territory?'
Photographs: Jayanta De Chowdhuri/Reuters
In his speech, Modi insisted that the country is experiencing a new crisis due to developments in the last few months, as he narrated several corruption related incidents.
Lashing out at foreign policy of the UPA government, he alleged that New Delhi is being ruled by weak leaders.
It is unbelievable that the India's foreign minister is seen reading the speech of his counterpart from another country, he said.
"Heads of our soldiers are cut but then their prime minister fed chicken biryani," he said in an apparent reference to incidents of killing of Indian soldiers by Pakistan.
"Then questions are raised: China withdraws its forces but I wonder why Indian forces are withdrawing from Indian territory? Why did we retreat (from our own territory)?" he said questioning the China policy of the government.
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'We have adopted mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'
Photographs: Amit Dave/Reuters
Addressing the Gujarati diaspora community, Modi claimed that during his rule in Gujarat, he has given a new meaning to development, which is not only inclusive but integrates all sections of the society without any differentiation.
"We have adopted mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We do not want development of only select sections of society," Modi said in response to a question from Chicago.
"We have taken development to new heights, taken it for wellbeing of every person: I am saying it again, Narendra Modi has not done it. The credit goes to six crore Gujaratis and those who love Gujarat," he said in his remarks.
Modi, in his speech, sought contribution of the overseas Gujarati community in building a statue of unity of Sardar Patel, which he said would be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
This, he said, would be the tallest statue of the world and a tribute to the son of the soil Sardar Patel, who singlehandedly united the country after India achieved its independence in 1947.
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