Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: India is full of opportunities now , PM Modi tells NRIs

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that those who left India in pursuit of aspirations, opportunities should know that the country, today, is full of such opportunities.

Addressing a gathering of NRIs after inaugurating the 13th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Gandhinagar, Modi said, "Our ancestors used to leave their loved ones and friends behind, sometimes due to their brave nature and sometimes in search of new opportunities.Those who left family & country in pursuit of aspirations,opportunities, I tell them, that is there in India now."

"There was time when professionals in India went to distant lands to explore new possibilities. Now India awaits you with opportunities.I want to tell you that India is full of opportunities now," added Modi.

Modi invited NRIs to participate in bulilding a new India and reminded them that the whole world was looking at India now.

"Time is changing at a fast place, World is looking at India today with hope. African Congress was born on 8th January, that is today. Mahatma Gandhi gave a message that day, relevant today. Be it most developed nation of World or the poorest one, every nation is looking at India today," said Modi.

Here we are giving you live updates of Modi's speech:

12: 59 pm- Modi concludes his speech.  

12: 58 pm- Modi-I invite you, whatever it is that you possess, come with it and join us in this endeavour

12: 56 pm- Modi- Understand India, Use technology. We can have online competitions for comprehensive understanding of India.  NRIs can participate in Quiz and those who perform well must be acknowledged.

12: 54 pm: Modi- India aims for higher goals. I want you to participate.Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – is a concept that originates from India. It means that whole world is a family. I want you to remind you of it. Photo stamps and coins form threads for history.

12:48 pm- Modi: Of all the things I know there is one project that is close to my heart- Cleanliness of Ganga. One thing that connects people of Mauritius to India is Ganga . People took water from Ganga to Mauritius. For me, Ganga's cleanliness is an environmental issue, it's a matter of faith, it's a matter of cultural inheritance. Be it Kashi or Gangotri…Ganga gives sustenance and life. Those who work for rural development, Ganga project is for you, even for people who love adventure or environment, this project is for you.

12:45 pm: Modi- Those of you who have the desire to do something, they will get it. But everything is not done only through pound or dollar. A muslim girl in America, she was an Indian but had never been here. Post Kutchh disaster, she came here and worked for the people of Gujarat.

12:44 pm: Modi- Pravasiya Bharatiya Kendra is being set up in Delhi. Every pravasiya Indian will benefit from it.

12:42 pm: Modi- Now PIO and OCI cards have been merged. VISA on arrival is another facility that has been offered to you. People from 43 countries have this facility now. I had made this promise and I have fulfilled my promise.

12:40 pm: Modi- Today I can say with pride that whatever we had said we have fulfilled. I had said PIO card holders will get lifetime visa now you have that. These people earlier had to visit the police station every month for verification. Now you don't have to go there. This is not just an administrative decision. It's all about respect.

12:39 pm: Modi: I know when earthquake destroyed Kutchh, Indians all over the world offered their condolences and support.

12:36 pm: Modi: Pravasiya Bharatiya Diwas started in 2003 and since then it is continuing. But in between… many of you didn't want to come. Some came because they had too. Some attended it because they couldn't resist coming. But I have never missed it.

12:32 pm: Modi- When I attended UNGA last year, I suggested for celebrating World Yoga Day. I was amazed to see that 177 countries supported my request. Not only that, it was for the first time that  a suggestion got such unanimous acceptance.

12:29 pm: Modi: Sometimes people think that now we are staying far away from our country…what can we do???...Some months back I got a newspaper cutting. The story was of a businessman in Surat. Every morning he would sweep the village. People thought he was mad. Many years back he returned to India and went to his village. Again as usual he began sweeping the village. But this time the entire community joined him. His endeavor had changed the entire village.

12:27 pm: Modi- Now Indians who are staying abroad must come out for the nation. You can be the driving force. World respects us. The reason behind affection and respect for NRIs is their lifestyle. Indians carry their family values with them wherever they go. People feel comfortable with Indians as their neighbors.

12:25 pm: Modi- Indians living abroad might speak different language . But Vienna celebrates holi with fervor. Now after getting this new responsibility, I have been able to visit over 50 countries. I have been able to communicate with them. I can say this for sure through their talks – They all look up to India. They feel that they can walk hand in hand with India.

12:22 pm:Modi- Mauritius celebrates 2nd October with more grandeur than any other nation. Even today, Gandhi's thoughts give strength to people. Solution to social and personal problems can be derived from the message Gandhi left behind. That is why history today hails him.

12:17 pm: Modi- We and our ancestors searched for possibilities and they found it. India stood up again with renewed strength. The world now looks at us with hope. Today Vienna, South Africa, Mauritius – Even before I became the CM I had the privilege of visiting these places. People of Veinna – no matter what society they come from or what language they speak, they always speak of India's independence.  Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to free India. Gandhi returned from South Africa for India. African Congress was founded on 8th January. This is the very day on which it was born.

12:14 pm: Modi- Time is changing at a fast place, World is looking at India today with hope. African Congress was born on 8th January, that is today. Mahatma Gandhi gave a message that day, relevant today. Be it most developed nation of World or the poorest one, every nation is looking at India today.

12:12 pm: Modi- Our ancestors used to leave their loved ones and friends behind, sometimes due to their brave nature and sometimes in search of new opportunities.Those who left family & country in pursuit of aspirations,opportunities, I tell them, that is there in India now.There was time when professionals in India went to distant lands to explore new possibilities. Now India awaits you with opportunities.I want to tell you that India is full of opportunities now.

12:10 pm: Modi- 100 years ago,one ‘NRI' returned to India & today one Gujarati NRI welcomes entire overseas Indian community.

12:08pm- PM Narendra Modi begins his speech