Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday mixed politics, nostalgia and India’s global ambitions during an address to the Indian community in the Netherlands, recalling the BJP’s 2014 Lok Sabha victory and saying the “faith of crores of Indians” continues to drive him forward.
Addressing a packed diaspora gathering in The Hague during his five-nation tour, PM Modi also spoke about global instability, India’s economic transformation, rising voter participation and the role of Indians abroad in strengthening ties with the Netherlands.
“It feels just like some festival is going on somewhere in India,” the Prime Minister said as chants and applause echoed through the venue. Referring to the warmth shown by the diaspora, he said he momentarily forgot he was in the Netherlands.
The event carried political undertones as Modi repeatedly referred to India’s democratic participation and the 2014 election mandate that brought the BJP-led NDA to power with a full majority.
“Today is May 16, and this day is very special,” he said. “Twelve years ago today, the results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared. After decades, India got a stable government with an absolute majority.”
He added, “The trust of crores of Indians does not let me stop or tire.”
PM Modi speaks on global crises and supply chains
During his speech, the Prime Minister said the world was passing through a difficult phase marked by conflict, economic uncertainty and energy challenges.
“The world is dealing with new challenges. First Corona, then war and today’s energy crisis,” Modi said.
He warned that unless global conditions improved quickly, decades of progress could be lost and millions could slip into poverty.
“In such times, India and the Netherlands are making endeavours to establish a future-ready supply chain,” he said.
PM Modi highlights India’s AI, startup and healthcare push
Pitching India as an emerging innovation and technology hub, PM Modi said the country’s youth were aiming to lead in sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
“India is dreaming big,” he said, adding that the country now hosts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
The Prime Minister also pointed to India’s welfare and healthcare programmes, saying the country was currently running the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme.
PM Modi also made a passing reference to jhalmuri, the Bengali street snack that had turned into an unlikely political talking point during the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
“Has jhalmuri reached even here?” PM Modi asked with a smile, triggering loud cheers and laughter from the audience.
The remark appeared to recall the now widely discussed campaign moment when PM Modi stopped to eat jhalmuri at a roadside stall in Bengal during the election season, a gesture that later became part of the BJP’s broader political messaging around grassroots connect and regional identity.
He also spoke about India’s high voter turnout, especially among women, saying election participation records were being broken every year.
PM Modi praises Indian diaspora in the Netherlands
The Prime Minister praised the Indian community for preserving its cultural roots despite living overseas for generations.
“The stories of many families settled here are not just stories of migration. They are stories of progress amid countless struggles,” he said.
PM Modi said Indian languages, traditions and family values had survived across generations even after crossing oceans.
“You adopted the Dutch language, but you did not abandon the languages of your ancestors,” he said, while appreciating community radio stations promoting Indian music and culture in the Netherlands.
The Prime Minister is currently on a five-nation visit from May 15 to 20. The Netherlands leg follows his visit to the United Arab Emirates earlier this week.