Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described India as a rising global “model of hope,” emphasizing the nation’s steady progress toward becoming a developed and self-reliant power despite global challenges.
Delivering the Sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, the Prime Minister began his address by paying tribute to the Express Group’s founder, Ramnath Goenka, noting his unwavering commitment to principles over political affiliations.
“Today, we are here to honour a journalist whose courage and vision helped guide the nation,” PM Modi said, recalling Goenka’s diverse political engagements during a transformative era in India’s history.
PM Modi highlighted India’s robust economic performance, asserting that the nation has demonstrated remarkable resilience amid global headwinds, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. “So many challenges emerged but could not derail India’s progress,” he stated.
“Our country proved itself by maintaining a high growth rate. Our growth rate is 7 per cent despite global instability.”
He added that the world is increasingly recognizing India’s distinct development trajectory. “India is not just an emerging market. India is also an emerging model,” he declared. “Today, the world sees the Indian Growth Model as a model of hope.”
The Prime Minister underscored the non-negotiable importance of development, irrespective of which party governs a state, and reaffirmed his government’s focus on the poor and marginalized.
“Regardless of which government is in power in the states, the priority must always be development,” he said. “For a country to truly develop, it is essential to ensure social justice for every section of society.”
Detailing the government’s saturation approach to welfare, he added: “We are continuously working on the mission of saturation. Not a single beneficiary should be left out of any scheme.”
The Prime Minister noted that government efforts have lifted a significant portion of the population out of poverty, stating: “Twenty-five crore people have been brought out of poverty.”
Referring to the recent Bihar election results, PM Modi described the voter turnout as a testament to the strength of Indian democracy.
“The November 14 results… no one can ignore the rising participation in the election,” he observed. “Historic turnout in Bihar. The results have set a precedent for the kind of governance people want.”
He also urged leaders to prioritize public welfare over constant political campaigning: “An emotional mode, not an election mode, is necessary.”
Highlighting reforms in cultural and educational sectors, the Prime Minister pointed to the new National Education Policy (NEP). “In our new National Education Policy, we have given special emphasis to education in local languages,” he said.
Concluding his address with a message of aspiration and determination, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to achieving its full potential: “India is eager to become developed. India is eager to become self-reliant.”