Moscow Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described Russia as India's "all-weather friend" and praised President Vladimir Putin's leadership in strengthening the bilateral relationship over the past two decades.
The Prime Minister's praise for Putin, during an address to the Indian diaspora here, came amid attempts by Western powers to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine.
"When you hear the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's friend at all times (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and reliable ally," Modi said.
“No matter how low the sub-zero temperatures are during the Russian winter, the friendship between India and Russia has always been positive, full of warmth. “This relationship is built on a solid foundation of mutual trust and respect,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said he had special appreciation for “his friend of his” President Putin for taking India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades.
The Prime Minister said the world had long seen an “influence-oriented global order”.
"But what the world needs now is confluence, not influence, and no one can convey this message better than India, which has a strong tradition of worshiping confluences," Modi said.
The Prime Minister said India was undergoing a transformation and the pace of development in the last 10 years had taken the world by surprise.
Modi said India was changing because he believes in the strength of its 140 million citizens who now dream of realizing their determination of "Viksit Bharat".
"India today is full of self-confidence, unlike the pre-2014 situation, and this is our greatest capital," Modi said.
“When people like you bless us, even the most important goals can be achieved. You all know that today's India achieves whatever it sets its mind to,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that it was in his DNA to face all challenges and that India will write a new chapter of global growth in the coming years.
Modi said that exactly a month ago he took oath as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term when he took the decision to work with triple strength and speed to fulfill the country's aspirations.
"Our government plans to make India the third largest economy in the world, build three crore houses for the poor and convert three million poor village women into 'lakhpati didi'," the Prime Minister said amid chants of ' Modi, Modi' and 'Modi'. hai toh mom hai'.
“In several government objectives the number three has become important,” he said.
He said India was the country that sent Chandrayaan to a place on the moon where no country had gone before and gave the work the most reliable model for digital transactions.
"India's development in the last 10 years was just a step forward; we will see much faster growth in the next 10 years," Modi said.
The Prime Minister's praise for Putin, during an address to the Indian diaspora here, came amid attempts by Western powers to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine.
"When you hear the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian's mind is India's friend at all times (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and reliable ally," Modi said.
“No matter how low the sub-zero temperatures are during the Russian winter, the friendship between India and Russia has always been positive, full of warmth. “This relationship is built on a solid foundation of mutual trust and respect,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said he had special appreciation for “his friend of his” President Putin for taking India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades.
The Prime Minister said the world had long seen an “influence-oriented global order”.
"But what the world needs now is confluence, not influence, and no one can convey this message better than India, which has a strong tradition of worshiping confluences," Modi said.
The Prime Minister said India was undergoing a transformation and the pace of development in the last 10 years had taken the world by surprise.
Modi said India was changing because he believes in the strength of its 140 million citizens who now dream of realizing their determination of "Viksit Bharat".
"India today is full of self-confidence, unlike the pre-2014 situation, and this is our greatest capital," Modi said.
“When people like you bless us, even the most important goals can be achieved. You all know that today's India achieves whatever it sets its mind to,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that it was in his DNA to face all challenges and that India will write a new chapter of global growth in the coming years.
Modi said that exactly a month ago he took oath as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term when he took the decision to work with triple strength and speed to fulfill the country's aspirations.
"Our government plans to make India the third largest economy in the world, build three crore houses for the poor and convert three million poor village women into 'lakhpati didi'," the Prime Minister said amid chants of ' Modi, Modi' and 'Modi'. hai toh mom hai'.
“In several government objectives the number three has become important,” he said.
He said India was the country that sent Chandrayaan to a place on the moon where no country had gone before and gave the work the most reliable model for digital transactions.
"India's development in the last 10 years was just a step forward; we will see much faster growth in the next 10 years," Modi said.
