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Text of PM's remarks at India-US CEO Forum

Published By : Admin | January 26, 2014 | 16:46 IST

Friends,

I feel that the solution to most of the problems is in one word and that is Good Governance. If there is good governance which is pro-active and pro-people, we can address many issues. I also feel that the state should be policy driven. If the state is policy driven, anyone in any corner of the world who wants to invest or have business relations with that country, can decide if the policy is favorable to him or not. Policies are there to help the people and these can’t work on the whims of an individual.

Then there is the issue of consistency. It is appropriate to be policy driven, but making it so dynamic that it changes every year won’t work. Hence the need to have consistency. With these basic ideas many fundamental problems can be resolved.

There are issues like intellectual property. I believe that it is an important issue. Everyone in the world must come together to solve this problem. Just like there is so much influence of technology, there are movies. We have to protect IPR there. Then we must take help of cyber security. We are in the midst of a solution. We have created a joint forum, a joint US-India working group. The details are being worked out and we are ready to work on all the suggestions.

There are many possibilities for service sector in India. Tourism is one sector which is yet to be fully tapped. As we have just been told, Gujarati community is in such huge numbers. In hotels or motels, Patels are so famous, so something must be done here as well. I believe this is a sector in which we must emphasize on infrastructure. However if I need to seek permission at 70-80 permissions, then I know that even I won’t dare. So, we have just taken an initiative- ‘Ease of Doing Business.’ We have tried to reduce the paper work, create digital online system and make same type of documents available to everyone and we have done this. We will slowly make it successful, we are sure.

I also agree with the idea that sometimes people are not sure whether India will import or not? Is there a contradiction between Make In India and Import regime? Our biggest target should be that we are a big country, we are a big market, but what is the purchasing power of this market? If Indians won’t have purchasing power, then what will they import from abroad? And if we want to increase our purchasing power, then we must grow our economy. The first sector that I want to see growth in our economy is towards the investment in the infrastructure. There is no import-export conflict there.

Now look at Railways! Railway is such a huge task; we have introduced 100 percent FDI in it. People can invest into infrastructure sector. For the agriculture sector, my mission is – per drop more crop. When I say per drop more crop, I also address the climate issue. At the same time I also address economic issues of the farmers and the water crisis here. However, we need infrastructure for this purpose. We have to work on the river-grid, canal network; there is a huge need for agro-infrastructure. Today, India is in surplus in the agriculture sector in the world. There are some countries in the world where agricultural sector is very expensive. For them import is much easier. If in India we contribute towards mechanizing the agriculture, if we take interest in the value addition of agro-product, there are huge opportunities in the global market. I believe that agriculture sector is very expensive in those countries, while it can be much cheaper. We can move ahead with a win-win situation.

For all the issues that you have broached, my take is that I believe in consistency. Mr. Dave said about the Gujarat model, that it is a policy driven state, it is consistent. The emphasis has been on good governance and I am working on this basic premise. You must have observed it over the past 6-8 months. I am a firm believer in listening to the problems faced by the people first and try to address them. Whatever issues come from my department, I listen to them later. It is in my nature and that’s how I understand things in proper context. And as a result, I make very quick decisions.

I assure you that India is full of unlimited possibilities. We have talent and scope too. I believe in skill development. But skill development alone won’t be enough. Today, in the race that we are in and those we are competing against, I emphasize on three things – skill, scale and speed. I want to emphasize on skill, I want to increase the scale and I want to go with the speed and the the one which will match your speed. Once again, I would like to welcome you at this CEO forum. In the beginning it was said that the voices need to be heard. I am available and you are most welcome, I will listen to you. Rodriguez has given a good suggestion that big projects should be monitored at the level of PMO. I agree with your suggestion. Rodriguez, I take the responsibility on your behalf that I will take responsibility of mega projects, I will monitor them myself.

In the federal structure of government in India, many issues fall under the jurisdiction of States. The Federal Government works in tandem with the State Governments. I have to keep them on board. If there is ‘Ease of Doing Business’, then first of all I have to get them in sync with the policy, by doing this the possibility of variation in policies will also be reduced. There will be a lot of consistency or uniformity in the point of view of the Federal Government and the State Government. So we will also be able to solve the little problems that used to be there.

Once again, thanks a lot to all of you.

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Spiritual centres like Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Matha are great contributions of this sacred land: PM Modi in Mandya
April 15, 2026
India is a vibrant civilization that has been thriving for thousands of years : PM
There are very few examples in the world where traditions remain continuously intact for such a long period: PM
In our society, from time to time, such great personalities have continued to emerge, who have not remained confined merely to spiritual guidance : PM
They have lived among the people, understood their joys and sorrows, felt their struggles, and shown the way to lead society out of sorrow, suffering, and hardship: PM
My first appeal is that we all resolve to save water and manage it better: PM
My second appeal is related to trees and nature, Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, millions of people have planted trees in the name of their mothers; Let us also plant trees in honor of our mother and resolve to protect Mother Earth: PM
My third appeal is regarding cleanliness; Be it a religious site, a public place, a village or a city, maintaining cleanliness everywhere is our responsibility: PM
My fourth appeal is related to Swadeshi and self-reliance; Let us adopt Indian products, strengthen Indian manufacturers and industries: PM
My fifth appeal is related to appreciating the beauty of our country; Let us know our country, travel within it and promote domestic tourism: PM
My sixth appeal to the farmers is that they move towards natural farming: PM
My seventh appeal is related to healthy eating; Obesity is becoming a major challenge in our country. To address this, make an effort to reduce the amount of oil in your food by 10%: PM
My eighth appeal is related to yoga, sports, and fitness. We must all make these an integral part of our lives: PM
My ninth appeal is related to the spirit of service: PM

Param Pujya Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, former Prime Minister Honorable H. D. Deve Gowda Ji, Governor of this state Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot Ji, Param Pujya Jagadguru Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati Ji, my colleagues in the Centre H. D. Kumaraswamy Ji, Shobha Karandlaje Ji, Leader of Opposition in Karnataka R. Ashoka Ji, state minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy Ji, all revered saints, other distinguished dignitaries, and all the brothers and sisters who have gathered here in large numbers.

Friends,

Today my heart is filled with such emotions that are difficult to express in words. Having darshan and worship at Shri Kal Bhairav temple, witnessing the grand inauguration of Shri Guru Bhairavaikya temple, spending time at the historic Jwala Peeth, receiving the company of saints who have reached spiritual heights, and now seeing the gathering present here-these experiences will always remain with me. I consider it my good fortune that I got the opportunity to come among you. I extend many congratulations to all of you on this occasion.

Friends,

Coming to Karnataka always gives me great joy. Every time I come here, I receive new inspiration. But today’s visit to Sakkare Nagara in Mandya district is important for many reasons. This land is known for the sweetness of sugarcane, and the same sweetness is seen in the words of the people here. Their warmth, their welcoming spirit touches the heart. I often say that Karnataka is rich in both philosophy and technology. That is, the depth of philosophy and the power of technology are both present here. Spiritual centers like Shri Adi Chunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math are great gifts of this land. This institution guides society through philosophy, spirituality, and moral values.

Friends,

India is a living civilization continuing for thousands of years. In the world, there are very few examples where traditions continue for such a long period. When we see Shri Adi Chunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, we see the living form of this continuity. The history of this holy Math is almost two thousand years old. Its guru tradition, its spiritual philosophy, and its tradition of service have enriched this land for generations. In this tradition, great saints like Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji emerged, who took this heritage to new heights. Today Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji is carrying forward the same stream with new energy, speed, and dedication, taking everyone along.

Friends,

In our society, from time to time such great personalities have come who were not limited only to spiritual guidance. They lived among the people, understood their joys and sorrows, felt their struggles, and showed society the way out of pain and difficulty. Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji was such a divine personality. He is not with us physically now, but he is present here. He worked at many levels to improve people’s lives. He had deep spiritual power, but his life was not limited to meditation. Coming from a village background, he understood the aspirations of rural youth, understood the challenges of common people. Therefore, for him devotion did not mean going away from society, but taking responsibility forward for society.

Friends,

Mahaswamiji established hundreds of institutions in the field of education, where education is being provided from primary level to professional courses like medical and engineering. The greatest benefit has gone to children from poor and rural families. His vision in the field of health was equally transformative. He created healthcare institutions where even today work is done with a spirit of service. He believed that quality healthcare should not be the special right of a few people, but should reach every citizen.

Friends,

Today our government is also working with the same vision. Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, crores of poor people have received free hospital treatment. We have extended this scheme to all senior citizens above 70 years of age, so that they can receive better health facilities with dignity.

Friends,

Today being present in this Shri Guru Bhairavaikya temple, and receiving the blessings of Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji, is a matter of fortune for me. We all know Mahaswamiji was the embodiment of compassion. His compassion was not limited to humans, it extended to all living beings. The social movement he started for the protection of peacocks is an example of this. And today even in the memento Swamiji has given me a peacock. This is not only environmental protection, it is also connected to our cultural consciousness, because the peacock is our national bird and also the vehicle of Lord Subrahmanya. In Delhi, in the official residence given to me by the Government of India with the blessings of the people, there are also many peacocks. And with some I have even formed good friendships. I see directly how peaceful and beautiful the peacock is.

Friends,

Today Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji is carrying forward the tradition of his guru. Walking on the path shown by his guru, he is bringing positive change in people’s lives. Constructing Shri Guru Bhairavaikya temple in honor of his guru is not just building a structure, it is realizing a sentiment. In the coming time, this place will certainly become a center of service, meditation, and inspiration.

Friends,

Shri Adi Chunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math works on nine principles-anna, akshara, aarogya, adhyatma, aashraya, aranya, aakalu, anukampa, and anubandha. With the same spirit, I want to place before you nine areas where we can all take a collective resolve. I place my nine requests before you.

Friends,

This Mandya understands the importance of water. This entire region has grown with the blessings of Mother Kaveri. Therefore, my first request is that we all take a resolve to save water and manage water better. My second request is connected to trees and nature. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, crores of people have planted trees in the name of their mothers. We too should plant trees in honor of our mothers and take a resolve to protect Mother Earth. My third request is about cleanliness. Whether it is a religious place, public place, village or city, maintaining cleanliness everywhere is our collective responsibility, it is our duty. My fourth request is connected to swadeshi and self-reliance. We should adopt Indian products, strengthen Indian manufacturers and industries. Live with the mantra of Vocal for Local. My fifth request is connected to seeing the beauty of the country. We should know our country, travel to different corners of the country, and promote domestic tourism.

Friends,

Mandya is the land of hardworking farmers. My sixth request to farmers is that they move towards chemical-free natural farming. My seventh request is connected to healthy food. Right now Honorable Shri Deve Gowda Ji is present among us. He is known for popularizing ‘Ragi Mudde’. This entire region understands the importance of ragi. The young generation should also include millets in their food. In our country obesity has become a big challenge. To deal with this, also try to reduce the amount of oil in food by 10 percent. My eighth request is connected to yoga, sports, and fitness. We should all make them part of our lives. My ninth request is connected to the spirit of service, which you are continuously proving through your actions.

Friends,

Service to the needy strengthens society, it connects a big purpose to your life. If we all move forward with honesty and resolve on these nine requests, then we can move rapidly towards a developed Karnataka and a developed India. Once again, I extend many congratulations to all of you on this occasion. I express my gratitude to Jagadguru Shri Shri Shri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji and Shri Adi Chunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, that on this sacred occasion, in this holy land, in this land of penance, you invited me, gave me the opportunity to spend some moments with you. I heartily thank all of you, I thank all of you. Many congratulations. Thank you.