My colleague in the Council of Ministers Shri Rajnath Singh ji, all the honourable Chief Ministers of Northeast, Shri Kiran Rijiju ji and all the officers and leaders of the police force. I heartily congratulate all those who have been honoured today.
Since the times of Chanakya, we have studied what is vital for nation’s security, more than having advantage of good weaponry; it depends on who has those weapons. But even more important than having weaponry and trained manpower handling those weaponry, is having the best intelligence network; as the success of any nation’s security depends on it. The system that has the best form of intelligence will never require either the weapon holder or weaponry and there definitely won't be any need of use of weapons. If there is any unit that holds utmost importance in terms of nation’s security, it is the intelligence system. I have been privileged enough to honour the officers serving in this arena. I would like to once again congratulate them for their excellent service.
Everyone is surprised that the tradition of holding this conference in New Delhi since so many years has been discontinued and the ceremony has been shifted from Delhi to Guwahati. But you must have noticed that when you come to Delhi for a meeting, you come there with a lot of work. You feel that since we have come all the way to Delhi, you might as well get with a few other things done like visit the ministry, meet the secretaries. But now you need to concentrate a little on the issues faced by the state. Now the meeting is out of Delhi and hence from the time you have come here, you must have been well acquainted with each other. There is no other activity here, so the entire focus will be on the ongoing activity. And the one to benefit the most would be the people of Northeast, the police force here would be very happy and encouraged and this would also help you understand how big result a minor change can bring about. It is possible that later in life you also take this initiative. This is an auspicious beginning. In the future too we want such events to take place outside Delhi in different states. I am sure Delhi will also get a chance; it is not that Delhi will never host such meets anymore. But when the programme is held in Delhi, there is no role played by the Delhi police. The Indian Government and Vigyan Bhavan are ready with your accommodation, where you stay in your quarters and then leave. This is a change and every system of change needs to have a life. Robotic systems do not work. Systems should be alive and full of life. Systems should encourage and augment the liveliness and this change will lead you in that direction. I am sure you will also adopt similar experiments in your state.
You have been here since yesterday and there have been talks - some of serious nature and there have been some light conversations. Even I am going to be with you till today afternoon. I want to spend maximum time listening to you. But there are a few things that I want to express today. After our country’s independence, the fact that 33 thousand policemen have sacrificed their lives while protecting the country and safeguarding the comforts of its citizens, is by no means, a minor feat. But does the entire police force know that 33 thousand policemen have sacrificed their lives to protect the country? How would then the common citizens of India know about this fact? I feel it is of prime importance that this sacrifice does not go waste. How can their respect get enhanced in the society? He also must have been someone's son. And he has died in the line of duty and I do not know why we have not shown enough concern towards them. I would want a small taskforce to be formed from amongst you, consisting of some senior and experienced people. We should be able to find out ways to incorporate the positives from the heritage of this sacrifice in a manner such that it is embedded as our inspiration forever. A protocol also has to be set up to honour them during their last rites. Every state has its own police academy where the new recruits are trained. I want to know if their syllabus can include a thorough knowledge comprised in a comprehensive book based on the life of all those who have sacrificed their lives from that region. Every state should have its own book - an official Government Book. Who has sacrificed their life, at what occasion, how did they lose their life in the line of duty, what courage did they show and how many lives they did they save; all should be mentioned in the book. The new generation of police, the new constables who are under training, will learn these things. He will have to read this book too and answer an exam on the same. Through this, he will realise of the martyrdom of those before him who sacrificed their lives. This will then be passed on through the generations. Should we bring out a new edition of the book every year? We can decide now that every state publishes an e-book that mentions the martyrdom of all these 33 thousand martyrs with their photos which can be sourced from their families. It should be in the regional and national language. This will be a small effort but one with huge repercussions in form of the inspiration. I have also noticed that the police department holds a lot of programmes for police welfare. Cine stars are a part of these programmes and performances and plays are also a part of it. It is done in a grand way in Mumbai. During this time, a souvenir is also issued. Advertisement is asked for and funds are collected. I have not gone into the details, nor do I wish to. But can we decide to include a list of those who have sacrificed their lives in that particular year in the souvenir, speaking of their deeds. We shouldn't let their lives go waste in this manner. He may not be physically alive, but for the police force and the society, he should never die. It is our responsibility. I don't want to discuss if something similar has happened in the past but something like this should happen now as I believe it will make a huge difference.
The other thing is police welfare. I am well aware that the police force leads a life full of stress. He puts his life on the line of fire for his duty. If there is no well-being and happiness in his family, how will they go on duty? No matter how sacrificial and selfless the police officer is, family's discomfort also causes him discomfort. It is the role of the government and all of us to establish a system for the welfare of their families. Everything from them and their family's health check up to their children's education should be taken care of. How are the residential facilities of those in the lower ranks? Someone should pay some heed to this. And it's not as if this is not happening. A good thing now is that our home minister was a successful Chief Minister of one of the biggest states of our country. And hence he knows the nuances of this topic. His guidance will be of a lot of help to us in the coming days. It has also been my privilege that since I was a Chief Minister for quite a long time and held the control of the home department, I am also aware of the way it functions. I am aware of what goes on the ground. And hence it might be a possibility that we are treating this on priority. We want to approach the task of police welfare in a scientific manner and that is the bare minimum we can do. And if we do this, then there will be a huge change.
Sometimes the movies depict a policeman in a certain grey light and this goes into the minds of common man. I have seen a very few movies that talk about the sacrifice of these policemen and that is the reason such an image of policemen has embedded in the minds of a common man. We should make special efforts. The Indian Government should make a PR Agency of sorts and meet the film producers and make them aware of their deeds. If the opinion-makers of the society won't protect the integrity of the ones who protect our country, then the rot in the system will also not go away. If there is a kid in the family who keeps committing a mistake, we don't reprimand him for every mistake of his and instead try to point out his achievements then he on his own starts focusing on the good and developing on it. There will be limitations, who doesn't have them? But there is a way to overcome these limitations with the help of the society. I want the thought process of the country towards the policemen to change keeping the onground realities in mind. Any negative story about a policeman has a long shelf life in the media but many positive things never even come to the fore.
When I was in Gujarat, I had conducted an experiment and you too can try it if you find it to be applicable. I don't know what happened after I have left Gujarat. I don't know if they are still following that or not. But I had made a request to every police station to build their own website where they would update their week's best of the best social activities. Whatever the week's positive highlight was, whether they worked towards a social cause or helped a needy and treated them with respect, saved someone from heavy losses… all this would be updated on the website. There are a lot of instances; there is no dearth of such incidents that can be highlighted. Please don't be depressed, there are a lot of good things happening in the country due to you but if you don't bring them out in the open, no one will know about it. We put up a positive story that is absolutely true on the website every week and see the kind of changes it brings in people's perception towards the police. There is no need to be artificial; there are enough positive things to be highlighted. Every person you meet will have at least one positive story to tell about a policeman. But such facts are not collectively presented to the people. I want you to think on this positively and develop a plan of action to take it forward. We will discuss this in detail when we meet.
I have a concept in my mind - that of SMART police - a SMART police force. How can we work with this vision? When I talk about SMART police I mean S - Strict but also S - Sensitive, police should be Strict yet Sensitive, M – Modern and there should be Mobility, there should be no stagnancy, A - Alert and Accountable, R - Reliable and Responsive, T - Techno savvy and Trained. We have to take these five points and march ahead. I truly believe we can fill the police force with a new life and a renewed sense of consciousness.
Once again, I would like to thank and congratulate all those whom I have had the privilege of honouring today. In future too, the mighty police force will be successful in serving the citizens, protecting them and most importantly instilling in them a sense of faith. The rest, we will discuss in detail when we meet.
Best wishes, thank you.
(The original speech was in Hindi, this is the English rendering. Original speech remains the authoritative version)
Published By : Admin |
November 30, 2014 | 10:24 IST
-
Share
-
-
-
Login or Register to add your comment
Explore More
Media Coverage
Somnath Swabhiman Parv: “Feeling blessed to be in Somnath, a proud symbol of our civilisational courage,” says PM Modi
Nm on the go
Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
The fact sheet on India's growth is a success story of the Reform-Perform-Transform mantra: PM Modi in Rajkot
January 11, 2026
-
Share
-
-
-
India is the world's fastest-growing large economy: PM
The fact sheet on India's growth is a success story of the Reform-Perform-Transform mantra: PM
At a time of great global uncertainty, India is moving ahead with remarkable certainty: PM
Along with infrastructure, an industry-ready workforce is today's biggest need: PM
Today's India is moving rapidly towards becoming a developed nation; the Reform Express is playing a crucial role in achieving this objective: PM
Greetings!
Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, other Ministers of the Gujarat Government, Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, Excellencies, representatives of industry, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
This is my first visit to Gujarat after the beginning of 2026. It is especially auspicious because my journey this year began with bowing my head at the feet of Somnath Dada. And now, I am here in Rajkot, participating in this magnificent programme. Development and heritage—this mantra is resonating everywhere. I warmly welcome and extend my greetings to all of you who have come from across the country and the world to the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit.
Friends,
Whenever the stage of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit is set, I do not see it merely as a summit. I see the journey of modern India in the 21st century—a journey that began with a dream and has now reached an unshakable trust. In two decades, this journey of Vibrant Gujarat has become a global benchmark. Ten editions have already been held, and with each edition, the identity and role of this summit have grown stronger.
Friends,
I have been associated with the vision of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit since its very inception. In the early days, our aim was to make the world aware of Gujarat’s potential, to invite people here, to encourage investment—so that India would benefit, and global investors too would benefit. But today, this summit has gone beyond investment; it has become a strong platform for global growth, international cooperation, and partnerships. Over the years, the number of global partners has steadily increased, and with time, this summit has also become a great example of inclusion. Here, corporate groups, cooperatives, MSMEs, start-ups, multilateral and bilateral organisations, international financial institutions—all come together, engage in dialogue, deliberate, and walk shoulder to shoulder with Gujarat’s development.
Friends,
Over the past two decades, the Vibrant Gujarat Summit has consistently introduced something new, something special. This Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit is another such example. Its focus is on transforming the untapped potential of different parts of Gujarat into performance. For instance, some regions have the strength of a coastal line, others have a long tribal belt, some have a large ecosystem of industrial clusters, while others have a rich tradition of agriculture and animal husbandry. In other words, each region of Gujarat has its own unique strength. The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit is moving forward by focusing on these regional possibilities.
Friends,
A quarter of the 21st century has already passed. In these years, India has made rapid progress, and Gujarat—and all of you—have played a major role in this. India is moving swiftly towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. The data clearly shows that the world’s expectations from India are continuously rising. India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Inflation is under control. In agriculture production, India is setting new records. India is number one in milk production. India is number one in generic medicine production. And when it comes to vaccine manufacturing, the country that produces the highest number of vaccines in the world is India.
Friends,
India’s growth fact sheet is the success story of the mantra Reform, Perform & Transform. In the past 11 years, India has become the world’s largest consumer of mobile data. Our UPI has emerged as the world’s number one real-time digital transaction platform. Once, 9 out of 10 mobile phones were imported. Today, India is the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer. India now has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. In solar power generation too, India is among the top three countries. We are the third-largest aviation market, and in terms of metro networks, India is now among the world’s top three.
Friends,
Today, every global expert and institution is bullish about India. The IMF calls India the engine of global growth. S&P has upgraded India’s rating after 18 years. Fitch Ratings praises India’s macro stability and fiscal credibility. The world’s trust in India is because, amidst great global uncertainty, India is experiencing an unprecedented era of certainty. Today, India has political stability, policy continuity, and an expanding neo-middle class with rising purchasing power. These factors have made India a land of limitless possibilities. As I said from the Red Fort—this is the time, the right time. For every investor in India and across the world, this is the time, the right time to seize these opportunities. The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit too is sending the same message to all investors—invest in Saurashtra-Kutch, this is the time, the right time.
Friends,
You all know that Saurashtra and Kutch are regions that teach us that no matter how big the challenge, if one perseveres with honesty and hard work, success is certain. This is the same Kutch that endured a devastating earthquake at the start of this century. This is the same Saurashtra that faced years of drought. Mothers and sisters had to walk miles for drinking water. Electricity was uncertain, and difficulties were everywhere.
Friends,
Today’s youth of 20–25 years have only heard stories of that era. The reality was that people were unwilling to stay long in Kutch or Saurashtra. At that time, it seemed these conditions would never change. But history bears witness—time changes, and it surely changes. The people of Saurashtra and Kutch transformed their destiny through their hard work.
Friends,
Today, Saurashtra and Kutch are not just regions of opportunity; they have become anchor regions of India’s growth. They are emerging as major centres driving the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. In making India a global manufacturing hub, Saurashtra and Kutch are playing a vital role—and this role is market-driven. This is the greatest assurance for investors. Right here in Rajkot, there are more than 250,000 MSMEs. In its diverse industrial clusters, everything is produced—from screwdrivers to auto parts, machine tools, luxury car liners, airplane, fighter jet and rocket components. This region supports the entire value chain—from low-cost manufacturing to high-precision, high-technology manufacturing. And the jewellery industry here is world-renowned. This sector is a shining example of scale, skill, and global linkage.
Friends,
Alang is the world’s largest ship-breaking yard, where one-third of the world’s ships are recycled. This is proof of India’s leadership in the circular economy. India is among the largest producers of tiles, with Morbi district making a huge contribution. Manufacturing here is cost-competitive and globally benchmarked. I recall—many of you from the Saurashtra press may remember—once in a speech here I said I could see a time when Morbi, Jamnagar, and Rajkot would form a triangle like a mini-Japan. I was ridiculed then, but today I see that vision becoming reality before my eyes. We are also proud of the Dholera Special Investment Region. Today, this city is becoming a major centre of modern manufacturing. India’s first semiconductor fabrication facility is coming up in Dholera. This region is giving India an early-mover advantage in future technologies. The ground is fully prepared for your investment here—Infrastructure is ready, policy is predictable, and vision is long-term.
Friends,
Saurashtra and Kutch are also becoming major hubs of India’s green growth, green mobility, and energy security. In Kutch, a renewable energy park of 30 gigawatt capacity is being built—the world’s largest hybrid energy park. Imagine, this park will be five times bigger than the city of Paris. Here, clean energy is not just a commitment but a commercial-scale reality. You are all aware of the potential of green hydrogen. India is working at unprecedented speed and scale in this direction. Kutch and Jamnagar are becoming major centres of green hydrogen production. A massive Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is also being established in Kutch. This ensures grid stability and reliability alongside renewable energy.
Friends,
Kutch and Saurashtra have yet another great strength. This region is equipped with India’s world-class ports. A large share of India’s exports passes through here. Ports like Pipavav and Mundra have become major hubs for India’s automobile exports. Last year alone, nearly 175,000 vehicles were exported through Gujarat’s ports. And it is not just logistics—there are limitless investment opportunities in every aspect of port-led development. Alongside this, the Gujarat government is giving special priority to the fisheries sector. Large-scale work has been done on fisheries infrastructure, and a strong ecosystem has been created here for investors in seafood processing.
Friends,
Along with infrastructure, an industry-ready workforce is today’s greatest need. Gujarat provides complete certainty to investors on this front. Here, an international ecosystem of education and skill development exists. Gujarat’s Skill University is preparing youth with future-ready skills, working in collaboration with universities in Australia and Singapore. The National Defence University is India’s first national-level defence university. Gati Shakti University is preparing skilled manpower for every sector—road, railway, airway, waterways, and logistics. This means that along with investment, the talent pipeline is also assured. Today, many foreign universities are seeing new opportunities in India, and Gujarat is becoming their preferred destination. Two major Australian universities have already started their campuses here, and this number will grow further in the coming years.
Friends,
Gujarat offers nature, adventure, culture, and heritage. Whatever tourism experience one seeks, it is available here. Lothal is a symbol of India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage. The world’s oldest man-made dockyard has been found here, and a National Maritime Heritage Complex is being developed. In Kutch, the Rann Utsav is being celebrated these days, and staying in its tent city is a unique experience.
For wildlife enthusiasts, what could be better than seeing the Asiatic lion in Gir Forest? More than 900,000 tourists visit here every year. For those who love the sea, there is Shivrajpur Beach, which is Blue Flag certified. In addition, Mandvi, Somnath, and Dwarka also offer immense possibilities for beach tourism. Nearby Diu is becoming a wonderful destination for water sports and beach games. This entire region is full of strength and opportunities for investors. I urge you to make the most of it. And as I have long said—if you delay, do not blame me. Every investment you make in Saurashtra-Kutch will accelerate Gujarat’s development, and India’s development.
The strength of Saurashtra is also seen abroad. The High Commissioner of Rwanda recently recalled that when I visited Rwanda, I gifted 200 Gir cows. But there was a special rule: the first female calf born had to be returned, and then given to another family. From those 200 cows, today thousands of families in Rwanda have cows. Gir cows are now seen in every household, giving great strength to Rwanda’s rural economy. This is the spirit of Saurashtra.
Friends,
Today’s India is working rapidly towards the goal of becoming a developed nation. And in achieving this goal, the Reform Express plays a major role. Reform Express means next-generation reforms in every sector. Recently, India implemented next-generation GST reforms, which have had a positive impact across sectors, especially benefiting our MSMEs. Riding the Reform Express, India has carried out a major reform in the insurance sector—allowing 100 percent FDI. This will accelerate the campaign to provide universal insurance coverage to citizens. Similarly, after nearly six decades, the income tax law has been modernized, benefiting millions of taxpayers. India has also implemented historic labour reforms, giving wages, social security, and industry a unified framework. Workers and industry alike are benefiting from this.
India is becoming a global hub for data-driven innovation, AI research, and semiconductor manufacturing. India’s power demand is rising steadily, and assured energy is essential. A major source of this is nuclear power. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced next-generation reforms in the nuclear power sector. In the last session of Parliament, through the Shanti Act, civil nuclear energy has been opened up for private partnership. This is a huge opportunity for investors.
Friends,
I assure all investors present here—our Reform Express will not stop. India’s reform journey has now advanced towards institutional transformation.
You have not come here merely with an MoU. You have come here to connect with the development and heritage of Saurashtra-Kutch. I assure you, every rupee of your investment will yield excellent returns here. Once again, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you. I also congratulate and commend the Government of Gujarat and its team for their efforts. Before the Vibrant Summit of 2027, this regional summit is proving to be a valuable experiment. And I feel immense joy that the work I had the opportunity to initiate is now being expanded and infused with new energy by my colleagues. This multiplies my happiness many times over. My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all of you. Thank you!
- Tags
- Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference
- Kutch
- Gujarat
- Investment
- Financial Inclusion
- MSME
- Start up India
- Industry
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Economy
- Development
- Dairy Development
- Vaccine
- UPI
- Digital India
- Mobile Manufacture
- Solar Power
- Aviation
- Metro Revolution
- Connectivity
- IMF
- Red Fort
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat
- Rajkot
- Technology
- Skill India
- Ship Industry
- Dholera
- Semiconductors
- Renewable Energy
- Green Energy
- Exports
- Automobile
- Fisheries
- Next Generation Infrastructure
- Education
- Logistic
- Defence
- Culture
- Heritage
- Tourism
- Lothal
- National Maritime Heritage Complex
- Rann Utsav
- Gir National Park
- Asiatic Lions
- GST Bill
- Futuristic Reform
- Insurance
- FDI
- Income Tax
- Labour Codes
- Data Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- SHANTI Bill
- Civil Nuclear Energy
- Speech
Posted via www.narendramodi.in