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Text of Media Statement by PM in Astana, Kazakhstan

Published By : Admin | July 8, 2015 | 14:29 IST
PM Modi congratulates people of Kazakhstan on occasion of 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate & 20th anniversary of their Constitution
India expands civil nuclear cooperation with Kazakhstan
India-Kazakhstan deepen defence and security cooperation

His Excellency President Nursultan Nazarbayev,

Members of the media,

İ am delighted to visit this beautiful country. It has been a short but a memorable and rewarding visit.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to President Nazarbayev and the people of Kazakhstan for the exceptional welcome and hospitality.

Excellency, I congratulate you once again on your 75th birthday. I wish you great health and a long life of service for your country and humanity.

Mr. President, your leadership is deeply admired. You have put Kazakhstan on the path of rapid progress. You have also played a stellar role in regional and global affairs.

I congratulate the people of Kazakhstan on the ocassion of 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate and 20th anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan.



I also learnt that this beautiful new capital is still celebrating Astana Day.

So, this is really a good time to visit Kazakhstan.

Last evening I spoke about my vision for India's relations with Central Asia. Kazakhstan will play a critical role in advancing this vision.

We greatly value our relationship with Kazakhstan. We have enormous synergies of markets, resources and skills for a strong bilateral relationship. We discovered remarkable convergence in our economic policies, approaches and strategies in a number of areas.

We have shared perspectives on many international issues, including regional peace, connectivity and integration; reforms in the United Nations; and, combating terrorism.

Kazakhstan is our biggest economic partner in the region. But, our relations are modest, compared to our potential. We will work together to take economic ties to a new level.

Kazaksthan was one of the first countries with which we launched civil nuclear cooperation through a uranium purchase contract. We are pleased to have a much larger second contract now.

We intend to expand cooperation in other minerals, as well.

Hydrocarbons is another area of high priority for us. Last evening, we launched the drilling operations for exploration in the first oil field with Indian investments in Kazakhstan.

I am pleased that President Nazarbayev responded positively to my request to consider additional mature blocks for Indian investments.

We will also give priority to investment in both directions in manufacturing and infrastructure. I was very encouraged by the interaction at the business roundtable yesterday that I chaired with Prime Minister Massimov.

We expect a new roadmap for cooperation from the joint business council of our chambers of commerce and industry.



Kazakhstan's Green Bridge Vision is similar to India's ambitious plan of adding 175 GW of renewable energy in the next seven years. This is another priority area of cooperation, including in the manufacture of equipment. In adddition, India will participate on a large scale in the Expo 2017 in Astana.

We will also enhance cooperation in Space and Information Technology, including their application for governance and development.

We both agree that connectivity is an important issue, but one that we will address.

The International North South Transport Corridor, the Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan rail link, India's interest in joining the Ashkabat Agreement on trade and transit and India's investment in Chahbahar Port in Iran will strengthen connectivity.

The joint study group on India's proposal for a Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union is a step towards our closer economic integration.

Development of human resources is a priority for both countries. Yesterday, I inaugurated the India-Kazakhstan Centre of Excellence in Information & Communication Technologies at the Eurasian National University. We are pleased to have contributed a super computer from India.

Consistent with our focus on youth, we have launched a new youth exchange programme with six Kazakh universities for the next five years.

Our defence and security cooperation is an important dimension of our strategic partnership. We both want to make it stronger, including in defence manufacturing. We welcome the new Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation.



President and I agreed on the pressing need for reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council. I thank him for Kazakhstan’s continued support for India’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nation's Security Council and for a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

I reiterated India’s support for Kazakhstan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for 2017-18.

I am also grateful to him and the people of Kzakhstan for the support in making the International Day of Yoga on June 21st a huge global success

Mr. President, thank you for a very productive and pleasant visit. I feel that this visit has opened the door to a much broader and deeper relationship, including many new areas of productive cooperation.

I have extended an invitation to President Nazarbayev and look forward to receiving him in India.

Thank you.

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Anti-Emergency movement reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework: PM

On the solemn occasion marking fifty years since the imposition of the Emergency, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today paid heartfelt tributes to the countless Indians who stood tall in defence of democracy during one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history.

Recalling the grave assault on constitutional values, the Prime Minister said that June 25th is observed as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas — a day when fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom extinguished, and countless political leaders, social workers, students, and ordinary citizens were imprisoned.

Shri Modi also reiterated the commitment to strengthen the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat.

He further remarked that the anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience, which reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework.

Shri Modi called upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media to create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977.

In a series of posts on X, he wrote:

“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed. It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest! #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”

“No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled and attempts were made to control the courts. The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted. #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”

“We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives. It was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress Government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost. #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”

“We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat. May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden. #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”

“When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement.

@BlueKraft

@H_D_Devegowda

#SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”

“‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time.

I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977.

#SamvidhanHatyaDiwas”