Highlights of Narendra Modi's address to the US Congress on June 08, 2016

1. Today,  across its streets and institutions, in its villages and cities, anchored in equal respect for all faiths; and in the melody of hundreds of its languages and dialects, India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one.

2. For my government, the Constitution is its real holy book.

3. 800 million of my countrymen may exercise the freedom of franchise once every five years. But, all the 1.25 billion of our citizens have freedom from fear, which they exercise every moment of their lives.

4. Gandhi's non-violence inspired the heroism of Martin Luther King.

5. No wonder then that former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee called India and the U.S. 'natural allies'.

6. No wonder then, that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century.

7. More than fifteen years ago, Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood here and gave a call to step out of the 'shadow of hesitation' of the past.

8. The real strength of the U.S. was in the dreams of its people and the boldness of their ambitions.

9. A billion of its citizens are already politically empowered. My dream is to economically empower them through many social and economic transformations.

10. A stronger and prosperous India is in America's strategic interest.

11. In every sector of India's forward march, I see the U.S. as an indispensable partner.

12. For us in India, to live in harmony with mother earth is part of our ancient belief. And, to take from nature only what is most essential is part of our civilizational ethos. Our partnership, therefore, aims to balance responsibilities with capabilities.

13. I commend the members of the U.S. Congress for sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains.

14. Ideas which we can focus:

    • Not just on creating wealth but also creating value for our societies;

    • Not just on immediate gains but also long term benefits;

    • Not just on sharing best practices but also shaping partnerships; and

    • Not just on building a bright future for our peoples, but in being a bridge to a more united, humane and prosperous world.

15. The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation. And, base it on a policy:

    • that isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists;

    • that does not distinguish between "good" and "bad" terrorists; and

    • that delinks religion from terrorism.

16. our engagement can make a difference by promoting:

    • Cooperation not dominance;

    • Connectivity not isolation;

    • Respect for Global Commons;

    • inclusive not exclusive mechanisms; and above all

    • adherence to international rules and norms.

17. My to-do list is long and ambitious. But you will understand. It includes:

    • A vibrant rural economy with robust farm sector;

    • A roof over each head and electricity to all households;

    • To skill millions of our youth;

    • Build 100 smart cities;

    • Have a broad band for a billion, and connect our villages to the digital world;

    • And create a twenty-first century rail, road and port infrastructure.

    These are not just aspirations; they are goals to be reached in a finite time-frame.

18. In the lines of Walt Whitman, "The Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal." And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play.

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