Terror can derail economies, cautions Modi

“Asia’s re-emergence is the greatest phenomenon of our era. From the darkness of the middle of the last century, Japan-led Asia’s rise. It then extended to Southeast Asia, (South) Korea and China,” Modi said at the 37th Singapore Lecture.

“And, India is now the bright hope for sustaining Asian dynamism and prosperity,” added Modi, who flew into the city state – which is half the size of Delhi – from Malaysia.

Talking about India’s relationship with Singapore, Modi said: “Singapore teaches us many things. The size of a nation is no barrier to the scale of its achievements. And the lack of resources is no constraint for inspiration, imagination and innovation.”

With PM Lee Hsien Loong among those listening to the Indian leader, Modi underlined the importance of ties between India and Singapore. “As India opened itself, Singapore became India’s springboard to the world and gateway to the East. Today, Singapore is one of our most important partners in the world. It is a relationship that is as strategic as it is wide-ranging.”

Talking about his ‘Swachh Bharat’ or Clean India campaign, Modi said it was aimed at transforming the way Indians think, live and work. He said India was investing in its people through skills and education.

“We are creating opportunities by reforming our laws, regulations, policies, processes and institutions; by the way we govern ourselves; and the way we work with state governments,” he said.

Modi said together with this software of change, it was building the hardware of progress like next generation infrastructure, revived manufacturing, improved agriculture, easier trade and smarter services. 

The PM also urged the world to speak in one voice against terrorism. “The world must speak in one voice and countries must be held accountable for (providing) sanctuaries and support. Terrorism does not just take toll of lives, but can derail economies.”

He called for delinking religion from terrorism and “assert human value that defines every faith”.