Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned attempts to incite violence in society, noting that the teachings of Jesus Christ promote love, harmony, and brotherhood.
Speaking at the Christmas event hosted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) at its headquarters here, PM Modi stressed the need to work together to embody the values taught by Jesus and strengthen this spirit of unity.
He also condemned last week's terror attack at Germany's Magdeburg Christmas Market, where an SUV drove into a crowd, killing four women and a nine-year-old child, while injuring 205 people. Among the injured were seven Indians.
PM Modi emphasized that human interests should be placed on par with national interests, and that India's foreign policy is based on this principle.
He identified some humanitarian efforts that India embarked upon during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he highlighted that the country gave medication and vaccines to help over 150 nations around the world. This humandeed approach, he asserted, had a positive approach, with countries like Guyana and several island nations coming forward to express thanks on his behalf.
"India went beyond its capabilities to help other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing medicines to over 150 nations," he said.
He also pointed to the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn nations, saying that no matter where they are or what crisis they face, today's India sees it as its duty to bring its citizens to safety.
"We brought back our nurses who got stuck in the Gulf countries. It was a very satisfactory moment for me when we safely brought Father Alexis Prem Kumar from war-torn Afghanistan, a decade back. He was stuck there for 8 months and was in hostage… for us, all these missions are not mere diplomatic missions but an emotional commitment to bring back family members," he said.
The Prime Minister also showed pride in the elevation of George Koovakad as a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
"It is a moment of pride that His Holiness Pope Francis has made His Eminence George Koovakad a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church," he said.
He underlined hope and its significance in changing the world and spoke of India's performance in the last ten years.
PM Modi said that 250 million people have come out of poverty, and the country's economy has moved from the 10th to the 5th largest in the world.
He appreciated the youth of the country for their energy and enthusiasm and spoke about the empowerment of women in all fields, be it entrepreneurship or the armed forces, saying that no country can move forward without empowering women.
He discussed how India has made rapid strides in technology, including mobile and semiconductor manufacturing. He underscored the role of technology to empower the poor and infrastructure development that is taking place at a very rapid rate, including new expressways, rural roads, and metro routes.
These are giving hope for a better tomorrow for India, he added.
He emphasized that compassion and selfless service are taught by Jesus Christ, where institutions exist to serve society. While he appreciated government initiatives-the PM Awas Yojana empowers women in building homes in their names while the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has furthered women's participation in Parliament- he insisted that one needs to think of and work to empower the society.
PM Modi concluded by reiterating the importance of collective effort in building a developed India.
He expressed his confidence that, with ongoing initiatives like Swachh Bharat and support for local artisans, India will continue to progress.
"A developed India is our shared goal, and together, we will achieve it," he affirmed, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a hopeful Jubilee Year.
Read also| Acharya Pramod Krishnam Says Rahul Gandhi Is Better Suited as a Gym Trainer
