Gandhinagar, Jan 9 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday praised the contributions of the Indian diaspora, saying India is proud of them and they are an example of India's indomitable spirit.
He addressed the final day events at the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here.
Singh said that 25 million Indian diaspora live in different countries and "with your hard work, dedication and skill you have created a place for yourselves. I want to say that we are proud of you, you are an example of India's indomitable spirit".
"We cannot forget your immense contribution," he said.
He reminded how Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of merging the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards has been fulfilled.
"He (Modi) said that you had to go to police stations during your India visits and he promised that he will remove the discrepancies. I am happy to say that the president has signed the ordinance to that effect," the home minister said.
He said when veteran BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the prime minister, he had to deal with the problems of shortages in the economy and was successful in transforming the economy "from an 'economy of shortages' to an 'economy of surplus' ".
Singh said that the Modi government's 'Make in India' campaign "is a mission to transform this country from an importer of manufactured items to an exporter of manufactured products".
The event is being held in Gandhinagar Jan 7-9 to mark the centenary of the return to the country of India's "sarva sreshtha pravasi Bharatiya" or foremost Indian diaspora member, Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa.
Guyana President Donald Ramotar, chief guest at the 13th PBD, will be honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Friday evening.
The government also announced a list of 15 NRIs who would be conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards for 2015. The list includes Satyanarayana Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.
Avesh Khan's yorker broke the bat: Three consecutive yorkers were thrown in an over against South Africa, and Dussen's bat was torn in two
In the first T20 match between India and South Africa played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Resize van der Dussen's bat was broken off a yorker ball by Avesh Khan. In fact, on the third ball of
Dawood's man involved in 1993 Mumbai blasts arrested
Panaji, Feb 15 (IANS) A "D Company" sharpshooter wanted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed more than 250 people has been arrested in Goa, police said Sunday.Superintendent of Police Karthik
Photographers said to Ranbir Kapoor - father to be born, see what was the answer
As soon as Alia Bhatt announced the news of her pregnancy, the paparazzi started congratulating Neetu Kapoor. Now a video is viral in which photographers are calling Ranbir Kapoor a future dad. Ranbir
Pietersen could ditch IPL for English county deal
Hobart, March 14 (IANS) Exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen says he's considering a return to English county cricket this year in a bid to regain his place in England's Test and One-Day International
Dhanashree's heart broke after her divorce from Yuzvendra Chahal, cricketer's ex-wife seen crying in her first post?
Dance choreographer Dhanashree Verma and cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal's marriage has broken. After a long legal battle, Chahal and Dhanashree's divorce has become official on Thursday, Bandra Family
Change in weather is expected to increase heat in the world: La Nina's phase is ending, heat officer for awareness in Africa
The World Meteorological Organization has warned of a rise in global temperatures. Also said that after La Nina, further warming El Nino may develop. It can also affect the rainfall pattern. The
Mukhtar Ansari: Mukhtar Ansari sentenced to ten years in gangster case, fined five lakhs, Afzal sentenced to 4 years
In the Additional Sessions Judge First / MP-MLA court, the verdict was pronounced in the ongoing 15-year-old gangster case against MPs Afzal Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari. In this case, Mukhtar Ansari has
Inside the story of Vikas Dubey's encounter, 5 km before the encounter scene, media vehicles were stopped, 15 minutes later the police vehicle was reported to be overturned.
Kanpur. Vikas Dubey, accused of killing 8 policemen in Kanpur, is arrested in Ujjain in a dramatic way and even more dramatically in an encounter. According to the police story, Vikas tried to escape
Delhi Election 2025: Kejriwal put an end to speculations of AAP-Congress alliance, said- will fight elections alone
Arvind Kejriwal has put an end to the news of the alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress in the Delhi Assembly elections. Kejriwal said that Aam Aadmi Party will contest the elections in
Covid-19: 11 types of Omicron sub-variants found in travelers from abroad, 124 positive in 19,227 tests
Amid apprehensions of a new wave of Corona in the country, 11 sub-variants of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been found in travelers from abroad. Samples of 19,227 international passengers were
