PM’s address to Member of Parliaments in the Central Hall of Parliament
Speaker: Narendra Modi
Date: 19 Sep, 2023

Respected Vice President! Respected Mr Speaker! Esteemed senior dignitaries present on the stage, and all the respected Members of Parliament representing the 1.4 billion citizens, I extend my warmest greetings to you and the entire nation on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Today, we are collectively embarking on a new journey towards a brighter future in the new Parliament building. Today, we are reaffirming our commitment to the developed Bharat and dedicating ourselves to achieving it with utmost dedication and determination before leaving for the new building. Hon’ble members, this building, and especially this Central Hall, is infused with our emotions. It evokes deep feelings and inspires us in our duties also. Prior to independence, this section served as a library of sorts, but later, it became the venue for the Constituent Assembly meetings. It was here in these meetings that our Constitution was meticulously deliberated upon and took shape. It was here the British Government transferred power to Bharat. The Central Hall bears witness to that development. It was here in this Central Hall that the Indian Tricolour was embraced, and our national anthem was adopted. On numerous historic occasions even after gaining independence, both houses have come together in this Central Hall to discuss, reach consensus, and make decisions on shaping Bharat’s destiny. Nearly 41 heads of state from around the world have addressed our Hon’ble members in this Central Hall since 1952. Our Presidents have addressed this hall 86 times. In the past seven decades, those who have handled these responsibilities have been part of many laws, many amendments, and many improvements. So far, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have passed close to 4,000 laws collectively. And when it was found necessary, even strategies were made to pass the laws through a Joint Session, whether it was a law against dowry, the Banking Service Commission Bill, or a law to combat terrorism. All these were passed in the Joint Session in this very chamber. In this very Parliament, when injustice was being done to our Muslim sisters and daughters and the situation had reached a critical point due to the Shah Bano case, this House rectified those mistakes and passed a law against triple talaq. In the past few years, Parliament has also enacted laws to provide justice to transgender individuals. With a sense of respect and honour, we have worked in the direction to ensure that they can obtain employment, education, healthcare, and other amenities with dignity. We have also passed laws that have paved the way for a brighter future for our Divyangjan citizens, taking into account their needs and aspirations. On the removal of Article 370, perhaps there may not have been a decade in which there was no discussion, concern, demand and expression of anger, both inside and outside this Chamber. But we are fortunate that we achieved freedom from Article 370 in this House, a significant step against separatism and terrorism. And in this important endeavour, the role of Hon’ble members of Parliament is significant. The Constitution formulated in this very House for Jammu and Kashmir, which our ancestors have given, is a priceless document. When it is implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, I feel like saluting this soil. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is committed to the path of peace and development, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir are brimming with new enthusiasm, new zeal, and new determination, and do not want to miss any opportunity to move forward. This demonstrates how important work has been accomplished by the members of Parliament in the Parliament building. Hon’ble members, as I said from the Red Fort, this is the time, the right time. If we look at one event after another, each event bears witness to the fact that today Bharat has awakened with a new consciousness. Bharat is filled with new energy, and this consciousness, this energy, can transform the dreams of crores of people in this country into resolutions and reach those resolutions through hard work. We can see this happening. And I believe that the desired results will certainly be achieved in the direction in which the country is heading. The faster we move, the sooner we will achieve results. Today, Bharat has become the fifth-largest economy in the world. But it is progressing with the determination to reach the top three economies. Based on the information I receive from the position I am in and my conversations with globally renowned individuals, I can confidently say that some of us may be disappointed. However, the world is assured, Bharat will reach the top three. Bharat’s banking sector is once again at the centre of positive discussions in the world due to its strength. Bharat’s governance model, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and Digital stakes are admired worldwide. I observed this at the G20 Summit, and I saw it in Bali as well. The way Bharat’s youth is advancing in the world of technology is not only a matter of curiosity but also attraction and acceptance for the entire world. We are in such a period. I would say we are fortunate people. In this fortunate time, we have the opportunity to fulfil certain responsibilities, and our greatest fortune is that today aspirations of the people of Bharat are at a height that perhaps has not been reached in the last thousand years.  The chains of slavery had suppressed those aspirations, crushed those feelings, but in independent Bharat, he was nurturing his dreams, struggling with challenges, and now that he has reached this point, he does not want to stop here. He wants to set new goals with an aspirational society. When aspirational societies nurture dreams, set resolutions, then, we all, as Members of Parliament, have a special duty to pave the way for a bright future by creating new laws and getting rid of obsolete laws. Every law we create in Parliament, every discussion we make in Parliament, every signal sent from Parliament should be to uplift Indian Aspirations. This is our feeling, our duty, and the expectation of every citizen from us. Whatever reforms we undertake should have Indian aspirations at their core, at the highest priority. But I want to say this with careful consideration: Can anyone create a big picture on a small canvas? Just as a big picture cannot be created on a small canvas, if we cannot expand the canvas of our thinking, we cannot paint the picture of a glorious Bharat. We have 75 years of experience. We have learned from the paths our ancestors paved. We have a rich heritage. With this heritage, if our dreams align with our determination, if the scope of our thinking expands, if we enlarge our canvas, then we too can depict that majestic image of Bharat, draw its outline, fill it with colours, and we can empower the coming generations with the divinity of Ma Bharati, my friends. In the next 25 years of ‘Amrit Kaal’, Bharat must work on a larger canvas. It’s time for us to move beyond minor issues. Our primary goal should be to make Bharat self-reliant. This journey begins with us; it starts with every individual. In today’s world, there was a time when people used to tell me that when Modi talks about self-reliance, it might pose challenges to multilateralism. They said that in the era of global economics, it may not be appropriate. However, within five years, we have seen that the world has started discussing Bharat’s self-reliant model. Who in Bharat wouldn’t want us to be self-reliant in the defence sector, the energy sector and in edible oil? We say that ours is an agrarian country. Will the country continue to import edible oil? The demand for Aatmanirbhar Bharat is long standing. It’s our collective responsibility, above party lines, above anything else, it’s about the heart and it’s for the nation. We now need to take steps towards becoming the best in the world in the manufacturing sector. I once said from the Red Fort that ‘zero defect, zero effect’ should be our goal. Our products should have no defects, and our processes should have no adverse effects on the environment. We must strive for this zero defect, zero effect approach in the global manufacturing sector. Our designers, the products being manufactured here, our software, our agricultural products and our handicrafts—in every sector, we should have the intention to surpass global standards. Only then can we proudly wave our flag in the world. It won’t be enough to be the best in my village, in my state.  Our best may not be sufficient in our country. Our product should be the best in the world. This is the spirit we need to cultivate. Our universities should be among the top-ranked in the world. Now we do not have to lag behind in this field. We’ve received a new National Education Policy that promotes openness and has received unanimous approval. With its support, we must now move forward and be part of the world’s top universities. During the recent G20 summit, I showed a picture of Nalanda to the world leaders. They were surprised when I told them that the finest university in the world was in my country about 1500 years ago. We must draw inspiration from that history, but we must achieve it now. This is our determination. Today, the youths of our country are making a name for themselves in the world of sports. Young sons and daughters from tier-2 and tier-3 cities of the country, from poor families in villages, are shining in the world of sports. But our nation wants and must resolve that our Tricolour will fly high on every sports podium. We must now focus our entire minds on quality so that we can address not only the world’s expectations but also the aspirations for a better quality of life for ordinary Indians. As I mentioned, we are fortunate to be working at a time when our society is aspirational in nature. We are also fortunate that Bharat is a young country. We have the largest population in the world, but what makes us even luckier is that we have the largest youth population. For a country to have this youth power, this youthful capability, it fills us with confidence. We have faith in their determination, courage, and, therefore, we want the youth of the country to be at the forefront in the world. This should become a reality. Today, the world has a great need for skilled manpower, and Bharat can prepare itself and fulfil those needs, making its mark in the world. Therefore, what type of manpower does the world require? What kind of human resources do they need? This work of skill mapping is going on, and we are focusing on skill development within the country. The more emphasis we place on skill development, the more our young people will excel on the world stage. Wherever a person of Bharat goes, they leave a mark of goodness, a legacy of achievements. This capability is inherent in us, and those who have gone before us have already established this image. You may have noticed that recently we decided to open nearly 150 nursing colleges simultaneously. There is a huge global requirement for nursing. Our sisters, daughters and sons can reach the top in this field, they can easily make their mark globally, and the whole world needs this. It is our duty as humanity to fulfil this requirement, and we will not fall behind. Today, we must fulfil the vast needs for medical colleges in the country, and we can also contribute to global needs. The point is, we must move forward with a focus on every small detail, concentrating our efforts on it. We need to make the right decisions at the right time for the future. We cannot delay decisions. We cannot become prisoners of political gains and losses. We must have the courage to make new decisions for the aspirations of the nation. Today, the successful solar power movement is guaranteeing energy independence for our future generations. The ‘Mission Hydrogen’ addresses the concerns of the environment with changing technology and offers solutions. As heart is essential to run our life, similarly today our technology cannot run without chips and semiconductor is very essential for it. We should move ahead in that direction and we are working extensively to ensure that there are no obstacles in electronic manufacturing that could halt our progress. The ‘Jal Jeevan Mission,’ providing 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district, is borne out of our concern for our future generations. We don’t want our children and their children to ever suffer due to a lack of water. In order to make our presence felt in the global market with competitive strength, we are formulating several policies in that direction to make the logistic system even more cost-effective and efficient. The demand of the time is to build a knowledge innovation-based Bharat. And this is the way to move towards the forefront in the world. Therefore, along with the National Education Policy, we have also passed a law for research and innovation to promote technology. After the success of Chandrayaan-3, the attraction towards science in the minds of our youth is growing. We cannot miss this opportunity. We must provide our young generation with every opportunity for research and innovation. To create this ecosystem, we have laid the foundation for a bright future. Respected friends, Social justice is our foremost condition. Without social justice, without balance, without equity, without equality, we cannot achieve desired outcomes within our homes. However, the discussion of social justice has been quite limited, and we need to see it more comprehensively. Providing facilities to the poor, offering assistance to marginalized individuals in society, these are indeed processes of social justice. Even the construction of a solid road leading to their homes is a form of social justice. When schools open nearby for children, it strengthens social justice. Access to healthcare at no cost, when needed, is when social justice truly prevails. Therefore, just as there is a need for social justice in the social system, similarly there is a need for social justice in the national system. Now if any part of the country is left behind, remains underdeveloped, this is also against social justice. Unfortunately, the eastern part of our country, the eastern region of Bharat, which is rich in resources, but its youth are seeking employment in other regions. We must change this situation. To strengthen social justice, we must empower the underdeveloped eastern regions of our nation. Unbalanced development, no matter how healthy the body is, if even one finger is paralyzed then the body is not considered healthy. No matter how prosperous the rest of the country is, it will be considered a weakness for Bharat if even one part remains weak. Therefore, we need to move forward in the direction of achieving comprehensive development. Whether it’s the eastern part of Bharat or the Northeast, we need to ensure development there as well. This strategy has been successful when we laid greater emphasis in 100 aspirational districts, where young officers were deployed, and a strategy was devised. Today, the world is discussing this model. The 100 districts were once considered backward and a burden. Such is the situation now that those 100 districts are now leading in their respective states, surpassing the state averages. In view of this success and strengthening the sentiment of social justice, we are going beyond 100 districts and identifying 500 aspirational district blocks at the grassroots level to bring them up. I believe these aspirational blocks will become a new model for development in the country. They have the potential to become a new energy centre for the country’s development, and we are moving forward in that direction. Hon’ble Members of Parliament, Today, the world’s attention is on Bharat. During the Cold War era, our identity was that of a non-aligned nation. We have come a long way from those times and the needs and benefits have also evolved. Today, Bharat has a different position in the world. There must have been a need for non-alignment at that time. But today we are following a policy, if we have to recognize this policy, then we are moving forward as a ‘Vishwamitra’ (global friend). We are building friendships with the world. The world is looking for friendship with Bharat. It seems that Bharat is not too far from the world but is moving closer to it, and we are successfully advancing our global role as a Vishwamitra. I think Bharat is benefiting from this approach. Bharat is emerging as a stable supply chain for the world, and this is the need of the hour. Bharat is becoming the voice of the Global South in the G-20, and this is a significant achievement. This seed, which has been sown in the G20 Summit, my countrymen will see in the times to come, is going to become such a banyan tree, such a banyan tree of faith, under whose shadow the coming generations will sit with pride for centuries. I firmly believe this. We have undertaken a significant initiative in the G20 and that is the Biofuel Alliance. We are leading the world and providing direction. All the friendly countries of the world are taking membership of the Biofuel Alliance, and a huge movement is going to be created and which is being led by our Bharat. We have taken strong steps towards building economic corridors with smaller continents also. Respected friends, Vice-President, Mr Speaker, Today, we are bidding farewell from here and moving to the new building of Parliament. We are about to take our seats in the new Parliament building, which is indeed auspicious, considering it’s happening on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. However, I have a request and a suggestion to both of you. I hope that both of you together will brainstorm on that idea and take some decisions. And I pray, I suggest that now that we are moving into the new House, its dignity should never be diminished. We should never refer to it as the ‘old Parliament’ and leave it behind.  And therefore I request that in future, if both of you gentlemen agree, then it should be known as the ‘Samvidhan Sadan’. This way, it will forever remain an inspiration in our lives. And when we call it ‘Samvidhan Sadan’, then the memory of those great men, the distinguished great men, who once used to sit here in the Constituent Assembly, will also be associated with it. Therefore, we should not miss the opportunity to give this gift to future generations. Once again, I offer my respects to this sacred land. I end my speech by saluting all the penances that have been done here, the resolutions that have been made for the welfare of the people, the efforts that have been made for more than seven decades to fulfil them and I congratulate all of you for the new House. I wish you all the best. Thank you very much.