Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday delivered a wide-ranging address that combined a sharp attack on the political opposition with an expansive vision of a self-confident and “Aatmanirbhar” India.
Addressing the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, PM Modi linked the event’s theme of “strength within” to what he described as India’s rediscovery of its inherent capabilities over the past 11 years.
Referring to the philosophical idea of Tat Tvam Asi, he said the power India seeks already lies within its people and must be recognised and strengthened.
“You are all discussing Rising Bharat, with a strong emphasis on “strength within” — in simple words, a focus on the nation’s inherent capabilities. In our scriptures, it is said: Tat Tvam Asi — the ultimate reality we seek lies within us. The strength we are searching for is already inside us; we simply need to recognise it. Over the past 11 years, India has rediscovered that inner strength and is continuously working to reinforce it,” he said.
“In the last 11 years, energy has flowed into the consciousness of the country. India has understood its strength and wants to recognise its capabilities,” the prime minister added.
He argued that national strength is built over generations through knowledge, tradition and hard work, but said centuries of colonial rule had instilled a sense of inferiority.
“We used to copy foreign technology and wait for foreign validation. Even after Independence, India could not fully come out of the mentality of slavery,” he said, describing it as a form of mental subjugation whose consequences are still visible.
Countries seeking trade deals with India
Referring to ongoing
trade negotiations, PM Modi said some were surprised that developed nations were keen to sign agreements with India.
“India is now so capable that developed countries of the world are themselves coming forward to make trade deals with India,” he said, attributing the shift to what he called an “Aatmavishwaasi Bharat” — a self-confident India negotiating from a position of strength.
He said that if India had remained in the “policy paralysis” and pessimism of the pre-2014 period, “who would have done trade deals with us? They would not even have looked at us.”
Highlighting economic reforms, the prime minister said the government had strengthened the banking system, controlled inflation that was once in double digits and positioned India as a global growth engine.
“We have made our banking system strong. We have controlled inflation… We have made India the world’s growth engine,” he said.
Digital revolution
On digital transformation, PM Modi pointed to the integration of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile platforms, saying the system had enabled direct benefit transfers of Rs 24 lakh crore.
“In a country where even ATMs arrived much later compared to developed nations, how did India achieve global leadership in digital payments?” he asked, adding that the world is “amazed” by India’s Digital Public Infrastructure.
The prime minister also cited infrastructure expansion, including metro rail growth and semi-high-speed trains such as Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat, as well as progress in renewable energy, noting that India is now among the leading nations in solar capacity.
On emerging technologies, he said India has moved from being a consumer to becoming a creator.
“There was a time when India was just a consumer of technology. Today, India is not only using technology at scale but also becoming a leader in it,” he said, referring to India’s growing role in artificial intelligence and its AI startup ecosystem.
AI Summit and the ‘Bankruptcy’ of the Opposition
Turning to domestic politics, PM Modi devoted a substantial part of his speech to the recent AI Summit, calling it a moment of “immense national pride” that showcased India’s shift from being a technology consumer to a creator.
He sharply criticised the Congress, saying the “country’s oldest party” exposed its “ideological bankruptcy” by attempting to politicise the global event, referring to Congress workers who, in front of foreign guests, not only disrupted proceedings but also embarrassed the nation.
“When frustration from repeated failure takes over, it manifests as arrogance that harms the country’s image,” he said, adding that Congress often invokes Mahatma Gandhi to shield its mistakes while giving all credit to a single family when things succeed.
The Prime Minister also condemned what he described as Congress’ “blind opposition” to major government initiatives, including the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, women’s reservation, UPI, and the new Parliament building.
“In democracy, opposition does not mean blind resistance; it means presenting an alternative vision,” he said.
Roadmap for a developed India
Defending the government’s long-term roadmap for a developed India by 2047, the prime minister said nation-building requires foresight and timely decisions.
“This is the time, the right time,” he said, reiterating his call for excellence and innovation to drive India’s next phase of growth.
Concluding his address, PM Modi said India must convert its capacity into performance and aim not just to produce, but to deliver world-class products and solutions, as it seeks to take the country to new heights.
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