India stood firmly with Indonesia during 'challenging times': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has stood firmly with Indonesia during its "challenging times", while acknowledging the shared shared heritage and culture between the two countries.

Bali:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has stood firmly with Indonesia during its "challenging times", while acknowledging the shared shared heritage and culture between the two countries.

Addressing the Indian diapora on the margins of G-20 summit here, Modi recalled the devastating 2018 earthquake in Indonesia and New Delhi launching the massive operation 'Operation Samudra Maitri' for humanitarian assistance. Prime Minister Modi said relations between India and Indonesia stood strong during both good and difficult times.

"India has stood firmly with Indonesia in challenging times," he said. In 2018, when Modi visited Jakarta, he said that India and Indonesia may be 90 nautical miles apart, but in reality, "we are not 90 nautical miles apart but 90 nautical miles close." "At a time when the grand Ram Temple is taking shape in India, we also proudly remember the Ramayana tradition of Indonesia," he said.

Modi added on August 15, India celebrated 75 years of independence, while Indonesia's Independence Day comes two days after India's -- on August 17. India is currently part of the G20 Troika (current, previous, and incoming G20 Presidencies) comprising Indonesia, Italy, and India. The prime minister is attending the summit at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is the current chair of the G-20. The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU).

There is a huge difference between pre-2014 and post-2014 India: PM Modi tells Indian diaspora in Indonesia

Prime Minister Modi asserted that there is a huge difference between pre-2014 and post-2014 India, saying the country is now moving ahead at an "unprecedented speed and scale" as he underlined that it is now the fastest growing large economy and ranked first in several sectors. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Indonesia at an event here, Modi said India is a ray of hope for the world in the 21st century.

Modi said that there is a huge difference between India before and after 2014, the year when his government came into power. The Modi-led BJP government was voted to power in 2014. The ruling BJP again swept back to power in the 2019 general elections. "Today, India is the fastest growing large economy in the world," Modi said amid a huge round of applause.

The prime minister said that India is number 1 today in digital transactions, global fintech, IT outsourcing, smartphone data consumption and vaccine manufacturing. And this has become possible because "today's India doesn't think small. Today India is going ahead at unprecedented scale and speed", he said.

"We don't dream small anymore. Since 2014, we have opened more than 320 million bank accounts. More than the population of USA," he said. Modi said Indonesia was fortunate to attain independence two years before India and there is a lot that India can learn from Indonesia. However, at the same time, he said, in its 75-year-old long development journey, there is a lot that India can also give to Indonesia.

"The talent, technology, innovation and industry of India have made an identity for themselves in the world. Several big companies of the world today have an Indian-origin CEO," Modi said.

PM Modi plays drums during his interaction with Indian diaspora in Indonesia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi played the drums on Tuesday as he arrived to interact with the members of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Amid cheers and slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', a huge crowd of people dressed in Indian attire and turbans greeted Prime Minister Modi with folded hands as he arrived at the venue to interact with the Indian community.

As he arrived at the venue, the prime minister was greeted by the sound of rhythmic drumming. Modi joined in the festivities and played the drums for a few beats alongside the drummers, who cheered him on. Modi is in Bali to attend the ongoing G20 summit. India will assume G20 Presidency for one year, beginning December 1, 2022. (With Agency Inputs)