‘Tamil Echoing in US’: Modi’s Maiden Chennai Visit in Second Term

Catch major updates of PM Modi’s Chennai visit to attend IIT-Madras convocation and 2019 Singapore-India Hackathon.

PM Narendra Modi.

(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 30 September, said the world has "great expectations" from India, and asserted his government will lead the country to a path of 'greatness' where it will be beneficial to the entire globe.

The prime minister is on a visit to Chennai to attend the IIT-Madras Singapore-India Hackathon event and the convocation ceremony on campus.

Referring to his remarks in Tamil in his public addresses during his US tour last week, Modi said he had pointed out that it was an "ancient language" of the world.

“Now Tamil is echoing in the US,” he added.

On his first visit to Tamil Nadu after retaining power in this year's Lok Sabha polls, the prime minister reiterated his campaign against single-use plastic.

“During my (just concluded) US tour I saw the world has great expectations from India, which is growing. It is the responsibility of all – we will certainly ensure the welfare of India, and swiftly, but we will make it such a great nation that it will be useful for the world,” he said.

‘Ecosystem Created for Innovation,’ Says Modi

Addressing the students at IIT Madras, Modi said the solutions found today would be start-up ideas for tomorrow.

“My young friends here solved many problems today. I specially like the solution about camera to detect who is paying attention. I will talk to my Speaker in the Parliament. I am sure it will be very useful to Parliament,” said Modi at the event.

From schools to higher education and research, an ecosystem was being created that it becomes a medium for innovation even as the country was one among the top three startup ecosystems, he said. India was poised to become a USD 5 trillion economy and innovation and start-ups will play a crucial role in that, he added.

“India is poised to grow into the 5 billion dollar economy. For that, innovation and start-ups, will play a crucial role. India is among the top three start-up friendly economies and ecosystems. Within the last five years, we have given great emphasis on innovation and incubation. Programs like Atal innovation mission, PM Research Fellowship, Start-up India are the foundations of 21st century India.”

PM Narendra Modi

Pitching for ‘Plastic-Free’ India

Reiterating his campaign against single-use plastic, he said its usage "creates a big problem." While some mistakenly call for a "plastic-free" India, he had been stressing only against the use of single-use plastic, Modi said, pointing out it cannot be used further and therefore "creates a big problem."

Many schemes have been successfully taken forward with public participation and so should be the case with single-use plastic also, the prime minister added.

Pointing out at the proposed 'padayatra' by BJP MPs coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October, Modi said it will be helpful in exploring "these philosophies" on the ground, apparently referring to making India great and the campaign against single-use plastic.

#GoBackModi Trends on Twitter

In a tweet on Sunday, the prime minister crowd-sourced ideas, especially from IITians for what to talk about.

The tweet received numerous responses, both positive and antagonistic. It also triggered the #GoBackModi hashtag to trend again.