Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said Tamil is now echoing in the United States. He was referring to his remarks in Tamil in his addresses during his US tour last week. Modi said he had pointed out that Tamil was an ancient language of the world.
In his address at the convocation ceremony of IIT Madras, Modi said, ”We are in the State of Tamilnadu, which has a special distinction. It is home to one of the oldest languages in the world- Tamil.”
Modi, who was in the city to take part in a few events, said he was happy to visit the State and was overwhelmed by the reception given to him.
Speaking at the Singapore India Hackathon event in IIT Madras, he said he likes the hospitality of the Tamil people. ”I love idli, dosai and vadai,” he said.
He further 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.
On his first visit to Tamilnadu after retaining power in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, 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.
Making the country great was not the job of the Central government, but that of 130 crore Indians, he said addressing BJP workers at a felicitation function organised by the party at the airport.
This was the job of citizens settled in every nook and corner of the country and ”whether those who live in city or village, the rich or poor and young or old,” and the nation will become great from the contribution of all these, he said.
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.
He urged students from other parts of the world to visit Mamallapuram, an ancient tourism centre near Chennai.
Earlier, Modi was received at the airport by Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy CM O Paneerselvam and Ministers.
Online war
As it is with everytime that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Tamilnadu, a Twitter battle broke out between his supporters and opponents as a result of which the #GoBackModi and #TNWelcomesModi trends were trending. However, no black flag was shown and there was no protest as well against the Prime Minister this time.