Swaraj credits PM Modi for India's increasing dominance

Singapore City [Singapore], Jan 7 (ANI): Heaping praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Sunday underscored that India's increasing dominance is due to the prime minister.

"The increasing dominance and reputation of India in the world is because of the personality of Prime Minister Modi. In whichever country he goes, he makes strong individual friendship in addition to establishing good relations between the two countries", Swaraj said addressing Indian diasporas at the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore.

Swaraj, who apparently was quite generous with the words, used the occasion to make a positive note about the Non Resident Indians (NRIs), saying that, "Wherever I have gone, I have been told a few things about Non Resident Indians - An Indians is a good neighbor, Indians are hard working people, Indians are law abiding citizens and this fills me with immense pride".

Swaraj also stressed that India is a land of festivals, and Holi, Diwali, Eid and Christmas are the festivals of the entire nation.

"Kerala celebrates Onam, Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal, Bengal celebrates Durga Puja, Assam celebrates Bihu, Punjab celebrates Baisakhi and Telugu community celebrates Ugadi, Gujarat participates in Garba while Maharashtra celebrates Ganes utsav", she said.

High Commissioner of India to Singapore Jawed Ashraf was also hailed by the minister.

"Your ambassador Jawed Ashraf, sitting here, is an epitome of sensitiveness. He reaches whenever and wherever an organisation of any community or religion calls him. Wherever Ashraf is called, be it a temple, a mosque or a church, he not only comes there but also celebrates it enthusiastically", Swaraj said.

Earlier in the day, Swaraj met with the Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and discussed tthe bilateral and multilateral issues related to the economic and strategic partnership.

Swaraj also met with the delegations of Indian diasporas from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in Singapore.

The minister, earlier today, said as the trilateral highway project from India to Thailand is making considerable progress, New Delhi is planning to extend its connection further with other ASEAN countries.

Swaraj is on the last leg of her first visit of the year 2018 to three South East Asian countries - Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

The visit is aimed at giving a further boost to bilateral relations to the South East Asian countries within the framework of India's Act East Policy. (ANI)