Modi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Friday on a three-day visit to Malaysia to attend the Asean-India and East Asia summits.
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Though he did not name any country, his mention about sanctuaries was an apparent reference to Pakistan, where several terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are based and nurtured by the establishment.
Mr. Modi said India drew strength from its diversity and his government was working to create an environment where enterprise flourished and everybody got basic needs like shelter, sanitation, water, health care and education.
He said India is today the fastest growing major economy in the world. The only distinction is between those who believe in humanity and who do not… “We are eradicating poverty, by giving our people the fruits of modern economy, such as universal access to banks and insurance; not just tie them down in endless programmes”, Modi said and added, “Where in the world will 190 million bank accounts be opened in a few months?”
Describing terrorism as the “greatest threat to the world today”, Modi said there was need to delink religion from terror. We must deepen our collective commitment to strengthen and abide by global rules and norms.
Britain and India have announced major business deals and cultural exchanges during Modi’s trip, including an Indian tour for historic British texts such as the Magna Carta and the opening of a Madame Tussauds wax museum in New Delhi.
“Parties must also redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus”, he said.
Ethnic Indians form 8 per cent of Malaysia’s population and are mostly Tamils. Pointing out that terrorism was “no longer a peripheral problem” for the region, the Prime Minister said the “barbaric terrorist strikes in Paris, Ankara, Beirut, Mali and on the Russian aircraft are stark reminders that its shadow stretches across our societies and our world, both in recruitment and choice of targets”.
“It has always welcomed me with the same warmth, love and friendship”, he said amidst loud cheers from the 15,000 Indian crowd at the Malaysia global Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC), here.
He said India and Malaysia should recognise each other’s degrees, on which he would talk with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Modi said the Indian government has also introduced e-visa that has made travel simpler.
Switching to English, Modi said, “India is not confined to territory”.
“The PM of India and the Baadshah of Bollywood seem to vying for the position of the Second Most Followed Indian”.
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Besides India, the countries that participate in the annual East Asia Summit held immediately after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam.
