Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that when Gujarat was hit by an earthquake, Indians from all over the world came together to help the state, and that reflected how much they felt for their country.
"I know when India goes through troubled times, pravasis feel the pain. Whether in happiness or sadness, they are together. I can still recall there wasn't any Indian who didn't try to wipe tears off Gujarat when Kutch was hit by the earthquake," the Prime Minister said, while addressing people at the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Gandhinagar.
"Some people feel that this relation with the pravasis is driven by expectations, I think meeting our own people is a pleasure in itself. Everything is not measured in dollars or pounds. The relationship we have with pravasis is beyond that. It's a bond," he said.
"I know that few of us did not really want to participate in Pravasiya Bharati Divas, but I always attended. I have actively participated in Pravasi Bharat Divas events. The only time I didn't was in Kerala, when I marked my presence through a video call," he added.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi said that he had merged PIO and OCI so that everyone could enjoy the same facilities.
"Before I was the Prime Minister, I used to meet people from different countries and would listen to their dilemmas. We had said that a PIO card holder will be given visa all his life, it has been done. PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) have been merged and everyone would be able to enjoy same facilities now," he said.
Earlier, he also launched the 'Dandi Kutir', a unique exhibition depicting various stages of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi's life and work.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has already been addressed by several cabinet ministers, including Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs General (Retired) V.K. Singh.
Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari will present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards tomorrow.
