Diversity, colours are India's strength: PM Modi tells Indian diaspora in Bahrain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the diversity and colours of India are its strength, which astonish and attract the world as he offered the Indian diaspora here to avail the new opportunities being generated by his government.

Addressing the Indian community at the packed National Stadium here, Modi said his visit to Bahrain was as the head of the government, as the Prime Minister of the country, but its main purpose was to meet the Indian diaspora and communicate with them and thousands of friends in Bahrain.

"The diversity and colours of India are our strength, they astonish and attract the world," Modi told the Indian expats, who switched on their mobile flash light to welcome the prime minister upon his arrival.

"It took quite a long time for an Indian Prime Minister to visit Bahrain," Modi said, adding that he was fortunate enough to be the first Indian prime minister to visit the tiny Gulf Kingdom.

Modi, who is on the third leg of his three-nation tour to France, the UAE and Bahrain, is the first Indian prime minister to visit Bahrain.

The prime minister said under his government, India was moving forward with the active participation of crores of Indians both inside and outside the country.

He said his government is sitting on steering only and the accelerator is pressed by the people of the country.

"Every Indian now believes that their dreams can be fulfilled, hopes and aspirations can be fulfilled. On the strength of this belief, I am busy in fulfilling new resolutions," he said.

"Our goals are high. We have to double the size of our economy to make USD 5 trillion in coming years" he said.

"Do you feel a change in India? Modi asked the crowd which responded with "yes."