India full of diversity, it is our pride and our strength: PM

Facing attack back home over the issue of 'intolerance', Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the country's "strength and pride" lies in India's diversity as he underlined the importance of peaceful co-existence.
Modi also said that there is no reason for India to remain poor, asserting. "we harbour poverty for no reason."
The Prime Minister was addressing thousands of people, almost all of Indian origin, at a Grand Community reception in his honour at the iconic Wembley Stadium, home to rock concerts and England's national soccer team. The event was themed 'Two Great Nations, One Glorious Future'.
Courting the Indian diaspora with rock star-style tour on the second day of his three-day visit to the UK--the first by an Indian Premier in 10 years--, Modi got a rapturous welcome when he reached one of Britain's most famous sporting venues this evening. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people were present at the event, according to the organisers.

Modi was introduced to the gathering by British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose wife Samantha, draped in a saree, was also present.
"India is full of diversity. This diversity is our pride and it is our strength. Diversity is the speciality of India," he said, adding that despite the country being home to diverse religions, over 100 languages and 1,500 dialects Indians have proved how to live together.

The Prime Minister said the whole world is amazed how 125 crore people with so much diversity live peacefully with love and affection.
Modi, who was speaking against the backdrop of raging debate on "intolerance" in India, told the gathering during the course of his 75-minute address that newspaper and TV headlines are not the barometer to assess the country.

"India is not only that much what is seen in newspapers. India is much bigger. India with its 125 crore people is much bigger and better with a preeminent position beyond the screen of Television," he said.
In this context, Modi referred to a youth Imran Khan of Alwar in Rajasthan who made 50 mobile applications and dedicated them to the students without charging anything.
"My India resides in people like Imran Khan," he said.
On Indo-UK relations, Modi said, "Between two vibrant democracies we are celebrating this very special relationships in this very special venue," Modi stated.
"I was told London will be cold but not so cold. Your warm welcome makes me feel at home. I am grateful to PM Cameron for his kind words," Modi said.

Modi, who acknowledged that terrorism is a challenge to both India and the UK, asserted that the Sufi tradition is the best antidote to terrorism and anybody who understood the message of this tenet would not have picked up the gun.
"Kabir and Rahim have been our inspirations. Sufi tradition is the best antidote to terrorism," he said, adding the two main challenges facing the world today are terrorism and global warming.
The Prime Minister announced a direct Air India flight between Ahmedabad and London from December 15. He said this connectivity had been established in 2003 during Vajpayee government but was discontinued later.