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SAN JOSE: Projecting India as a “heaven” for investors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government is working on deregulation and ensuring ‘ease of doing business’ as he aims to convert the country’s economy from $8 trillion to $20 trillion.
In a Townhall Q&A at the Facebook Headquarters here along with its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Modi spoke about efforts to revive faith among foreign investors, saying reforms are taking place speedily and the government has managed to “restore lost confidence” during the last 15 months. “It is my dream to convert Indian economy into $20 trillion from the present $8 trillion,” Modi told the mostly Indian audience.
The 65-year-old Prime Minister also displayed his rare emotional side when he was asked by Zuckerberg to tell the audience something about his mother Heeraben (95).
Modi was moved to tears while talking about the hardships his mother had to undergo while raising him. “When we were small, to sustain us she cleaned dishes, filled water, did laborious work at neighbouring houses. You can imagine a mother, in order to raise her kids, underwent so much hardship,” Modi spoke haltingly as he tried to control his tears, amid a hushed silence at the event.
“It’s not just the case with Narendra Modi, many mothers in India sacrifice their entire lives for their children,” he added after gradually regaining his composure.
“There are so many parents who have sacrificed their own lives to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of their children,” he said. “A mother will never want you to become something, she will think about how you will achieve it.”
“I’ve my mother, who is over 90 years. Even today she does all her work on her own. She isn’t educated but because of television she is updated with the news. Otherwise she doesn’t know what is happening in the world.”
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Noting that India is a “heaven” for investors, he said, “I do not believe there is dearth of money. Countries have money but do not know where to invest. I am giving them the address. Here is the place (India).” During the 45-minute session, he also spoke about the benefits of social media, particularly how it has been useful to him.