COVER STORY

TOP NRI LEADERS SPEAK TO INDIA EMPIRE MAGAZINE

Mr Prime Minister


BJP's stunning victory augurs well for India and for the global Indian diaspora. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a decisive mandate to initiate reforms to reshape India's economy. There is no doubt he will give top priority to address the problems of the poor.
As for foreign policy, I believe he will proceed cautiously to claim India's rightful place on the international stage. I expect him to take a more assertive stand on India's territorial and national sovereignty issues.
At a personal level,I would like to see India extend its sphere of influence in the Pacific region by stepping up its diplomatic and foreign aid initiatives. I also expect India to stand up in defence of the civil, political and human rights of people of Indian origin wherever these are threatened or denied.
Mahendra Chaudhry
Former Prime Minister, Fiji
(Fiji, Pacific Ocean)

*****

India has won, as mentioned by the new PM of India, Sri Narendra Bhai Modi. First of all, I would like to congratulate India for completing the biggest elections ever in the world without bloodshed or major incidents. This just goes to prove the strength of Indian democracy and the maturity of Indian voters. He has demonstrated that in India anyone can rise from the lowest point to the highest level. The people of India were looking for a change and a Government free from corruption and scandals. Mr Modi is the right person to deliver such Government to the people of India. I am very optimistic that the new government will be conscious of the aspirations of people and deliver a growth-led Government free from corruption.
Dr Rami Ranger, MBE
Chairman, Sun Mark Ltd., U.K.
(London, U.K.)

*****

"With so many priorities to attend to, I would strongly hope that Mr Modi picks one or two most important ones and shows results soon so that he can continue to have national and international confidence that he can deliver. To me the biggest priority is creating productive jobs for the youth. India will have nearly 125 million young people join the job market in the next 10 years—and if they are not put into gainful employment, India will lose a once-in-a- life time chance to become a truly global economic super power it deserves to be. 
Most importantly, we have to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that helps create millions of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Our experience around over 75 countries around the world shows that MSMEs create as much as 80 per cent of the jobs in country after country. The World Bank ranking for Ease of Doing business in India is in the low 120s out of 183 countries. So there is much to be done at policy level, process and system level, and micro level to turn things around. We have to expand our education system, skills training programs to provide the youth entrepreneurship skills training, create a change in their mindset and encourage them to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.
Harsh Bhargava
President, Bankworld
(Washington, USA)

*****

My congratulations and best wishes to Shri Narendra Modi for becoming next Prime Minister of India and the Bharatiya Janata party for winning a majority vote in India’s Lok Sabha. This election was an extraordinary achievement for the 550 million Indians who voted over the course of six weeks in some 930,000 polling locations. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in improving the health care sector in India. AAPI, with its knowledge network, will love to partner with Government during his tenure to improve lives of Indian patients. AAPI's goal is to provide Accesible, Affordable and Quality health care throughout the world. AAPI members are looking forward to Shri Narendra Modi's live video stream address of 5-10 minutes during our AAPI convention from June 25-29, 2014 (www.aapiconvention.org) 
At personal level, I am happy that India will have stable Government under dynamic leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, I had opportunity to meet him personally on several occasions and I am impressed with his simplistic life style and passion for India. India will become progressive country, one that is corruption-free under his leadership. 
Dr Jayesh Shah,MD
President, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
(San Antonio, Texas, USA)

*****

“This has been a watershed election. I am very happy that the next Government in New Delhi comes with an unambiguous mandate. After nearly two decades of coalition governments, it is a relief to think that there will be a stable Government that can take serious decisions. I think people of India have decided that a decisive leader like Narendra Modi must be given a decisive mandate. Mr. Modi has asked for it and he got it. Now he must deliver. Contrary to naysayers, I’m very confident he will deliver for all Indians, irrespective of caste, religion color or creed.”
Dr Sudhir M. Parikh
Chairman and Publisher of Parikh Worldwide Media Inc.
(New Jersey, USA)

*****

“Single majority party comes with a lot of hope for the NRI who feels very connected to India in more ways than one. As a majority party, BJP has the mandate to take important and pertinent decisions on both domestic and foreign policy that have far reaching consequences both in India, and abroad, and that affects us. Looking to a strong, effective, and powerful India that influences the NRIs’ status globally. It is now time for a 5,000-year-old civilization to claim its rightful place under the sun.”
Priya Tandon,
Board of Directors, San Fransisco – Bangalore 
Sister City Initiative

*****

I am enthused that after many years, a single party has emerged to make government in India. In a coalition government, it becomes difficult to carry forward the vision and agenda of the majority party. During the last over 20 years, small regional parties have stood in the way of country moving forward. During the last two-three years, coalition partners have badly hurt India's economy, weakened India's image, and prevented decision making on several major issues of importance. Modi may have to depend on coalition partners to get his agenda through Rajya Sabha. But he can stop decline in economic growth which the Congress Government failed to do.
My expectation from the new Government is the same as that of common man in India. I hope that Modi government can manage bureaucracy as well as he is reputed to have done in Gujarat, eliminate or at least reduce, red tape, implement a pro-business agenda, and above all, stop rishwat khori. For NRIs, we would like speedy settlement of court cases, modification of laws to stop illegal property grabbing, and better rules to get quicker visa for visiting India.
Inder Singh
Chairman
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
(Los Angeles, USA)

*****

Narendra Modi is a symbol of prosperity in India—this is what carried him to a landslide victory. The country is looking at him for opportunities for all and the expectation is enormous. He has to spread all over India the abundance of success he created in his home state. With varied political philosophies in certain states, Mr. Modi needs to be very innovative in reaching them for the benefits of all. India is a highest tier partner in maintaining the stable Global economy and that will need Mr Modi to pay serious and immediate attention to developing relationship and understanding with the international community, particularly the superpowers. I have met him few times in New Delhi and Ahmedabad and what I have seen in him is his vision and experience, combined with dedication, that will certainly place India in a very respectable position.
Nirmal Sinha
Recipient of Ellis Island Medal of Honour
(Columbus, Ohio, USA)

*****

Visiting India for over past 7 years regularly to attend PBD and promoting India for business in Australia and New Zealand, I noticed that there was no leadership and vision for India in Congress Government. Every week reading about the scams and corruption scandals made us worried about India's future.
Now after witnessing the landslide victory by BJP and having a leader like Mr Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, we are very confident that India will progress in right direction and our youths will have a great future. Mr Modi addressed us at PBD regularly and he understands the strength and talents of NRIs and OCIs living abroad. He will utilize and support the needs of Overseas Indian community. We expect Mr Modi will invite new industries to India and get our youths trained in technical fields. India should look at Africa and Asia for its growth.
Sunil Gurram
Honorary Business Ambassador of City of 
Brisbane and Ipswich
(Queensland, Australia)

*****

The recent election results saw a drastic and positive shift in the voting pattern in India. This gives the new Government the ability to govern firmly without political undercurrents and to make the changes the country needs badly but swiftly. The Prime Minister can now make India a country where one does not have to look both ways before crossing the roads and where Indians grow in stature because of the Government and not despite a Government. 
For the Indian diaspora, we hope it is a country where business is probably easier with less beauracracy and more public private initiatives. We need to give time for these new ideas to be implemented and for the results to be seen. We feel a new thrill factor with excitement but hope for the Government to make effective medium and long term changes which will transform the lives of its citizens and its future generations. Most importantly the Government should go straight into the business of governing and not governing into business. The key words should be Competency, Accountability and Transparency.
Tan Sri Datuk Dr Mohan Swami
Executive Chairman Chase Perdana, 
and Turiya Berhad
(Malaysia)

*****

Congratulations to Mr Modi and to decisive India which once again proved that Indian masses—literate or not—are the smartest in the world, and more than capable of running the largest democracy. I look forward to a truly global India to emerge; disentangling itself from Macaulian syndromei; a reformed agile bureaucracy formed not out of "service" but from patriotic talents from all parts of society; new look diplomatic missions all over the world which will be "embassy of India" and not "embassy of Government of India" catering mainly to interest of India and not to "ministries"; to restore a clean, proud, strong functional and responsive Government.
Mridul Pathak
Co-Chairman, Indo-American Global Chamber of Commerce
New York, USA

*****

If Mr Modi downsizes Government, I hope they does not forget Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. It is a lifeline for us, especially those of us from the 4th generation or more PIO community that is constantly striving to maintain our roots and ancestral relations with India, in spite of all odds
Jean Regis Ramsamy
Journalist and Author
Reunion Islands, France

*****

We believe that we can hit the restart button in relationship between the two countries with one-on-one contacts between the law makers in Washington and in New Delhi.
Sanja Puri
Chairman
US India Political Action 
Committee (USINPAC) USA

*****

The election has clearly been a significant one. It is too early to tell what the implications of the BJP's win will mean. There are significant aspects to U.S.-India cooperation in the realm of foreign policy that are likely to continue. 
Leela Fernanes
Professor of Political Science, University of 
Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)

 

May 2014


click here to enlarge

 >> Cover Story
 >> From the Editor