World needs inclusive govts, clean, free of corruption: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that citizens should neither feel the absence of a government and nor there should be pressure from the government.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Abu Dhabi, Modi said, “I believe that people should neither feel the absence of a government, but at the same time, nor should there be pressure from the government,” he said while stressing the mantra of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’.

“In fact, I believe that the government should interfere as little as possible in the lives of people,” he said. Modi said that as Gujarat chief minister and as Prime Minister he has spent 23 years in government and his principle has been ‘minimum government, maximum governance’.

“People have trust in the intent and commitment of the Indian government. This was possible only because we prioritised public sentiments,” he said.

The world today needs governments that are inclusive, take everyone along, and are clean and free of corruption, he asserted.

“On one hand the world is progressing towards modernity, on the other, the challenges from earlier centuries are intensifying,” he said. Today, technology is proving to be a key disruptor be it positive or negative, he said.

“Terrorism in various forms is bringing new challenges before humanity every day. Today, climate challenges are becoming widespread with time. On the one hand, there are domestic concerns, on the other hand, the international system seems in disarray,” Modi said.

Hailing UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Modi said he is a leader with vision and resolve.

The World Governments Summit is being held on the theme of “Shaping Future Governments” with the conversation involving governments, international organisations, thought leaders, and private sector leaders from around the globe.

Ahead of his address at the summit, the PM met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE. The two leaders discussed a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and investment, technology, education and people-to-people ties.

India and the UAE Tuesday signed pacts on bilateral investment promotion, port infrastructure development, power trade, interlinking of instant payment platforms like the UPI, credit and debit cards and an intergovernmental framework agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.