The North News
New Delhi, May 6
Waters from India’s rivers will now be used for the country’s interests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Tuesday, signalling a firm stance on water-sharing with Pakistan. Speaking at the ABP Network’s India@2047 Summit in New Delhi, Modi said the days of India’s resources benefiting others while its own people waited were over. The remark comes amid renewed tensions with Islamabad and reflects a broader shift in India’s geopolitical posture.
Shifting from regional tensions to global aspirations, Modi announced the finalisation of a landmark Free Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom. Calling the deal “historic,” he said it would usher in a new era of economic cooperation between the two open-market democracies. The agreement is expected to boost Indian exports, support MSMEs, and generate new employment opportunities — particularly for youth. Modi also cited recent trade pacts with Australia, the UAE, and Mauritius as signs of India’s growing role in global commerce.
The Prime Minister used the summit, held at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, to highlight India’s internal transformation. Hailing the high attendance of youth and women, he praised “Drone Didis” and “Lakhpati Didis” — women who have found economic empowerment through technology and self-help initiatives — as examples of India’s changing rural landscape. “Their stories are our stories,” Modi said. “They reflect the aspirations of a nation on the move.”
Modi framed the summit as a symbol of India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence. Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s call to “arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached,” he urged citizens to embrace a forward-looking, self-reliant mindset. “India is no longer hesitating; India is acting,” he said.
Taking a sharp dig at previous administrations, Modi accused them of delaying critical reforms out of fear of global opinion and electoral costs. “For decades, short-term politics trumped national interest,” he said. “But no country can rise if it puts politics above progress.” He claimed that under his leadership, India had adopted a “Nation First” approach — one that prioritises bold decisions over political safety.
Before concluding, Modi applauded the organisers of the summit, particularly Atideb Sarkar and Rajnish of ABP Network, calling their efforts a key contribution to the national conversation on development and democracy. “This summit,” he said, “is a window into India’s future — confident, capable, and committed.”
