If policy is clear and intention pure, then development has to happen: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced a 30-day free visa for Indonesian citizens and invited the Indian diaspora to travel to their country of origin to experience the 'New India'. Addressing a gathering of Indians living in Indonesia at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Modi said, "not only do the names of our nations rhyme but also there is a distinct rhythm in the India-Indonesia friendship." "We will grant free of cost visa for Indonesian citizens for travel of up to 30 days," Modi said, amid applause.

"Many of you may never have been to India. I invite you all to come to India for the Kumbh in Prayag next year," Modi told the gathering. He also invited them to attend Kumbh Mela, describing it one of the largest human congregations on the Earth.

Taking a dig at the previous governments, Modi said his first priority as a government was to make the country corruption free, citizen-centric and development friendly.

"Our government, has been making India ready according to the need and expectations of the 21st century," he said. "We have gone a step ahead of Ease of Doing Business. Our focus is Ease of Living. Our processes are transparent and sensitive," Modi said. "We have to make a New India. We have to start working to realise the dream of New India by 2022, when India will celebrate 75 years of her independence," Modi added. In the last two-and-a-half years, more than 9,000 start-ups have been registered in India, he said, adding that the world's second largest start-up ecosystem is built in India. "And my friends living in Indonesia, these are happening, laws are the same, officers are the same, offices are the same, tables and chairs are the same, only the government has changed and the country is changing," Modi said. "If the policy is clear and intention is pure, then development has to happen which we have shown," he asserted. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday night on his first-ever official visit to Indonesia, earlier met President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka palace, one of the presidential palaces in Indonesia.

During his official talks, the two leaders agreed to foster tourism and cultural exchanges and increase people-to-people contact to promote regional economic growth. Both sides agreed to work towards creation of Andaman Sea tourism by improving connectivity between Sabang Island and Port Blair as well as Havelock Island in Andaman for promotion of sail tourism, cruise ships, marine adventure sports, diving and wellness tourism. They also agreed to create institutional linkages between Al-Muslim University of Bireuen, University of Malikussaleh of Lhokseumawe (Aceh), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and appropriate institution in Port Blair for creation of a Centre of India-Indonesia studies at Al-Muslim University.