GIST OF SPEECH MADE BY Shri.M.Venkaiah Naidu, BJP National President, DURING FELICITATION
TO HON'BLE PRIME MINISTER ON 3 NATION VISIT

Congratulations to the Prime Minister for raising India's prestige abroad!

On this occasion, we also wish to express our appreciation for External Affairs Minister and the entire team of officials who worked for the success of the Prime Minister's various engagements abroad. It is with great pride and pleasure that we gather here this evening to felicitate our Hon'ble Prime Minister on his return from a very successful and highly significant visit to Germany, France and Russia. His meetings with world leaders from a number of Countries have further strengthened India's position in the comity of nations.

What Shri Atalji has achieved during the past one week is unprecedented for any Indian Prime Minister so far. In a span of 7 days almost all the important world leaders have not only had meetings with Shri Atalji but have also openly voiced their appreciation for his peace initiative with Pakistan. They have lent their support to India's stand that cross-border terrorism cannot continue unchecked if this peace initiative has to succeed.

Ever since Shri Atalji took over the reins of the Government as leader of the National Democratic Alliance, Indian foreign policy has steadily acquired new and higher dimensions. He has given an entirely new direction to the conduct of Indian diplomacy. We entered into a sustained and substantial dialogue with a number of countries to project our major national and security concerns. As a result we established a mutually beneficial and multi faceted relationship with several countries including the United States and several European countries. Shri Atalji also launched a "Look East" policy which has radically transformed our relations with countries in East and South East Asia. After five years of his stewardship, India's international standing has risen to new heights. A large number of countries have supported India's bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

During Shri Atalji's visit to Europe, there was universal appreciation of his initiative to normalise relations with Pakistan. It is significant that everybody agreed that cross border terrorism must come to an end to ensure a fruitful outcome of dialogue between the two countries. The International Community is keen to see a successful out come of Atalji's efforts to provide better relations with Pakistan.

One of the major successes of Atalji's visit was strengthening of bilateral relations with Germany. We have close economic ties with the country and we have carried forward a strategic dialogue. The decision to have an annual summit level dialogue will help in forging closer ties in the years to come. The interaction with members of the G-8 demonstrates the importance accorded to India as an emerging economic power.

Another significant development was his meeting with the Chinese leader President Hu Jintao. A new leadership has taken over in China and his forthcoming visit to China will mark an important stage in the continuously improving relations with the People's Republic of China.

Shri Atalji's participation in the tri-centanary celebrations of St.Petersburg highlighted the traditionally close relations with Russia, which have been reinvigorated during the last few years. The special status accorded to Shri Atalji by President Putin is reflective of the high esteem in which Russia holds the Indian Prime Minister. Russia is an important partner of ours in a variety of spheres and his visit will certainly give a new impetus to this relationship.

Why is the world taking India so seriously now? It is because the world knows that India is a nation on the move, a nation that is certain to become a global power soon. The world knows that there is complete stability, and that our economy has been growing steadily at high rate at a time when most of the western economies are facing a prolonged down-turn. The world has also seen that, under the leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, India has moved ahead in all areas of the connectivity revolution. The world knows that the free and fair conduct of polls in Jammu & Kashmir in October has opened the eyes of many world leaders about the correctness of India's stand on Kashmir. For the first time the world has begun to see India as a victim of terrorism and Pakistan as a promoter of terrorism.

It is also not hidden from anybody that India was the first to alert the world community against the menace of international terrorism. It was our Prime Minister who cautioned the American Congress way back in October 2000 that they should not feel complacent about the threat of international terrorism "Distance does not provide immunity against terrorism," he had warned. His words were vindicated by the tragic incidents of September 11, 2001.

We have come here to let the Prime Minister know that the entire country is with him in all his bold initiatives. The BJP and, indeed, the entire country, is looking forward to Shri Atalji's continuing leadership to guide the nation to greater heights and greater glory.