Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to the Netherlands, addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague on Saturday, celebrating the deep ties between India and the Dutch nation.
Speaking to members of the Indian community, Modi paid tribute to the host city's global standing. "The world knows Hague as the city of peace and justice," he said, adding that "Hague has become a living sign of Indian friendship."
The Prime Minister said that aspirations in India are unlimited, so efforts are also becoming limitless, adding, "India aspires to be world's growth engine."
"People became my family over the years. People's trust in me is my biggest asset.
The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to the gathered community on behalf of the entire nation. "I wish Netherlands on behalf of 140 crore Indians," he said, drawing enthusiastic applause. He praised the diaspora for preserving their cultural heritage while contributing meaningfully to Dutch society. "Indians never forget their roots — this vibrancy always stays with Indians. I am proud of your contributions to the Netherlands."
Modi noted the growing cultural footprint of India in Europe, observing that "Indian culture is reaching Dutch families" and that "Indian community radio stations are popular here" — a testament to the soft power Indians carry wherever they settle.
"Today's India is going through a phase of unprecedented transformation. You must have recently seen that India hosted the world's largest and most successful AI Summit. Before that, India also successfully hosted the G20 Summit. And these were not one-time events. This has now become the character of today's India. India has carried out the world's largest unique identification programme."
Stating that India has also undertaken the world's biggest financial inclusion initiative, Modi added, "The scale at which India is moving ahead with digitalisation is unprecedented. India is running the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. India also reached parts of the Moon where no one had reached before."
Modi also said that india was importing mobile phones 10 years back and now it is the second largest mobile phone maker.
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The visit holds diplomatic significance as Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with his Dutch counterpart.
Delighted to interact with the Indian community in The Hague. Their warmth, achievements and strong bond with India continue to make us proud. https://t.co/DVKQo1pKXw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2026
The occasion also carried a charged political note. Pointing to the calendar, Modi reminded the audience: "Lok Sabha results came today back in 2014. Today marks 12 years of BJP winning elections" — a reference to May 16, 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to a historic majority under his leadership, fundamentally reshaping Indian politics.
The diaspora event preceded formal state-level engagements and underscored India's continued effort to strengthen people-to-people ties with Europe's strategically important nations.
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