With rare switch to English, PM Modi ensures world gets his message on terror
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has used Hindi even in international fora, made a rare switch to English on Thursday to ensure that the world doesn't miss a word of his strong message against terrorism. Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani district, PM Modi said, "India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers".This was PM Modi's first public reaction to the massacre of 26 Indian citizens in Pahalgam on April 22.advertisementModi was delivering a speech in Hindi, but switched to English, and stressed upon every word as he made India's resolve clear to punish those behind the massacre of 26 people in south Kashmir's Pahalgam.
"Today from the soil of Bihar I say to the whole world. India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth," said PM Modi, as he switched to English. "India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve," added Modi in Madhubani, where people predominantly use Maithili and Hindi."Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank people and leaders of countries who have stood with us," PM Modi said as he acknowledged the reaction of world leaders after the attack on Tuesday.advertisementWhile Modi's strong message from the Hindi heartland was rare, he made sure the world took note by addressing it to the global audience.This, however, is not the first time PM Modi has used English to convey his message. He is used to mixing English and Hindi while making speeches in India, particularly when addressing international audiences or conveying messages to a global audience.During his visit to Australia in June 2023, PM Modi addressed the Federal Parliament in Canberra, delivering a speech in English to outline his vision for a stronger India-Australia partnership. He stressed shared democratic values, economic cooperation, and regional security during his speech.More recently, in September 2024, PM Modi delivered his speech in English at the United Nations 'Summit of the Future' in New York. In the speech, the Indian PM focussed on global challenges like climate change, digital governance, and sustainable development.Just as PM Modi has delivered multiple speeches in English, he also takes pride in delivering speeches in Hindi in foreign lands and on multilateral platforms. In 2014, Modi spoke in Hindi as he addressed the UN General Assembly session in New York, following the steps of BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 1977, as India's foreign minister, Vajpayee made history by becoming the first to address the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. Later in 1988, then-foreign minister PV Narasimha Rao, a polyglot fluent in 17 languages, also addressed the UN General Assembly in Hindi.Not just Hindi, PM Modi also makes the effort to speak in India's regional languages to connect with people across the country. From Malayalam and Odia to Bengali and Tamil, he often weaves local phrases into his speeches during election campaigns.Must Watch
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