'India Fastest Growing, but So-Called Intellectuals Don’t Relate to Hindu Rate of Growth Anymore': PM Modi's Dig At Colonial Mindset

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday while asserting that India today is a model of high growth and low inflation, recalled the times when its slow growth was linked to "Hindu rate of growth"

emphasising how nation's self-confidence had been shaken by the "mentality of colonialism" but now the country was moving ahead.Speaking at 23rd edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, the Prime Minister said that today India is the world fastest growing major economies. Some term it as the "power engine" or "global power house" but have you ever read or saw people saying this as "Hindu Rate of Growth"? Does anybody say this anymore?But we used to listen to this -- "Hindu rate of growth" when India struggled to achieve a growth rate of just 2-3 per cent."So what do you think, a country’s growth rate being linked to the beliefs or identity of the people residing in that nation, was that being done unintentionally?" PM Modi asked."No it’s not… this was the sign of the colonial mindset when an entire society and its traditions were referred to as sign of un-productivity and poverty," PM Modi said.Adding further to his comments, PM Modi said "this means there was an attempt that the reason for India’s slow growth rate was its Hindu civilisation and culture.""But the so-called intellectuals today, who see communalism in every thing... they now don’t find communalism in "Hindu Rate of Growth", the Prime Minister said.This term in their era was made part of their research papers and books, he added.Addressing the HT Leadership Summit, PM Modi said the country's 8.2 per cent growth in the second quarter of this fiscal shows that it is becoming the growth driver of the global economy.Modi said that at a time when the world is full of uncertainties, India is seen in a different league.The changes happening in India are not just about possibilities but are a saga of changing thinking and direction."We are standing at a juncture where one fourth of the 21st century has passed. The world has seen many ups and downs: financial crisis, global pandemic, technological disruptions, world falling apart, we are seeing wars, these situations in one way or the other are challenging the world," Modi said.The world is full of uncertainties but India is being seen in a different league altogether, he said."India is full of self confidence. When there is talk of slowdown, India writes the story of growth. When there is trust deficit in the world, India is becoming a pillar of trust, when the world is moving towards fragmentation, India is becoming a bridge builder," Modi said.With inputs from PTI