India's secularism is strong, it will not shake : PM Modi

Berlin: India's secularism is strong and it will not shake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the Indian community in Berlin.

Addressing a community reception hosted by the Indian ambassador, the prime minister said: "India's secularism is not so weak that it will crumble. Our secularism is strong, and it will not shake; our self confidence should also not shake," he said. He also said that India will set the agenda for the climate change summit in Paris this year.

Modi said that Indians have always traditionally followed the principle of reuse and recycle, and never believed in wasting nature's resources. India worships mother nature, he said.

"Reuse and recycle -- we have been doing for years, but the world is using it now. But we never highlighted this



aspect of ours, of reuse and recycle. Now the world is telling us to reuse and recycle. Those who damage the environment are today asking us to pay. They are asking us to reduce carbon emissions."

"We are those who pay respect to environment, we call rivers mother, worhship trees, and nature, it is part of our culture, and we should go the world with this," Modi said.

"We should stand with confidence, that we can show the world the way. We will set its agenda, I want to assure you. India will set the agenda for the climate change summit, and on the basis of our values; we are not those to take from world, but give," he said to loud applause.

He also assured the diaspora that the country will always be there for them and maintain its ties with the diaspora.