Religion, ethnicity, language, social and cultural practices are elements which enrich human civilization, adding to the wealth of our diversity. Why should they be allowed to become a cause of division, and violence? We demean our common humanity by allowing that to happen.

Today, across its streets and institutions, in its villages and cities, anchored in equal respect for all faiths; and in the melody of hundreds of its languages and dialects - India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one.

Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.

After Independence, Congress ignored the potential of India, which is why even 6-7 decades later, the country could not achieve the success it deserved. There were two main reasons: for a long time, the Congress government kept the country entangled in a 'license raj', and when globalisation arrived, they focused only on imports and even then misappropriated thousands of crores.

Our identity in the world must change from Scam India to Skill India.

Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations but the definition of a new partnership of Team India.