{"id":12182,"date":"2026-05-16T11:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T11:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/netherlands\/12182\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T11:11:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T11:11:07","slug":"decade-of-disasters-all-achievements-will-wash-away-if-pm-modis-grim-warning-in-the-hague-news24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/netherlands\/12182\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Decade of disasters, all achievements will wash away if\u2026\u2019: PM Modi\u2019s grim warning in The Hague \u2013 News24"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Netherlands, terming India as a \u201cland of opportunities\u201d whose aspirations are \u201cno longer limited to its borders\u201d, and also shared a grim warning about the global situation, saying that the current era has emerged as a \u201cdecade of disasters\u201d and consequences could prove costly for decades if the situation doesn\u2019t improve.<\/p>\n

Why PM Modi warned of disaster?<\/p>\n

Referring to the COVID pandemic and global conflicts, PM Modi said that this decade is becoming a decade of challenges for the world. \u201cIf these situations are not changed rapidly, the achievements of the past many decades will be washed away,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

PM Modi, who arrived in the Netherlands on Friday on the second leg of his five-nation tour to further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, defence and renewable energy, said India is dreaming big and its youth aspires to reach the sky.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday India is saying we don\u2019t just want transformation, we want the best, we want the fastest. That is why when there are unlimited aspirations in India, the efforts are also becoming limitless,\u201d the Prime Minister said in his over 40-minute speech, amid applause from the audience.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

What PM Modi said about India\u2019s growth story?<\/p>\n

Modi said India is undergoing a \u201cphase of unprecedented transformation\u201d, and hosting major world events has become part of the country\u2019s character.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s India is going through a phase of unprecedented transformation. You must have seen recently that India hosted the world\u2019s largest and most successful AI Summit. Before that, India also successfully hosted the G20 Summit. And this was not a one-time event. This has now become the character of today\u2019s India.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prime minister also hailed India\u2019s start-up ecosystem, saying the country has the third-largest start-up network in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndia\u2019s aspirations today are no longer limited to its borders. India wants to host the Olympics, become a global manufacturing hub, emerge as a leader in green energy, and become the growth engine of the world,\u201d the prime minister said.<\/p>\n

Modi noted that India had only four unicorns in 2014 when he came to power, and today boasts around 125 active unicorns. \u201cToday, our startups are doing remarkable work in AI, defence, and the space sector. This culture of research and innovation is becoming even more expansive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Tulip in Netherlands, Lotus in India\u2019: PM\u2019s jibe at opposition<\/p>\n

Mentioning the recently-held assembly elections in several states and UTs, Modi said India\u2019s aspiration-driven journey is also strengthening its democracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis time, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry witnessed nearly 80\u201390 per cent voter turnout. Women\u2019s participation also increased significantly, and this trend is visible across every state. Today, voters in India are enthusiastic. We feel proud that voting records are being broken every year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The prime minister also took a veiled jibe at the opposition parties, asking the audience if the popular snack Jhalmuri has reached The Hague as well.<\/p>\n

Underlining that the Netherlands is known for tulips, Modi added that India is known for the lotus. \u201cBoth the tulip and the lotus teach us that whether the roots are in water or in the earth, one gains both beauty and strength,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Cultures vanished, India endures\u2019<\/p>\n

PM Modi said India and the Netherlands can coordinate in the international arena and work on securing global projects.<\/p>\n

He also said that many cultures have vanished over time. But India\u2019s diverse culture still beats in the hearts of its people. \u201cGenerations have changed, countries have changed, environments have changed\u2026 but the family values have not changed,\u201d the PM said.<\/p>\n