 Good afternoon everyone. We'll get started in just a moment, but now it'd be a great time to silence your mobile devices I'd also like to remind you that we'll take questions after mr. Gandhi makes his remarks Please write them on the cards on your seats or one of the press club attendants can can hand you a card And the pass them to the front of the room when I'll ask as many as I can as time permits Please print legibly. I can't ask what I can't read And I'll ask as many questions as I can Just started just one moment Okay, good afternoon everyone and welcome to the national press club the place where news happens I'm Kerry O'Reilly co-vice chair of the press clubs events committee And I'm also a senior managing editor at sight line media group publisher of defense news and military times We're delighted today to welcome India's main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi who heads the Indian National Congress Party in March a court in India's Gujarat state sentenced mr. Gandhi to two years in prison for defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi While he was granted bail and remains free on appeal India's Parliament expelled him from the legislature where he had served for 19 years The defamation case stemmed from a 2019 campaign speech in which mr. Gandhi Reference the Prime Minister surname Modi in connection with two high-profile criminals with the same last name How come all these thieves have Modi as their common name? He asked a legislature a legislator from the Prime Minister's Party Also with last name Modi suit The Gandhi family name is synonymous with a political dynasty that has produced three Prime Ministers so far Role Gandhi is the son and grandson and great-grandson of legendary politicians both his father Rajiv Gandhi and his grandmother Indira Gandhi Were assassinated their party the Indian National Congress ruled India for most of the years since the country's independence But the once unshakable Gandhi dynasty may have met its match in mr. Modi who crushed the traditional ruling party in a 2019 landslide Mr. Gandhi will challenge mr. Modi again when elections are held in 2024 Many people in India and around the world have always concerned about mr. Modi's consolidation of power in the world's largest democracy Mr. Gandhi has emerged as one of mr. Modi's fiercest critics Accusing him of using the power of his government to silence opposition candidates journalists and Organizations such as Amnesty International and Oxfam yet Prime Minister Modi appears poised to win a third term Morning consults global leader approval rating tracker ranks mr. Modi as the world's most popular leader Data collected the week of May 17th shows him with a 70% of 77% approval rating by comparison President Joe Biden clocks in at 41% Today we welcome the opportunity here from mr. Gandhi's perspectives on the state of India's democracy Please join me in giving a warm National Press Club welcome to mr. Rahul Gandhi Just go right into questions. Yeah, I mean Thank you very much for inviting me here I believe my great-grandfather came here and my grandmother came here My father came here. So it's an honor for me and I'm looking forward to your questions. Okay Let me just remind everyone that I'm happy to take our questions But please write them on the cards provided and hand them before shouted questions will not be picked up by our microphones And if you deserve this proceeding, well, we will be escorted out. So just want to make that clear Okay, so since since mr. Modi has come to power India's economy has improved according to independent economic assessments What's your take on the current government's economic policies? Have they improved the company the country's position? I mean What we see on the ground is Massive unemployment and dramatic increase in prices and these are this is One of the reasons we won the Karnataka election was that there was a feeling in India that There is a set of people who have a huge amount of wealth and Then there's a large mass of Indian people who are poor and struggling huge income disparities and Unemployment I think it's it's a 40-year high for unemployment. So to say that the economy is doing well I don't quite agree with it And There are particular policies that are cause for concern or that should be changed I think the central the central difference between how we We see it and how the BJP sees it is we believe in decentralization of power We believe in supporting the small and medium industries and we believe that they are the engine of growth in India And they tend to Concentrate a power and wealth in few limited people. So that's I would say broadly That's the difference in the economic perspective. Okay, if your party were to return to power What changes would it seek to implement to ensure the rights of minorities in India? I? mean India has a very robust system Already in place That system has been weakened right, but it's not that that system Doesn't exist if the conversation that of the democratic conversation is allowed to be fostered Then these issues will settle themselves. So so the rule of law is in place. It just perhaps isn't it's you You have to have an independent set of institutions that are not Pressurized and controlled and that that's been the norm in India. This is An aberration what is taking place? What is taking place in India? So from our perspective the the foundations of democracy in India very strong and The protections exist but they are being sort of disturbed You see that if If Congress came to power that could quickly be restored quickly, I don't know but The Congress party is is the institution that conceptualized them in the first place, right? So we we don't view them as our institutions we view them as institutions of the state and so we ensured that there was independence and and Neutrality in these institutions and it's not difficult to do if that's what you're trying to do Let me ask you about what again welcome to the press club and let me ask you about press freedom very important important issue for us all What? Yeah, and I should full disclosure my colleague Vivek Raghavanshi Was arrested several weeks ago and charged with and accused of espionage. He's an Indian citizen and What does that? He's been working for my company for more than 30 years and as a journalist and I wanted to ask you what that says about the state of press freedom in India when someone you know can be just accused of You know even after it was someone such a reputation can be accused in such a cavalier manner No, I think the fact that There is a weakening of press freedoms. This is not hidden. I mean everybody knows it It's it's apparent in India The rest of the world can see it and I think Press freedom is very very critical for a democracy. I mean one should be one should be open to criticism and One should listen to criticism. I mean, that's the feedback loop that that builds democracies and Definitely, there is a weakening of press freedom. I mean and it's not just press freedom It's on multiple axis on multiple axis there is a there is a clamp down on the institutional framework that that Allowed India to talk that allowed the Indian people to Negotiate I view I view India as a negotiation between its people between different languages different cultures different histories and the architecture that Mahatma Gandhi set up was to allow that negotiation to be carried out fairly and freely and That structure that allows the negotiation Between India's people is coming under pressure. I mean, this is a question. You you should ask mr. Modi So more apt, okay, I don't know how you'll get there as soon as we get him here I don't know. I don't know how you'll get there, but yeah, I think we better question directed at him. Okay What are your concerns with regard to the use of the citizenship law to expel Muslim Indians who have lived in India for generations? I think other things differently. I think All Indian people right Have a right to expression all Indian people Have a right to religious freedom all Indian communities should feel free to Express themselves. So I I don't differentiate between any community any caste I think India as I mentioned just now is a conversation and the freer and more open that conversation the more powerful India becomes okay You have said that Modi's BJP engages in the politics of hatred and violence. Can you explain what you mean by this? I mean explained in in the sentence right they they sort of generate a Certain amount of hatred in society. They polarized society and They're not inclusive. They don't they don't embrace everybody And they they divide society that's That's what that's yeah, and that's and that's damaging in my view to India because India has always had a tradition of of Conversation of openness all our great leaders spiritual political Mahatma Gandhi Buddha all of them promoted harmony promoted peace promoted Conversation so it's in our culture it's in our history to sort of bring people together and and Have these dialogues So that that's I think it's a difference in ideology between us and the BJP we feel India should be allowed to express itself and we feel that political leaders should be comfortable in sort of being questioned And and and should learn from that question. So I mean it's just a difference in viewpoint For for such a divisive figure Modi maintains Very high levels. In fact worldwide high levels of popularity. What why do you think that's the case? Why why does so many Indians support the Modi government? I mean there is a There is a definite Capture of the institutions of the country. There's a definite capture of the press in the country. I'm not convinced that You know, I don't I don't believe everything I hear I walked across India worked from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and Talked directly to millions of Indian people millions of Indian people and They didn't seem very happy to me and they were very clear That there were serious issues with regards to unemployment. There was massive price rise. So there was a there was an angst in the people and you know Look at the Karnataka election and wait and watch the next three or four state elections that I think is a better indicator of what's going to happen You're you're here in Washington Washington has been sort of has a Cosing up if you will to the Modi government. Do you feel that this is a mistake? Do you feel like this is this is not up? Who am I to advise? Who am I to advise? Washington and what they want to do, you know, I Mean it's their choice. It's they have to they have to decide about these things It's pretty clear from from our perspective Where we've got to go There are certain values that we protect And we're very serious about protecting those values As I said the conversation between the people of India The idea that all Indians should have space equal space equal expression These are things that for us are non-negotiable and we fight for them and we pay the price What is your comment from the audience here What is your reaction to Prime Minister Modi's statement that not an inch of land has been lost to the border with China And and can you talk about India's relationship with China and how it's changing? I mean the fact of the matter is China is occupying our territory It's an accepted fact. I think 1500 square kilometers land the size of Delhi is occupied by them and I think you know absolutely unacceptable Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, maybe maybe he knows something. We don't know I'm gonna ask about Kashmir India is positioning Kashmir as a tourist destination while Certain populations are persecuted Do you see this as the path to prosperity for that for that region? No, I think I Think everybody in India Has a democratic right every single person in India should be allowed to be part of the conversation I Think there are things that can be improved in Jammu in Kashmir with regards to that conversation And we are committed to improving the conversation the democratic conversation in Jammu in Kashmir It says you were you talked about secularism and democracy while opposing the Hindu party BJP However, Congress in Kerala has been in alliance with the Muslim Party Muslim League in Kerala the state of the state from which you are you were MP for more than I'm sorry The state you are the MP for more than 70 years Muslim Muslim League is a completely secular right. There's nothing There's nothing non-secular about Questions a little disjointed. Sorry about that. I think I think the person doesn't hasn't studied the Muslim League Back to politics how United is the opposition in India and why isn't Congress supporting? Kedriwal and the ordinance on the ordinance issue. Well, that's it. That's an internal discussion. We are having The opposition is pretty pretty well united and I think it's getting more and more United we are having conversations With all the opposition, you know, and I think quite a lot of good work is happening there Okay, there's I mean, it's a complicated it's a complicated discussion because There are there are spaces where We are competing also with the with opposition. So it's a little bit of give and take is required But I'm confident that that'll happen So given the electoral strength of the BJP Would Congress now be willing to consider being part of a coalition government that it does not lead Well, I mean, these are these are questions That need to be asked to the Congress president because he's the he's the decision maker I think the Congress party will do very well in the next election. I think it'll It'll surprise people because I think there is a Hidden undercurrent building and I think will surprise people and I'm not entirely Convinced about this idea that mr. Narendra Modi is going to win the 24 elections. I think it's Not as simple as people make out If you just do the math a united Opposition will defeat the BJP on its own without any, you know, electoral map What what can the international community? What role is there for the international community and to prevent a slide towards authoritarianism? This is see it's our job right, it's our business and It's our work To fight the battle for democracy in India and it's something that We understand we accept and we do But the thing to remember is that Indian democracy is a global public good because India is large enough That a collapse in democracy in India will affect will will have an impact on The world so that's for you to think about how much you value Indian democracy, but for us It's an internal matter and it's a fight that we are committed to and we are going to we're going to win President Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit later this month The White House said in a statement of the visit will strengthen both countries shared commitment to a free open prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and deep and strategic partnerships and defense clean energy in space. What impact do you see the visit having? I mean, let's see. Let's see what happens. Let's see what happens in the visit I think Let the Prime Minister come here and let the visit take place and then let's see and I don't want to Sort of pre-judge this Yeah, but I do think the relationship between India and the United States is very very important I think it's also important that we broad-based the relationship It's important to have Have a defense relationship But I think we need to also consider other areas and we need to have a vision For other spaces other than defense Do you see India as a you know us a Center between Russia and China and US interests. Do you see it? Benefiting from the interplay of these countries or do you see it taking almost a leadership role in the end of Pacific in terms of economic issues or Look, India has to do what's in itself interest, right? And that's what guides. That's what will guide us but as a people We are committed to a democratic vision. So I myself am not entirely convinced About the sort of autocratic Vision that is being promoted and I think that it's very important that Democracy is protected on the planet So India has a role there India of course Has its view on things and I think that that view should be put on the table But I don't think one should think about these things as or you the center of things. I think that's Could be arrogant We understand the strengths that we bring to the table, right? Democratic values data These are some of the things that technology a Highly educated Technically educated population. These are strengths and I think we have to chart our course based on these trends And this is a question from the audience India started as a secular state But it's currently leaning toward a Hindu state. Is that a threat to democracy? Is India losing its original ideology from your From your perspective, I think there's there's a Fight on in India There are two visions of India. There is the vision that the BJP has It's a centralizing vision It's a polarizing vision and then there's another vision equally strong in fact, if you ask me much stronger, but not expressing itself that effectively right now Which is a decentralized view an embracing vision a sensitive compassionate vision and I'm Absolutely convinced that this is a transitional phase and the true nature of India To true democratic nature of India Compassionate nature of India will try I have no doubt in my mind and By the way, we've gone through this phase before, you know, so it's not that it's a new thing The Congress party face this exact same thing in the 30s and we decimated it and we will do the same again People are impatient, you know people are like Very impatient BJP has been in power for 10 years. Well, okay, we were in power for 10 years before that Why did nobody say, you know in you pay to when we when we had been in power for eight years Why did nobody say oh my god, the BJP is going to evaporate? After all the same, you know, we were in power for 10 years. So there is a tendency for the media to sort of exaggerate these things There are reasons for it also But we are committed to the democratization of India and we are committed especially to the emancipation of the poor people of India the lower caste backward castes These communities I think I think you heard you say you described the media in India somewhat captured by the Powers that be I mean, I think you could remove the word somewhat What so what if Your party comes to power what steps would be taken to to free up that press and make it less I Mean You don't really need to do much you need to just stop interfering and stop pressurizing, you know, and if you look at the up a period We didn't interfere. We didn't pressurize And it worked perfectly fine. So if the if the leadership of the country decides that a free press is valuable Then it'll fall into place Got a question for you on Bangladesh here How do you view Bangladesh's situation as the country's struggles for democracy voting rights freedom of expression and human rights? No, I think I mean Bangladesh is a friend of India But you know, it's it's for Bangladesh to decide these things it's not my place to tell Bangladesh how they should live their life Okay Let's see Says this question from the audience in nine years of BJP rule India has become Has a 3.5 trillion repeat or dollar economy India is one of the most and yet India is one of the most impoverished Countries so So how do you how do you see India addressing its many many problems, you know, given the challenges of democracy given the challenges of the the divisive rule of What's the way forward in terms of specifically addressing poverty and you know the deep 3.5 trillion India has a particular growth rate. So that's just a natural consequence of that growth rate The question is how is the wealth of India distributed is India creating jobs are Indian people Feeling that they can express themselves. Are they happy is their general tranquility in the country Congress Party has a record for doing this. I mean, it's not maybe we've done it for many many years I think a good model is to let the people of India get to work Let them let them do what they're best at doing and not to sort of, you know Pressurize them and threaten them and and do that with there's There's a historical record for this, you know, I mean after all India did extremely well In the early 2000s What do you see is the main drivers of there's a cost. You see there's also something that people don't realize Is that there's a massive economic cost to this dish on me, right? to this Non-conversation that filters out So saying that Indian economy is doing well, that's that doesn't take in the full picture What are the other costs that you're creating? Those are not being factored in right we ran We had better economic growth than the BJP created more jobs than the BJP and had complete harmony in the country what you see is the biggest drivers of The economy in the in the in the short term and they've been the in the years ahead in the coming years. I think What the BJP's policies have done Particularly demonetization and what we consider to be a flawed GST they have Weakened the small and medium businesses in India and we believe that the small and medium businesses Are actually the backbone of economic activity in India if you want to create jobs if you want to Have a 21st century Economy you have to empower these people and turn them from being small and medium businesses to large businesses So in our mind, it's taking these these businesses and scaling them up and and having hundreds if not thousands of these businesses become large businesses So that that's where we fundamentally differ with the BJP They believe that you don't need these small and medium businesses that you can Build the Indian economy with three or four huge massive businesses Unfortunately Having three or four massive businesses doesn't translate into jobs. It can't So that's really at the heart of the economy the difference between the two visions So and you can see it. So I mean the the growth during the up a period is much better than the growth now and there's massive levels of unemployment in India now and it's a real problem because our people They need to be put into productive activity, you know It's a it's a it's a huge waste of the most valuable resource on the planet Can India go it alone to build those small medium and small businesses or do they need? No, I think more open to outside. No, I think the United States. I think that's when I was talking about Broad basing the relationship I Was talking about that that the United States and India have synergies that if they come together can be very powerful what we are What we are facing is a a particular vision of the world Chinese vision of the world that offers productivity Prosperity but under a non-democratic framework right that's not acceptable to us because We simply cannot thrive under a Non-democratic structure, so we have to think about productive production and prosperity in a democratic framework and I think That's where the bridge between India and the United States can play a very important role For us for you, and I think also for the planet to show to show the rest of the world that production manufacturing In a democratic environment is Possible and can actually be competitive with the Chinese model and this and also while keeping in the environment in mind That is the environment of a major concern of yours going going into the next lecture. Yes, as I said as I said you can't Ignore costs and pretend they don't exist Right and when you're thinking about these things You don't want to think about them in the one year to your five-year time frame as a country You'd like to think about them in a 20 30-year time frame And if you're if you're looking at that span then the environment is fundamental you can't get away from it saying that The world is in a transition So we are we are moving from internal combustion engines to electric motors There is an energy Transition taking place. So we have to be we have to adapt ourselves to benefit from those transitions And I think India is very well placed to do that Would you consider a big increase in exports one way of measure that or is that really about? Innovating the economy to to take advantage of these new technologies It's both right if India Starts manufacturing starts producing It will start to export as well, right? I think I Think there is a Opportunity for India to successfully compete with the Chinese on manufacturing We might not end up doing it the way they do it. So it not we might not end up having huge factories You know we might end up having smaller factories With High technology embedded in them. So the system will probably look different but the end result Would be similar that we would we would compete with China and and You would see made in China and you would see made in India Can you can you do it without Chinese not more Chinese investment? Is there not money coming in from elsewhere? Yeah, no, that's that's where that's where the India-US relationship should be looking I mean that to me is what the conversation should be about How do we how do we build this? alternative production system alternative manufacturing system and and I think there's a lot of interesting things there Because of our size Because of data because of our technological capabilities your technological capabilities so I think the strengthening of the bridge between the United States and India and the Widening it, you know making it taking it from a two-lane highway to a 10 15 20-lane highway Is how I think about it does the US tendency to flirt with the debt ceiling and so on give you pause as far as Partnering with America and these things there are there are always there are always stumbling blocks There are always no Relationships like that between the United States and India. They will they will move very fast and they'll slow down They'll move very fast But as long as the progression is in the right direction and you're focusing on the right things I think you end up resolving the problems More questions from the audience here if you believe the BJP pushes hard propaganda How do you wish to how do you tackle the government messaging heading into 2024? Well? we had been struggling with this for some time and We he came across we we we came across this very simple idea Which was to walk from? Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and it was Shocking at how effective that idea was I was I was just frankly blown away because When we went directly to the people No amount of force Worked I mean the the BJP was trying everything they could to Not allow the Yatra to be successful. It didn't work. So it was very interesting I think All this propaganda doesn't work if you go close to the people If you're far from the people, it's very easy But once you start going close to the people and you start having conversations you start working on the streets You start physically meeting people it doesn't work It's quite a revolution to me and I think It sort of made me understand what Mahatma Gandhi was doing with you know the Champaran movement or the Dandi March I Think as I was saying in Stanford yesterday In in the West and in India there is a distance between the people and the political class and I think That's where the propaganda comes into play if you bridge that gap But can you get your message out with the with the media? We got the message out with the Yatra in an explosive way. I mean Fantastic, so the people of India are hearing your hearing your message loud and clear. Yes, and I mean it's it's obvious It's obvious to every single person in India that the Yatra the message of the Yatra India needs to stand united India needs to work together Resonated resonated with BJP people some days back I had a I was someone I had one of the spokesman of the BJP who just bumped into me and she said that this is a very powerful thing that you did All right, why should religious minorities see your party as an alternative to the BJP's politics? Because it's not just religious minorities. It's everybody because we are we give space to all ideas in India all communities all religions Our our party is and the design of our party and our original Designer Mahatma Gandhi designed the party to be based on truth and non-violence compassion affection So it's a completely different Philosophical architecture than the BJP So it's a different vision of India it views India as a conversation it views India as multiple ideas a bit like You know the melting pot idea in the United States where everybody comes together and you have a conversation And then you know you negotiate So it everybody's comfortable in it Some several related questions. Here's one India has been a country of particular concern in the international religious freedom report for several years and it talks about the Policies against Muslims and so on what would your party do in power to heal or to bring bring the Muslims and other religious minorities Together into the coalition into it into I mean into the group You just have to look at look at our record Our record speaks for itself We don't we don't even have to say what we're gonna do. Just look at what we've done, right? We were the ones Not we but the Congress party is is the institution that united India in the first place That that that fought the British defeated the British and built the entire architecture for this conversation So we are we are it's in it's on it's in our DNA. We are committed to this And they as I said the the framework For this is is present in India. It's not that it it's absent. It's not that it needs to be constructed It needs to be nurtured and protected, which we know how to do This is another question from the audience So as the way you were disqualified from parliament and what is happening in Pakistan Do you see any similarities here? And what does that say about politics in the region? I don't know I mean look As you said I Asked a rhetorical question I Asked the question why But you described it, right? I'm I'm fighting a court case. I have to be careful, but I asked a rhetorical question and I'm the first person in India to be given a the highest Punishment for a deformation case is the first case. I'm the first person in Indian history since 1947 Right. Nobody has been given the maximum sentence on deformation and that too on the first offense Right. So that that should explain What's going on here? and My disqualification happens Quite interestingly after I make a speech about Mr. Adani and Parliament. So you can do the math Let's say But you know my disqualification is not really It's okay. It's not The most important thing the most important thing is the Thousands and thousands of other voices civil society Government bureaucracy Who are being frightened into submission? That's much more important to me than my disqualification My disqualification in in many ways is an advantage for me. How so? Because it it opens up completely new spaces for me You know it it allows me to Completely redefine myself And I think they've given me a gift frankly. They don't think to realize it, but they have Politics not linear You know, it's like it's it can suddenly go off into another direction. It's asymmetric So I think I I think they've they've given me a gift. It's not apparent right now, but I think they have some So you come from a political family The Gandhi's have been compared to the Kennedy family here in the US both in terms of highest heights and Unfortunate assassinations. What keeps you going? What keeps you? Involved in politics at despite what what can be great risks. I Defend an idea I Love the people of my country In particular the People who are struggling I have a bias towards them and I completely Empathize with their struggle It disturbs me when I when I see the pain in India and I have no choice because that That creates a response emotional response in me that I can't fight so It's it's it's an actual And also I've I've grown up with a sort of Narrative about my country Gandhian narrative Of what the country is What it should look like What is important? so That's what drives me. I'm not concerned really about You know threats of violence and assassination and stuff. I mean everybody's got to die You know, so I mean that's what I that's what I learned from my grandmother and my father So you don't you don't back down because of something like that Here's a question that just in India's relationship with Russia has been controversial since the war in Ukraine began How would Congress administration handle this relationship or the situation you think I think I don't know if you like my answer But I think similar to how the BJP would or did Are we would be we would be responding in a similar way? To BJP Because we have Sort of a a relationship with the Russians that you know can't be denied it is there So I think our policy would Would broadly be similar From your perspective as the relationship with Russia changed since The war in Ukraine began. I think in some ways it might have Yeah, I think it might have changed in some ways But there is a there is a Old historic relationship with the Russians and you know we have we have We buy weapons from them. So there are also those type of reasons For this. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but I don't think I don't think a Congress government would be dramatically different Then what the BJP is doing right now in terms of Russia Got time for a couple more questions Let's see you asked a lot. Oh, yeah, you got through a lot. There's a lot of a lot of interest here in you, sir You have you've compared so I'm gonna put you to these names. Please forgive me. You have compared with the guru Nanak audacis Driving your speech in in San Francisco while the SGPC has raised questions on your statement What would you say to you? Do you know what this is referring to? I'm sorry. I Promised you I'd ask so No, I don't know what is audacis. Ah, okay, okay, so so Sorry, thank you. I'll explain it. So I I said that The tradition of a Yatra or a walk is a very deep tradition in India and I said that many great people Have used this instrument of a walk Mahatma Gandhi has used it Guru Nanak has used it and as a Instrument of conversation and as an instrument of understanding So I think they're they're saying that, you know, I shouldn't compare the Bharat Jodo Yatra to Walks that Guru Nanak and Mahatma Gandhi took but I wasn't doing that. I clearly said that look I draw inspiration from These these great leaders and what they did and there's no question of comparing this walk to to their walk But I think they misunderstood it. I see What is your what is your message to the Indian people as to why they should support Congress in the next election? Is it about economic achievement? Is it about tolerance? I said I said in my Yatra I'd say it in Hindi Nafrat ke bazaar meh muhabbat ki dhukan kholo. Do you speak Hindi? So Nafrat ke bazaar meh muhabbat ki dhukan kholo In a market of hatred Open a little shop of love and affection so I believe that India needs to be in harmony and I believe that India needs to be able to express itself to truly succeed Right if you I I don't know of one case where somebody who's angry or somebody who's full of hatred has Had an expansive Imagination and India needs an expensive imagination India needs To dream big and you can't dream big if you know the people who are leading you are angry or violent Ingrossed with hatred. So I think I feel India has a great opportunity huge opportunity which can Which can transform the lives of Millions and millions of Indians but in order to do that it needs to imagine in you India in a in a in a big Dynamic manner and I think in order to do that India needs to be in harmony India needs to start talking to itself India needs to respect itself. So that would be that would be One element of it Hatred doesn't work You know that your country knows that better than anybody else Hatred has never worked might work for six months one year and then it collapses on itself Affection love always work They have I mean that's what we've been told by The great leaders All right, well, I want to thank you for joining us today at the club and and Thank you for answering so many questions Are you inviting the prominent absolutely will invite for his for his for his time. I look forward to hearing I also want to thank Bill McCarran, Cecily Scott Martin and Poonam Sharma for their role in bringing this together and in the perhaps your Members of your family have received this in the past but as a thank you This is our press club mug highly highly coveted. Perhaps that's nice. You can go on the mantel You know, I was actually looking for a coffee mug. Okay Excellent. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. Thank you