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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday thanked non-resident Indians for supporting the government's demonetisation move to curb corruption and black money as well as for their "invaluable contribution to the country's economy."
"Corruption and black money have been corroding our system from within. India needed to take a stand and so we have," Modi said at the Pravasi Bharati Divas, the largest gathering of Indians living abroad, in the southern city of Bengaluru.
The prime minister added: "We will no longer have any space for corruption and black money to exist. Our diaspora has supported the government's moves against corruption and black money, and I thank you all for your support."
Modi had in November last year suddenly announced the scrapping of higher denomination currency notes to curb the menace of black money as well as the circulation of fake notes.
In his address to the non-resident Indians, Modi also said that "the Indian diaspora represents the best of Indian culture, ethos and values" and "For those workers who seek economic opportunities abroad, our effort is to provide maximum facilitation and ensure least inconvenience."
"Remittance of close to 69 billion dollars annually by overseas Indians makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy. We want to turn brain-drain into brain-gain and your support in this is very important," he added.
