Modi asks the world to unite against terrorism

San Jose: Calling terrorism and global warming as world's main challenges today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all nations to unite to fight this scourge as there was no such thing as good or bad terrorism.

"Don't think it's there, won't come here," he said to cheers from a mammoth crowd of Indian diaspora at a jam-packed San Jose SAP Centre on Sunday night.

"The world has to realise that terrorism can hit anyone at anyplace, and it is the world's responsibility to recognize it and unite against terrorism," he said.

Hoping that in its 70th anniversary year, the United Nations would be able to define terrorism, Modi said: "We cannot safeguard humanity if we do not come to an agreement on what constitutes terrorism."

"Terrorism is terrorism, there can be no differentiation between good and bad terror," he said.

Silicon Valley once again gave Modi a rock star reception like the one he had received at Madison Square Garden in New York last year.

The crowds broke into chants of "Modi, Modi" as the prime minister dressed in white kurta and churidars and a light cream Nehru jacket walked to the stage of the giant stadium.

With a sea change in India's image thanks to 1.2 billion Indians, people are saying that the 21st century belongs to India, Modi said.

"Everybody agrees the 21st century is the century of Asia. But today, people say, the 21st century belongs to India," he said.

"This change is not because of Modi, this change came because of 1.2 billion Indians," Modi said amid chants of his name.

Modi also saluted Indian techies for changing the image and perception of India with the magic of their fingers at the computers.

"Today there is a new image of India, a new perception of India in the world," he said.

"People are moved to change their perception of the old India," he said. "This is the magic of your fingers at the computers."

"Sitting here, with your innovations, you are compelling the world to change. And the people who refuse to change, are soon going to become irrelevant."

"The biggest thing, American citizens feel proud of is the people of Indian origin," Modi said. "I congratulate you for this, I salute you."

The prime minister said: "I'll live for the country, I'll die for this country."

"Every moment of my life and every particle in my body, I will devote to the work of my country," he assured the crowd.

"Have I done good work?, since he came to power 16 months ago, Modi asked. The crowd cheered in approval.

Modi said his government was moving ahead with JAM for all. J is for 'Jandhan' account, A is for Aadhar unique identity card and M is for mobile governance, he explained.

Before he started speaking, Modi was introduced to several US lawmakers from California, including the lone Indian American Congressman Ami Bera, whose parents hail from Gujarat and Democratic Minority leader and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

At the outset, Modi paid tributes to Indian freedom revolutionary Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary.

At the end of his address, the prime minister again asked the audience to say "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Veer Bhagat Singh".