NEW DELHI: Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s valedictory speech was the highpoint of the just concluded eighth India Digital Summit organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Addressing the audience through video link, Modi outlined his vision of a ‘Digital India’. "India is a repository of knowledge. Time has come to create a high-speed digital highway so that knowledge can be shared easily to enable empowerment of the people," said he. "Access to information should have no barriers. And when we create such a digital environment, not only will governance be transparent, technology will ensure citizen governance.”

Modi stressed upon provision of easy access to and availability of government services to people on their mobile devices. He even spoke of empowering farmers through this medium. In order to boost the agricultural sector, farmers need to have access to global knowledge and information in real-time; he said.  

Mirroring IAMAI chair and Google India managing director Rajan Anandan’s contention that India would have a US $100 billion e-commerce industry within a decade, the Gujarat CM said e-commerce should drive every industry and every sector.

Speaking of the need to make the national capital entirely Wi-fi-driven, he said, "This is where the world is moving, and we have to ensure that we start by making Delhi a wi-fi equipped capital.”

Pointing out how every political party today is actively using social media to reach out to the masses, he said, "With social media, the common man has become powerful and can raise concerns.” While emphasizing the need to link cyber security to national security, Modi concluded his speech on a positive note saying: "Digital India will ensure that the world looks to India for the next big idea.”