Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, revisiting his “half water, half air” analogy from his 2013 address at the institution. The remark came 13 years after his speech at the college, which became an important moment in his emergence as the BJP's prime ministerial face ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Recalling the earlier address at the SRCC centenary gathering, Modi referred to his example of a glass that could be viewed differently depending on one's perspective. He noted that while some might describe it as half full and others as half empty, he had presented a third view — that the glass was full, with half consisting of water and the other half air. He also recalled delivering the speech at a time when the country was facing considerable political and economic uncertainty.

Modi contrasted the situation in 2013 with India's present economic position and outlined his vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. Referring to headlines from 2013, he cited concerns over inflation, security incidents, corruption and “policy paralysis”, along with India's description as one of the “fragile five” economies. He then pointed to recent economic indicators, including first-quarter GDP growth, vehicle sales, construction, manufacturing and industrial activity, as evidence of what he described as India's stronger economic momentum.

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The Prime Minister also linked his remarks to national security, highlighting India's response to terrorism and referring to Operation Sindoor, under which Indian forces targeted terror infrastructure across the border last year. His economic growth claims have, however, faced criticism from some economists and Opposition leaders. Congress MP Pawan Khera criticised the speech, while Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar noted that Modi's address focused heavily on the years 2013 and 2047 rather than issues concerning students and the wider public.

Modi's return to SRCC also highlighted the long political journey between his two appearances at the college. In February 2013, he addressed students as Gujarat Chief Minister, during his fourth term in the state and before he was formally projected as the BJP's national prime ministerial candidate. He returned on Saturday after more than 12 years as Prime Minister and during his third consecutive term at the Centre.

The 2013 SRCC address, titled “Emerging Business Models in the Global Scenario”, extended beyond business and included a broader message to India's youth. Modi had described young Indians as “new-age power” rather than merely “new-age voters”. His latest appearance coincided with the institution's centenary celebrations and Teachers' Day, underscoring the significance of the college in his political journey and his continuing emphasis on youth, education and India's long-term development.

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