(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Taking a swipe at the Congress-led UPA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the earlier governments would keep harping on the number of laws they have come out with, but he has made it his mission to get rid of the "maze" of "useless" ones.
Addressing a gathering of thousands of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden, Modi said: "Earlier governments would keep harping that we have made this 'kanoon' (law) and that 'kanoon'... I have started a new one - the old 'kanoon', I have thrown away the 'bekaar' (useless) ones."
"It was like a 'jaal' (maze) of 'kanoon', if one gets in, then they cant get out. I have set up a committee to examine them. If everyday, I can end one law, then it will be an achievement," he said to loud chants of "Modi, Modi".
He said good governance should be of easy ways for the people, to fulfil the people's needs in an easy, lucid way.
Modi had announced yesterday that PIO card holders will get lifelong visas. "There is even more to come," he said smilingly.
He announced that NRIs staying in India for long had to visit the police station, and "there is no need for them to do that anymore".
Modi said the government will join the People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes for the diaspora and a new scheme would be announced soon.
Dancers, drummers, conch-blowers and Tibetan Yak dancers created an impromptu mela-like atmosphere outside the Madison Square Garden as thousands gathered hours ahead of the reception for Modi yesterday.
The 18,500 people with the much-sought-after tickets to the event lined up in a queue stretching several street blocks, as others milled around in a futile hope for tickets.
Entertaining them were several groups. Women in glittering saris performed garba dance. Members of the Tibetan community put up a yak dance performance. Drummers beat out a frenetic rhythm and conch-blowers blew auspicious notes.
New Jersey Transit ran special trains for the people coming to the reception organised by the Indian American Community Foundation. And, PATH subway system switched to weekday service in order to increase train frequency to handle the large crowds of commuters.
Across the street from the Madison Square Garden, some groups banding together under the banner of Alliance for Justice and Accountability, held a protest with about 50 people. They carried signs denouncing Hindutva and demanding the reinstatement of the visa ban on Modi.
Further uptown, in Times Square which bills itself as the crossroads of the world, giant TV screens were to broadcast the reception for those who could not score the 18,500 tickets issued through a lottery for event.
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