NEW DELHI: India’s feverish anticipation of today’s Coldplay concert in Mumbai apparently hasn’t escaped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention. In a teleconference address before the concert at the Global Citizen Festival in Maximum City, the Prime Minister promised to keep his remarks brief.

“I know that I stand between you and Cold Play and so (I) will make this brief,” PM Modi said.

“You’ve been smart in asking me to only address (the) gathering and not sing, or else I’m sure you’d be asking (for your) money back, that too in Rs 100 (notes),” he joked during his speech, in an obvious allusion to the effects of his government’s recent decision to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

PM Modi, who said he couldn’t come to the Festival in person because of his schedule, told his audience that he always looked forward to working with young people, and that it refreshed and re-energized him.

“You bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled,” he said.

The PM also spoke about poverty, which he described as a curse for any civilised society. “Malnutrition, unemployment, corruption, uncleaniness affect the poor the most,” he explained.

He said the country had witnessed a crusade for cleanliness for the last two years, and told his young audience that was “convinced” that a ” Swachch Bharat free of all forms of filth” could be built within a single generation.

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