Gandhinagar: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the government is not just looking at investments by the people of Indian origin living across the world but also wants to have deeper ties with the Indian diaspora.

“Please don’t feel that we are looking only at investments from you ...it is not dhan ka rishta that we are looking, but a mann ka rishta,” Mr Singh said addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

The Union minister acknowledged that if any ill happens in the country, the PIOs and NRIs also feel hurt even though they are based in a different part of the world.

Calling the diaspora as Swadeshi, irrespective of the country they are residing in, Mr Singh said that the country needs them to contribute in multiple ways on this journey of transformation that has begun.

“We want to create a self-esteemed, self-reliant, strong India. We cannot achieve it without your contribution,” he said, addressing the flagship conclave of the diaspora.