‘My crime is that I am trying to Make in India’
Indian PM Narendra Modi, in a wide-ranging interview with Smita Prakash, says he is not of the elite club but belongs to the masses. That’s what makes his party the best bet for general elections this year.
I leave it to the people to decide whether they are satisfied with my work or not. I have enjoyed every minute. There is honesty in my work, I work for the people.
Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’ -— Alfred Lord Tennyson @BrainyQuote
The solution is to empower the farmers. From seed to market, give all facilities to the farmers. A 100 schemes in the cold storage for the farmer have been started again.
The year 2018 was not a good one for the BJP. Are you confident of winning in 2019?
In my opinion 2018 was a successful year. Elections are just one of the many facets in this country. This year, the poor were given insurance of up to Rs500,000, through Ayushman Bharat Yojna; 6.7 million have benefited. So many people were suffering and today they have got treatment. How can I consider this a failure. It is my biggest achievement.
The world today talks about climate change and India was considered one of the countries that caused pollution. In 2018, the UN awarded the champion of earth, a protector of environment, to a leader. It is a source of pride. As many as 18,000 villages did not have electricity. This year every village was electrified.
In sports, Indian children did a tremendous job. A lot of medals were won. Children from tier 2, 3 cities, villages and from financially weak background are bringing laurels to the country. Our para-athletes are doing a great job; 104 satellites have been put in orbit is a record of sorts. There has been bumper crop in 2018. Take any sector, India is breaking previous records. The year 2018 has been a shining one for India.
I am talking about electoral losses. BJP lost in five states.
In Telangana and Mizoram, nobody even thought that the BJP would form the government. In Chhattisgarh, a clear mandate was given, BJP lost. But in two states there was a hung assembly. Secondly, 15 years of anti-incumbency was being fought by our people. We are discussing what was lacking.
The Opposition believes that if the Modi magic has waned, the BJP will not get more than 180 seats, a sort of ‘Club 180’.
If they do not do this sort of math and spread such things how will people join their Gathbandhan (coalition)? They will have to talk big to attract people to themselves. But I believe, we should not mistrust the intelligence of the common man. Take a look at the newspapers from five years ago. See that headlines, and compare it with the ones today. The common man knows it all. I have faith in the common man and the youth of this country.
Recent elections proved that the common man considers the Congress an option.
Even Congress people say Congress is a thought, a culture. That culture has been in mainstream for such a long period. Because of this, it has become an integral part of the Indian political culture. What is that culture — casteism, dynastic politics, undemocratic, nepotism? Congress represents this culture. When I say Congress-mukt (free), I want to rid the country from this culture and this sort of thinking. And I have even gone to say that Congress, too, needs to be mukt of this Congress culture. I accept that in a democracy, a strong Opposition is essential but unfortunately the Congress has failed even in that.
Looking back do you think there was a need for demonetisation?
There used to be regular reports about black money. There is no disputing the fact that a parallel economy was running. Notes were found under beds, in sacks. This parallel economy had made the country hollow. Demonetisation has done a big job and in the coming days will set the country on the solid economic path. Those sacks full of cash have now entered the banking structure. An atmosphere of honesty has been created. The tax net has widened. Won’t you call this a success? Currency circulation in comparison to GDP has reduced. This is a good indicator.
Offenders such as Nirav Modi, Choksi, Mallya are still enjoying outside the country.
They had to flee because they had to adhere to the laws here. They had to return every penny.
Those who have fled, there are international laws to bring them back. Those are being implemented. I am confident that those who fled the country earlier, have not returned. But those who fled during this government, they will be brought back, today or tomorrow. Diplomatic channels, legal courses and seizure of properties through legal means are being implemented. Those who have stolen India’s money will have to compensate for each and every penny.
Do you think there were problems in GST implementation?
Have GST processes not been done taking a consensus with all political parties in the country? Since Pranab Mukherjee was Finance Minister, the GST process has been going on. In Parliament, unanimously it was passed. Before GST, what was tax rate in the country? 30-40 per cent tax. And hidden tax. Repeated tax. GST has simplified all this. Just creating a political hue and cry is not good. GST is a new system ... such a big transformation, technology driven. Some small traders have faced inconvenience, we acknowledge this. But government’s responsibility is to be sensitive to their concerns. So, whatever comes to our notice is referred to the GST Council.
Some say that Modi has done nothing for farmers.
If loan waiver helps, it should be definitely done. Since Devi Lal’s time, loan waivers have been given. A farmer becomes debt-ridden and the governments have to repeat the vicious cycle of loan waivers. The solution, however, is to empower the farmers. From seed to market, give all facilities to the farmers. Hundred schemes in the cold storage have been started for the farmer again. There is a very small segment of farmers that takes loans from banks. A majority of them take loans from money lenders. When governments make such announcements, those farmers do not benefit.
Lynchings in the name of cows. Why does the BJP not show empathy to minorities?
No such incident reflects well on a civilised society. No voices ever should support such incidents. This is totally wrong and totally condemnable. Did it start after 2014? This is a result of ills within the society. For improving this situation, we should all work collectively. I am not in favour of pursuing a debate that this happened in this government and that happened in that government. Even one incident is condemnable. India should take pride that we have been living in harmony for ages. There should be no such incident in the society. But we should understand what the main fabric of the society is.
2019 elections. Will it be — Modi on one side, Rahul on the other.
This election is going to be fought on who fulfils and takes forward the aspirations of the people and who stops these. Public will decide.
Why hasn’t BJP’s footprint increased in South India?
This is untrue. Narratives formed 30 years ago are still being repeated. We are present in the South. We are in Goa and Maharashtra. We are continuously striving to expand our base. BJP has presence in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, the Northeast. We are ready to take everyone along. It is linked to our strengthening regional aspirations.
Congress and political observers say that the BJP government has weakened institutions.
Congress has no right to speak on this issue. The National Advisory Council was formed against the PM and PM Office. What kind of empowerment of the PMO was this? The Cabinet takes such a big decision and a senior leader tears that decision at a press conference. Is this what you call respect for an institution? Coming to judiciary, they openly said that we will decide judiciary on the basis of ideology, and senior judges were shown the door and junior judges were promoted. And you are talking about institutions?
At RBI, several times governors were forced to leave before their term expired. You called Planning Commission people a bunch of jokers. The RBI governor himself requested (to resign) because of personal reasons. I am revealing for the first time, he was telling me about this for the past 6-7 months before his resignation. He gave it even in writing. He wrote to me personally ....
Rafale — Rahul Gandhi has made a personal allegation against you about cronyism.
This is not an allegation against me personally, but an allegation against my government. If there is any allegation against me personally, let them dig who gave what, when and where and to whom. In Parliament, I have spoken elaborately on this. The matter has been cleared even by the Supreme Court. My crime is that I am trying to Make In India. My crime is that whatever our defence forces need, that should be made in In-
dia, so that dealings outside the country end. I am trying to get technology transfer. Those people who want to weaken the Army are levelling allegations. Should I worry that they are making personal attacks on me, or whether my country’s needs should be met? I decided that whatever abuses are hurled at me, whatever allegations levelled against me, I will continue on the path of honesty and give primacy to the country’s security. I won’t leave my Army jawans (soldiers) to their fate. Whatever be their requirement, I will expedite the procurement processes.
Is the BJP is using the surgical strikes to gain electoral benefit?
There should be no politicisation of surgical strikes. There is no controversy about it. But after the surgical strike happened, no minister spoke about it... An Army officer apprised the nation of the operation. That information was given to Pakistan as well. And till Pakistan was told, the information was not given out even in India. But it is unfortunate for the country that the same day as the surgical strike, leaders of some parties raised doubts over it. It was necessary for Pakistan to speak like this to keep their morale intact. But what Pakistan was saying was being said here, too.
Your foreign trips...
All PMs have had more or less a similar travel schedule. If you count, there are number of multiple forums, summit level meetings. If the level is lower than PM, the voice is not heard, therefore, it is necessary to go for these visits. Manmohan Singh ji also had to do. It has become mandatory. I try to reach India’s voice to the world. I try to meet maximum people in my trips.
The Ganga has not been cleaned up.
I have to take five states along on this mission. Why wasn’t the money spent on the river since Rajiv Gandhi’s time? We analysed. The deficits were filled and we planned on finishing this task. For example, a drain which was 120 years has just been closed which polluted the river. A challenging task would be to cleanse tributaries as well that drain in to the Ganga. An international report claimed that there has been improvement in the Ganga, I am not content with this ... still working hard on it. We will be successful.
Any regrets during this term?
I leave it to the people to decide whether they are satisfied with my work or not. But one thing, I am not surprised, I could neither make the Lutyen’s world part of me or me a part of them. I did not want them to be a part of me as my background is different. I am a representative of the non-elite world. I could not win them over, still trying how to win over such forces. I have enjoyed every minute. There is honesty in my work, I work for the people.