ARNAB GOSWAMI: CAMPAIGNING FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS HAS BEGUN. IN THREE WEEKS FROM NOW, THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING WILL BEGIN AND IN THESE GENERAL ELECTIONS, THE FOCUS IS ON PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI. WHAT WILL THE PRIME MINISTER SAY? WHAT POSITION WILL HE TAKE AND ON WHAT ISSUES? THIS ELECTION IN A WAY IS ALL ABOUT PRIME MINISTER MODI. TODAY, I AM VERY HAPPY AND DELIGHTED. WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER IS GIVING THE FIRST INTERVIEW OF 2019 ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO REPUBLIC TV, REPUBLIC BHARAT AND THE VIEWERS OF REPUBLIC MEDIA NETWORK. WE ARE VERY GREATFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR PRIME MINISTER
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: GREETINGS TO ALL YOUR VIEWERS
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THANK YOU, MR PRIME MINISTER. VIEWERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR POLICIES, YOUR VISION, YOUR CHALLENGES AND YOUR POINT OF VIEW. THE SECOND THING IS ABOUT PAKISTAN. AFTER PULWAMA AND BALAKOT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE SPEAKING ON TELEVISION. HOPEFULLY, OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE WILL FOCUS ON ALL THE ISSUES. SO MY FIRST QUESTION - THE CAMPAIGN IS BEGINNING, MR PRIME MINISTER, HOW'S THE JOSH? ARE YOU CONFIDENT? HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THE VOTER IS ALWAYS THE CENTRAL POINT OF ELECTIONS AND THE VOTER SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF ELECTIONS. BECAUSE ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT FULFILLING HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF VOTERS. POLITICAL PARTIES NEED GO TO VOTERS AND THEN PEOPLE ELECT A GOVERNMENT. IN OUR COUNTRY, A WRONG THING HAS HAPPENED WHERE WE ARE MAKING THE PRIME MINISTER THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF ELECTIONS. FOR THE NATION'S BRIGHT FUTURE AND FOR A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY, IN ELECTIONS, THE GREATEST PRIORITY, THE CENTRE POINT SHOULD BE THE CITIZEN.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: BUT WHEN THE FOCUS IS ON PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI. YOU WILL NOT DENY, THAT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, IT IS A PERSONALITY CENTRED CAMPAIGN. A PERSONALITY CENTRED ELECTION. IN A WAY, IT IS ABOUT PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI AND IF THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE RE-ELECTED.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: BECAUSE OF STAYING IN GOVERNMENT FOR 5 YEARS, IT IS ONLY NATURAL THE PEOPLE'S FOCUS REMAINS ON THE INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT. I HAVE BEEN AN OPERATIONAL PRIME MINISTER. I HAVE BEEN PRIME MINISTER WHO HAS WORKED AMIDST PEOPLE. I HAVE BEEN A PRIME MINISTER WHO HAS CONSTANTLY VISITED EVERY CORNER OF INDIA. IN THAT SENSE, IT IS VERY NATURAL FOR PEOPLE'S FOCUS TO BE ON ME.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MR PRIME MINISTER, YESTERDAY AT 12.15 PM, YOU ANNOUNCED ON TELEVISION THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED A-SAT WEAPON. IT'S A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT THAT INDIA IS NOW A SPACE SUPER POWER, TODAY, INDIA IS SAFE IN SPACE. THE OPPOSITION RESPONDED TO IT SWIFTLY BY SAYING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER VIOLATED THE ELECTION MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT. THEY ASKED, 'WHY IS HE ANNOUNCING IT NOW WHEN HE'S GETTING READY TO CAMPAIGN FROM TOMORROW. THEY ASKED, WHY IS HE ANNOUNCING IT TODAY? ELECTIONS ARE THREE WEEKS AWAY, WHY IS HE MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON RADIO AND TELEVISION?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN THE OPPOSITION, WHEN JUNIORS MAKE MISTAKES...MISTAKES DO HAPPEN BUT THE CONGRESS PARTY, WHICH WAS IN GOVERNMENT FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY'VE HAD ESTEEMED LEADERS WHO'VE TAKEN CARE OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT, THEY SHOULD'VE AT LEAST CONSULTED THEIR PEOPLE AND ASKED WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? WHAT IS MODI TALKING ABOUT? I THINK, THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE THAT IS NEEDED, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF IT IN THEIR STATEMENTS. THE SECOND THING, CALL IT AN ADVENTURE OR AN INITIATIVE, THEY DON'T HAPPEN SUDDENLY. YOU NEED TO TELL THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY THAT YOU WANT SPACE AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN SPACE TO ENSURE THERE'S NO SPACE TRAFFIC OR COLLISION, YOU NEED TO ASK FOR AN OPEN SPACE, YOU NEED TO FIX THAT SPACE. IT'S A LONG PROCESS.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: BUT THEY'RE ASKING WHY NOW? WHEN THERE WAS SO MUCH PLANNING, WHY MAKE THE ANNOUCEMENT AHEAD OF CAMPAIGNING?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHEN YOU GET TIME AS PER THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY'S CONVENIENCE, YOU NEED TO UTILISE YOUR TIME IN THAT PERIOD. FOR US, THIS WAS THE TIME ALLOTTED. THIS IS NOT A THING THAT YOU THINK ABOUT AND THEN EXECUTE AND THEN SOME PROBLEM ARISES. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY. THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MR PRIME MINISTER, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU ABOUT THE BJP GETTING 272 SEATS? HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU OF GETTING 272 ON YOUR OWN OR AS AN ALLIANCE?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: LET ME RESPOND TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION. AS FAR AS RULES OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION ARE CONCERNED, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A NATURAL CALAMITY SOMEWHERE, SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT NOT DO ANYTHING SAYING THAT CODE OF CONDUCT IS IN PLACE AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING? SUCH A THING CANNOT HAPPEN. ON MANY OCCASSIONS, IT SO HAPPENED, THAT DESPITE ELECTION COMMISSION CODE OF CONDUCT BEING IN PLACE, BUDGET SESSION OF MANY STATES ARE STILL UNDERWAY. BUDGETS ARE COMING IN, SPEECHES ARE BEING MADE. EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHY IS THE OPPOSITION REACTING IN THIS WAY?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN THE PAST, ELECTIONS HAPPENED DURING 15TH AUGUST AND 26TH JANUARY. CODE OF CONDUCT WAS IN PLACE. AT EVERY LEVEL, POLITICIANS WHO WERE IN GOVERNMENT, GAVE SPEECHES. PEOPLE SEEM TO BE UNAWARE ABOUT IT. WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I HEARD THIS JOKE. THIEVES CAME TO A POLICEMAN'S HOUSE, HE WAS SLEEPING, HIS WIFE WOKE UP. SHE SAW THIEVES LOOTING THEIR PLACE BY PICKING UP THEIR THINGS. THE WIFE THOUGHT, EVERYTHING WILL BE STOLEN, SO SHE STARTED WAKING HER HUSBAND UP AND SAID THIEVES ARE HERE. THE HUSBAND SAID 'I AM NOT ON DUTY'. DO SUCH THINGS HAPPEN?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: SO YOU'RE SAYING, TIMELY DECISIONS HAVE TO BE TAKEN. BUT YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A REACTION FROM MAMATA BANERJEE, SHE SAID WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? ONLY ONE SATELLITE WAS SHOT DOWN. AKHILESH YADAV SAID CHINA HAS ALREADY DONE THIS AND RAHUL GANDHI SAID....
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, IF THEY COLLATE THE STATEMENTS OF THE OPPOSITION AND SEE IT TOGETHER, WILL DECIDE THAT INDIA WILL NEVER BE SAFE IN THE HANDS OF SUCH PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE PRIMARY KNOWLEDGE. PEOPLE WILL BE SURE OF THIS.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD MENTIONED, DO YOU THINK BJP CAN ACHIEVE 272 ON ITS OWN THIS TIME AND NDA THAT GOT OVER 300 SEATS LAST TIME, WHAT IS YOUR ANALYSIS? WHAT'S THE NUMBER ON YOUR MIND? REALISTICALLY?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN THE PREVIOUS ELECTIONS, WHEN I USED TO TALK ABOUT ABSOLUTE MAJORITY, PRIMARILY THE DEBATE USED TO BE ABOUT HOW 'MODI IS FLYING, HE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THINGS OUTSIDE OF GUJARAT, MODI IS JUST SAYING THINGS'. BUT PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY MADE IT HAPPEN. INDIA WITNESSED 30 YEARS OF INSTABILITY IN POLITICS. THE NATION IS NOT AGAINST COALITION. BUT INDIA WANTS STABILITY AND THAT IS WHY THE MAJOR PARTNER IN A COALITION SHOULD GET ABSOLUTE MAJORITY AND THE OTHERS SHOULD ALSO GET STRONG NUMBERS, SO THAT THEY CAN HELP IN RUNNING THE COUNTRY SMOOTHLY. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE GOOD WORK WE WERE ABLE TO DO, ONE REASON BEHIND IT WAS THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. PEOPLE ELECTED A GOVERNEMENT WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. WHENEVER I MEET A GLOBAL LEADER, WHEN A LEADER WHO HAS COME TO POWER WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY, EVEN THE WORLD LOOKS AT HIM WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS WHY, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, DON'T WANT TO TAKE INDIA TOWARDS INSTABILITY. SECONDLY, VOTER BETWEEN THE AGE OF 30-40 HAS SEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 30 YEARS OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND A 5 YEAR GOVERNMENT ELECTED WITH TOTAL MAJORITY. A VOTER ABOVE THE 30-40 AGE GROUP, VERY WELL UNDERSTANDS THE DIFFERENCE. SO, PEOPLE HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND THAT IF A GOVERNMENT IF ELECTED, IT SHOULD BE ELECTED WITH TOTAL MAJORITY AND IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS AND AS STUDENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, THERE WILL BE GREAT PROGRESS FROM THE PREVIOUS TIME. EARLIER, PEOPLE ASKED WHO IS THIS PERSON? WHO EXACTLY IS MODI? NOW THEY KNOW. WHEN IT'S THE ISSUE OF SECURITY, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT MODI HAS DONE, WHEN IT IS ABOUT THE UPLIFTMENT OF THE POOR, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT MODI HAS DONE. PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MODI'S POLICIES, MODI'S NATURE. AND HOW MODI WORKS. PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ARE WITNESSING ALL THIS AND THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE, IN THIS ELECTION, BJP WILL COME TO POWER WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY AND WILL GET MORE NUMBER OF SEATS FROM THE PREVIOUS TIME AND ALL OF NDA ALLIES, WILL WIN WITH MORE NUMBERS FROM THE PREVIOUS TIME. THIRDLY, THERE ARE FEW AREAS IN WHICH WE FEEL WE LACK, THIS TIME THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WON'T LET US FEEL THAT LACKING. IN A FEW AREAS, IF OUR REPRESENTATION IS LESS, EVEN THERE, PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL GIVE US STRENGTH.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: I WILL COME TO THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS IN DETAIL LATER. ON FEBRUARY 14, WHEN THE PULWAMA ATTACK HAPPENED, WHERE WERE YOU? WHERE DID YOU GET THE NEWS FIRST? AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST RESPONSE?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: I HAD A PRE-PLANNED PROGRAMME. IT IS SCHEDULED WELL IN ADVANCE. I WAS TOURING UTTARAKHAND. I AM PERSON WHO GIVES IMPORTANCE TO ENVIRONMENT AND I WANT TO GIVE IMPETUS TO TOURISM AS WELL. KEEPING THAT IN MIND, I HAD MY PROGRAMMES. I HAD A FULL DAY PROGRAMME. WHEN THE ATTACK HAPPENED, IT WAS RAINING VERY HEAVILY. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY IN UTTARAKHAND. I HAD A VERY BIG RALLY SCHEDULED. I HAD TO REACH RALLY AT 3PM, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REACH THERE. MEANWHILE I GOT THE NEWS. EXACT TIME WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YES
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: I DECIDED THAT I WILL ADDRESS THE RALLY ON PHONE. BUT, IT WAS A BIG RALLY. AND THAT TIME, YOU DON'T DISCUSS THIS NEWS. AND THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT - ON OCTOBER 2, 2013 IN PATNA, BIHAR, MY RALLY WAS ON. AND IN MY RALLY, WHEN MY SPEECH WAS ON, THERE WERE BLASTS. IF I HAD LOST MY BALANCE EVEN A LITTLE, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE HANDLED IT MY WAY, THEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE CHAOS THERE. SO THEN I SAID, BE QUIET, BE CALM, I HANDLED IT IN A PROPER MANNER. I MADE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LATER, THAT THEY SHOULD LEAVE CALMLY, THEY SHOULD THIS, THEY SHOULD DO THAT. AND THEN PEOPLE CAME TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BLAST AND THERE WERE SEVERAL CASUALTIES. IN SUCH A SITUATION, ONE SHOULD DEAL IN A BALANCED MANNER. IF SOMEBODY MAKES IT A POLITICAL ISSUE, THEN IT IS THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND NOTHING ELSE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WITHIN 24 HOURS, YOU PROMISED A TOUGH RESPONSE. YOU SAID 'A BEFITTING ANSWER WILL BE GIVEN.' AND YOU SAID 'WE WILL FREE HAND TO OUR FORCES.' ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DECIDED IN 24 HOURS? PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO KNOW: WE WILL ATTACK BALAKOT OR WE WOULD ATTACK THE JAISH E MOHAMMED CAMP. WERE THE DETAILS MADE IN 24 HOURS.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: FIRSTLY, IT IS NOT IN PRIME MINISTER'S CAPACITY TO FORMULATE THESE DETAILS. NEITHER CAN THE PRIME MINISTER DO IT. IF ANY PRIME MINISTER CLAIMS THIS, THEN HE IS LYING.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: OPPOSITION SAYS YOU CLAIM CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THERE IS AN EXPERTISE FOR THIS. INFORMATION IS GATHERED. MANY INSTITUTIONS WORK TOGETHER. WHAT WAS PRIME MINISTER'S ROLE? PRIME MINISTER ONLY HAD THIS TO SAY; AT SUCH A TIME OUR ACTIONS SHOULD BE AS PER THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE. AND NOW, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THE STATEMENT PUBLICLY THAT I HAVE GIVEN A FREE HAND TO ALL SECURITY RELATED INSTITUTIONS. THEY MADE THE PLAN, THEY PROPOSED THE PLAN, THEY WENT FORWARD. I HAVE GIVEN A FREE HAND.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: ON THE DAY OF THE AIRSTRIKE...AIRSTRIKE HAPPENED ON 26TH. DID YOU HAVE MINUTE TO MINUTE INFORMATION? OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? OR WHEN WOULD THE AIRSTRIKE HAPPEN? ANY FEEDBACK?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: MY NATURE IS SUCH THAT - WHEN SUCH THINGS HAPPEN, WHEN THE LIVES OF OUR JAWANS ARE BEING RISKED, THEN I CAN'T ISOLATE MYSELF. I AM ALWAYS CONNECTED TO IT. OFFICERS DON'T EXPECT THAT PRIME MINISTER STAYS AWAKE THE ENTIRE NIGHT, BUT I CAN'T STOP MYSELF. SO I WAS COMPLETELY INVOLVED AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: PRIME MINISTER, DESPITE THIS, POST PULWAMA, THE ENTIRE OPPOSITION UNITEDLY SAID THAT THIS IS A CONSPIRACY. PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI WAS PART OF THIS CONSPIRACY. AND AFTER THE BALAKOT ATTACK, THE OPPOSITION SAID THAT THERE IS MATCH FIXING BETWEEN IMRAN KHAN AND NARENDRA MODI. THE WORDS 'MATCH FIXING' WERE USED. THIS WAS NOT A POLITICAL ATTACK. IT WAS A PERSONAL ATTACK. IT WAS A PERSONAL ATTACK ON YOU. WHY WAS IT SO PERSONAL? WAS IT BECAUSE OF ELECTIONS OR IS THERE SOME OTHER REASON? WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THIS QUESTION CAN BE ANSWERED BY THOSE WHO ARE USED TO MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS. MAKING EVERYTHING A PERSONAL ATTACK IS THEIR HABIT. NO PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY CAN DOUBT THE PATRIOTISM OF NARENDRA MODI. NOBODY CAN DO IT. MY LIFE SPEAKS FOR ME, I DON'T NEED WORDS. SECONDLY, THIS THINKING EXISTS IN THE LEADERSHIP OF A POLITICAL PARTY, THEN THE NATION SHOULD BE WORRIED, THAT PEOPLE OF SUCH MENTALITY CAN GO TO ANY LIMIT FOR POLITICAL GAINS. IT'S A BIG ATTACK, THE ENTIRE WORLD STANDS WITH US IN SOLIDARITY, TERRORISM IS AN ISSUE, INDIA CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. AT SUCH A TIME, BY PLAYING SUCH DIRTY POLITICS, THEY ARE DAMAGING THE NATION, AND THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT. ISSUE IS NOT MODI. THIS IS A WARNING BELL FOR THE NATION IF SUCH THINKING AND LANGUAGE IS USED. AND WHAT HAPPENED? THEY SAID IT WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. BUT WHEN PEOPLE SHOWED NEGATIVE SENTIMENT, THEY WERE FORCED TO KEEP QUIET. NOW THEY DON'T SPEAK, THEY ARE SCARED NOW. THEY HAVE REALISED NOW. IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THE ALLEGATIONS, IF THEY HAVE CONVICTION, THEN THEY SHOULD MAKE IT AN ELECTION ISSUE. THEY SHOULD GO AND TELL THE PEOPLE. THEY SHOULD SHOW THIS COURAGE. AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WE ARE HAVING A FREE CONVERSATION, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE FIRST INTERVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE TWO THINGS. FIRST THAT THE ENTIRE NATION WANTS TO KNOW, AND THERE IS A QUESTION IN EVERYBODY'S MIND, WHICH IS WHAT THE OPPOSITION SAYS. FIRSTLY, OPPOSITION SAYS THAT WHATEVER NARENDRA MODI DOES IS FOR POLITICAL INTEREST, FOR HIMSELF, FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THE ASAT LAUNCH WAS FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THEY SAY THAT BALAKOT AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THEY SAY MODI IS TRYING TO DIVERT ISSUES. THEY SAY PRIME MINISTER DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT JOBS OR INTERNAL ISSUE. THEY SAY MODI IS DIVERTING TO NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES WHICH WILL BENEFIT THEM POLITICALLY. THIS IS MY FIRST QUESTION.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: FIRSTLY, THIS IS OUR OPPOSITION LEADERS' IMAGINATION. AND THAT IS WHY THEY SAY THIS. I HAVE BEEN SAYING FROM DAY 1. I SAID, IN THE TIME PERIOD YOU MADE 25 LAKH HOUSES, I MADE 1.25 CRORE HOUSES. COME, LET'S DEBATE. THE GAS CONNECTIONS YOU (OPPOSITION) PROVIDED SINCE ELECTIONS, I HAVE PROVIDED THE SAME NUMBER IN 5 YEARS. COME, LET'S DEBATE. THE NUMBER OF BANK ACCOUNTS YOU (OPPOSITION) OPENED IN SO MANY YEARS, I OPENED THE SAME NUMBER OF BANK ACCOUNTS IN 5 YEARS. COME, LET'S DEBATE. I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS SINCE DAY 1. I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A DEBATE ON THE ISSUE OF EMPLOYMENT SINCE DAY 1. WHEN I TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OR DEVELOPMENT, THEY GO TO OTHER ISSUES. SECONDLY, THIS IS A GOVERNMENT WHICH WORKS 24 X 7. EVERY MOMENT THERE IS GOVERNMENT WORK AND EVERY YEAR THERE ARE ELECTIONS IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS THAT TAKE PLACE CONTINUOUSLY. IF YOU CONNECT EACH INCIDENT IN A SIMILAR MANNER, HOW WILL PEOPLE DIGEST IT? THEY DID NOT HAVE RESPECT FOR OUR BRAVE MARTYRS. AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WORSHIP THEM (CONGRESS), PEOPLE WHO SURVIVE ON THEIR (CONGRESS) BREAD, THEY FIND STATESMANSHIP IN PAKISTAN PM'S STATEMENT. AND THEY WANT TO DOUBT THEIR OWN PRIME MINISTER. PEOPLE OF INDIA MUST IDENTIFY SUCH PEOPLE. AND THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE. YOU WOULD KNOW, WHEN ABHINANDAN INCIDENT HAPPENED, ALL INDIAN POLITICAL PARTIES SHOULD HAVE UNITED AND SAID THAT WE ARE PROUD OF INDIAN FORCES THAT AN F-16 WAS SHOT DOWN. INSTEAD THEY WENT ON SAYING 'WHEN WILL ABHINANDAN RETURN? WHEN WILL ABHINANDAN RETURN?' WITHIN 2 HOURS.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHEN IT WAS ABHINANDAN WHO SHOT DOWN THE F-16.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: ABHINANDAN'S RETURN TALKS...OK, HE WAS CAUGHT. THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO WHAT IT HAS TO DO AT DIPLOMATIC LEVEL. BUT THEY (OPPOSITION) HAD PLANNED A CANDLE LIGHT MARCH FOR ABHINANDAN, PULWAMA AND AIRSTRIKE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHO?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE OPPOSITION
ARNAB GOSWAMI: ARE YOU SAYING THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY? WAS THERE PLANNING?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: OF COURSE, THERE WAS PLANNING. THEY WERE GOING TO HOLD A CANDLE LIGHT MARCH FOR ABHINANDAN. BUT AROUND 3 TO 4PM, PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED IN THE PARLIAMENT. AND THEIR POLITICS WAS HELD UP. THEY HAVE TRIED TO DO POLITICS AT EVERY MOMENT ON SUCH A GRAVE ISSUE, SUCH LANGUAGE DOESN'T SUIT THEM.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MR PRIME MINISTER, IS IT TRUE THAT NOWADAYS, PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN TRIES TALKING TO YOU OVER THE PHONE BUT YOU DON'T RESPOND TO HIS CALLS? SECONDLY, A MORE SERIOUS THING IS ABOUT A DECISIVE BATTLE, A DECISIVE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM. YOU GAVE ONE OR TWO INDICATIONS... IF YOUR SPEECHES ARE WATCHED CLOSELY, AND PEOPLE DO WATCH THEM AND ANALYSE THEM, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE... YOU HAD SAID... I THINK YOU WERE GIVING A SCIENTIFIC AWARD... YOU HAD SPOKEN ABOUT A DECISIVE BATTLE. PEOPLE HAD EXPECTATIONS THAT SOMETHING MORE WILL HAPPEN... PEOPLE THOUGHT, AFTER THE AIRSTRIKE, THERE'S A NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE AND THAT MAYBE PRIME MINISTER MODI WILL DO IT. SO IF YOU COULD ANSWER BOTH MY QUESTIONS, FIRST ONE ABOUT NOT TAKING IMRAN KHAN'S CALLS AND SECONDLY, DO YOU THINK A DECISIVE BATTLE CAN HAPPEN?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHENEVER SUCH INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE, I SPOKE TO PAKISTAN. EVERY TIME PAKISTAN GAVE ME ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL TAKE ACTION.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THEY BROKE THAT PROMISE?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: EVERYTIME THEY GAVE ASSURANCE
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YES
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHEN SUCH THINGS HAPPEN, PAKISTAN HAS THIS KIND OF AN ATTITUDE. I DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK IN THAT TRAP NOW. TILL THE TIME THAT THE WORLD WITNESSES VISIBLE ACTION
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YES
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE WORLD SHOULD BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT KIND OF ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST TERRORISM. I WILL WAIT FOR THE MOMENT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: TELL US ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC MOMENT, MR PRIME MINISTER...BECAUSE I REMEMBER ON THE 7TH OR 8TH OF MAY IN 2014, I HAD INTERVIEWED YOU... SORRY...YOU HAD TOLD ME, CAN TALKS TAKE PLACE AMIDST SOUND OF BOMBS, GUNS AND BULLETS? IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU HAD SAID THIS IN AHMEDABAD...
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NOW, LET ME TELL YOU. TELL ME THOSE PEOPLE WHO'VE FLED INDIA AND ARE FACING RED CORNER NOTICES, THEY'RE CRIMINALS. WE'VE GIVEN NOTE VERBALES. WHY DON'T THEY HAND THEM OVER? IF THEIR INTENTION IS PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP, HAND THOSE PEOPLE OVER. WE'VE GIVEN THEM ALL THE DOSSIERS AND DETAILS OF 26/11, HAND THOSE PEOPLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, SEND THEM TO INDIA. WE WILL TAKE ACTION. JAISH E MOHAMMED MEMBERS CLEARLY ADMIT THEY'VE DONE IT (PULWAMA ATTACK), DESPITE THAT THEY DON'T TAKE ACTION. AND THAT IS WHY, WE WERE NEVER FIGHTING THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN AND WE ARE NOT FIGHTING THEM EVEN NOW. OUR FIGHT IS AGAINST TERRORISM. I HAVE PUBLICALLY MADE THIS STATEMENT... WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN WON ELECTIONS AND CAME TO POWER, I CALLED TO CONGRATULATE HIM. EVEN THEN I TOLD HIM, WHEN WE FOUGHT WARS, YOU LOST. YOU PUSHED TERRORISM BUT IT COULDN'T STOP INDIA'S PROGRESS. TODAY, INDIA IS THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY. WE ARE ACHIEVING EVERY KIND OF POWER. WHAT DID YOU ACHIEVE? I TOLD HIM, THERE'S TIME, LET'S SIT TOGETHER AND FIGHT POVERTY, LEAVE TERRORISM. THESE WERE MY WORDS
ARNAB GOSWAMI: TODAY, ON TELEVISION, IMRAN KHAN SAYS INDIA SHOULD HOLD TALKS. IF IMRAN KHAN AND THE GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN IS WATCHING THE INTERVIEW, MR PRIME MINISTER, WHAT IS THE DIRECT MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: PAKISTAN CAN DO WHAT IT WANTS FOR ITS PEOPLE. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S THEIR LOCAL PROBLEM. THEY CAN CONTINUE DOING IT. INDIA HAS JUST ONE DEMAND: LEAVE TERRORISM. LEAVE TERRORISM. AFTER THIS, IF YOU DON'T EVEN LOOK AT US, WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM. BUT COME OUT OF TERRORISM.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: EVERYDAY THEY HAVE THIS FEAR THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: DO YOU EXPECT THAT I WILL SAY ALL THIS BEFORE THE MEDIA?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: NO, I DON'T HAVE SUCH EXPECTATIONS, BUT IT'S MY JOB TO ASK QUESTIONS
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NO, NO, DO YOU EXPECT THAT BY PUTTING FORTH MY VIEW FOR THE FUTURE, I SHOULD REVEAL MY CARDS?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU MUST BE HAVING THESE CARDS
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: ISSUES CONCERNING THE SECURITY OF THE NATION ARE VERY SENSITIVE. PEOPLE GET TO KNOW AFTER THINGS HAPPEN.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MR PRIME MINISTER, COMING BACK TO POLITICS NOW. THEY'VE CALLED YOU WITH MANY NAMES. THEY CALLED YOU 'BHASMASUR', 'MAUT KA SAUDAGAR', 'NEECH' AND 'CHAIWALA'. THIS TIME THEY SAID 'CHOWKIDAR CHOR HAI'. THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS. ONE OPTION WAS TO IGNORE IT BUT YOU TURNED IT INTO A COUNTER CAMPAIGN - 'MAIN BHI CHOWKIDAR'. MR PRIME MINISTER, WHY DIDN'T YOU IGNORE IT?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: LOOK, I WILL GO INTO THE BACKGROUND OF THIS AND TAKE SOME TIME, IF YOUR VIEWERS DON'T MIND. AS FAR AS 'CHAIWALA' IS CONCERNED, I'VE BEEN A CHIEF MINISTER. (I'VE BEEN) GUJARAT'S LONGEST SERVING CHIEF MINISTER BUT YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT CHAIWALA OR ANYTHING ABOUT MY FAMILY. I KEPT MYSELF FAR FROM SUCH THINGS. BUT WHEN MY CANDIDATURE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S POST WAS ANNOUNCED, SOME PEOPLE OUT OF CURIOUSITY, TRIED FINDING OUT ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD. THEY HAD NO WRONG INTENTIONS, BUT SOME PEOPLE DECLARED AWARDS SAYING THAT IF SOMEONE WHO HAD TEA MADE BY MODI WILL BE GIVEN THESE MANY LAKHS IN REWARD.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: OKAY
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IT WENT TO THIS EXTENT. SO WHEN THE CHAIWALA ISSUE CAME UP, I WAS A PARLIAMENTARIAN, MY PARTY HAD ANNOUNCED MY CANDIDATURE FOR PRIME MINISTERSHIP, THEN THE ISSUE CAME UP AND SUDDENLY PEOPLE STARTED ABUSING ME FOR BEING A CHAIWALA. THEN WITH PRIDE I SAID, YES I COME FROM A HUMBLE BACKGROUND, I AM FROM A SIMPLE FAMILY. I SPENT MY CHILDHOOD SELLING TEA. I HAD TO SAY THIS AND SO I SAID IT. OTHERWISE, WHEN I WAS CHIEF MINISTER, NEITHER DID I EVER TALK ABOUT IT NOR DID ANYONE EVER RAISE IT. IT CAME UP AFTER SO MANY YEARS. AS FAR AS CHOWKIDAR IS CONCERNED, I USED THE WORD FOR MYSELF AND IT WAS A PART OF MY 2013 - 2014 CAMPAIGN AND IN THAT CHOWKIDAR WASN'T AN INSTITUTION, CHOWKIDAR IS A SPIRIT. CHOWKIDAR DOESN'T MEAN CAP, WHISTLE AND STICK. MAHATMA GANDHI USED TO TALK ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUSTEESHIP, CHOWKIDAR IN A WAY IS AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUSTEESHIP. IT'S THE SIMPLIFIED WORD FOR TRUSTEESHIP. THAT I WILL WORK ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUSTEESHIP, I WILL WORK LIKE A CHOWKIDAR. I AM NOT THE ONE TO TAKE BRIBES. IT'S THAT SPIRIT AND I WAS WORKING WITH THAT SPIRIT. THAT IS WHY, WHEN THEY TRIED ATTACKING THAT SPIRIT AND USED UNCIVILISED LANGUAGE, THEN IT BECAME IMPORTANT FOR ME TO TELL THE COUNTRY THAT, THE REASONS FOR WHICH I AM BEING ABUSED, I AM THAT. NOW YOU DECIDE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: ANALYSTS SAY THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ATTACK NARENDRA MODI BECAUSE HE GIVES A COUNTER ATTACK TO EVERYTHING
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: ONCE IN GUJARAT, I HAD A LOT OF FUN. AN ALLEGATION WAS LEVELLED AGAINST ME, LEADERS OF CONGRESS IN GUJARAT LEVELLED AN ALLEGATION THAT MODI HAS 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES. 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES...THEY LEVELLED SUCH AN ALLEGATION. THEY SAID I AM A GOOD FOR NOTHING PERSON WITH 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES. ON THAT VERY DAY, I HAD A PUBLIC MEETING, IN THAT PUBLIC MEETING I SAID 'TODAY I'VE HEARD, AN ALLEGATION IS LEVELLED AGAINST ME THAT I OWN 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES. I SAID IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY WRONGLY ATTACHED A ZERO OR WRONGLY ATTACHED THE NUMBER 2 OR WRONGLY ATTACHED THE NUMBER 5. BUT DESPITE THEIR ALLEGATION BEING A FALSE ONE, I ACCEPTED IT. I ACCEPT THIS ALLEGATION. NOW, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WE'VE HEARD THAT SOME CM IN THIS COUNTRY MADE Rs 250 CRORE. SOMETIMES WE'VE HEARD THAT A CM'S NEPHEW MADE Rs 250 CRORE. SOMETIMES WE'VE HEARD THAT A RELATIVE OF A CM MADE Rs 2,500 CRORE. NOW YOU DECIDE, DO YOU WANT THE PERSON WHO MADE Rs 250 CRORE OR THE PERSON WHO OWNS 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES? IF YOU THINK THE PERSON WHO HAS 250 PAIRS OF CLOTHES IS A CULPRIT THEN YOU SEND ME PACKING. THE ENTIRE CROWD STOOD UP. THE VERY NEXT DAY, CONGRESS STOPPED MAKING THESE ALLEGATIONS. SO SAYING ANYTHING, ANYWHERE...YOU JUST LISTED 4 ABUSES, THERE'S NO WORD LEFT IN THE DICTIONARY THAT THEY NOT USED AGAINST ME
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THERE ARE 400 BUT MY HINDI IS NOT THAT GOOD
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: BUT, THERE IS A SECTION IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT SHIELDS SUCH PEOPLE. THEY ARE NEVER READY TO ACCEPT THAT THEY'RE DOING THE WRONG THING AND THAT IS WHY THEY'VE MADE IT A FASHION TO DO THE WRONG THING.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU LAUNCHED THE COUNTER CAMPAIGN. YOU GAVE A COUNTER ATTACK AND THE 'MAIN BHI CHOWKIDAR' CAMPAIGN GARNERED A LOT OF POPULARITY AND YOU'RE DOING IT VERY AGGRESSIVELY. YOU ADDRESSED SEVERAL CHOWKIDARS AND THIS SUNDAY THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PROGRAMME, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A PERCEPTION BATTLE AGAINST YOU IN THE LAST 12 TO 18 MONTHS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU 3 TO 4 QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO THAT. FIRSTLY, THEY ASK WHY DID NARENDRA MODI LET THE FUGITIVES FLEE? BE IT NIRAV MODI OR VIJAY MALLYA. TODAY, NIRAV MODI IS IN JAIL, HE'S IN A JAIL IN LONDON AND PEOPLE HAVE THIS EXPECTATION THAT VIJAY MALLYA WILL ALSO BE IN JAIL, NOT IN A LONDON JAIL BUT IN MUMBAI'S ARTHUR ROAD JAIL. BUT THIS THING ABOUT FUGITIVES WAS SAID REPEATEDLY AGAINST YOU. BEFORE THE RAFALE ISSUE CAME UP, THIS WAS THE FIRST ISSUE.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: MY BIGGEST CRIME IS THAT...AND I COMMITTED THAT CRIME IN NATIONAL INTEREST, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE NATION. WHEN MY GOVERNMENT WAS FORMED AND I GOT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY AND THE STATE OF BANKS, I HAD TWO ALTERNATIVES BEFORE ME. ONE WAS THAT I BRING A WHITE PAPER ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE BANKING SYSTEM AND REVEAL BEFORE THE NATION HOW PEOPLE LOOTED THE COUNTRY, HOW MONEY WAS DISTRIBUTED. THE OTHER OPTION BEFORE ME WAS TO KEEP QUIET AND FACE THE HUMILIATION BUT IN NATIONAL INTEREST, DESPITE MY PERSONAL LOSS, I TRY HANDLING THE SITUATION FIRST. I PUT THINGS ON TRACK FIRST AND THEN TAKE ONE STEP AFTER THE OTHER. I DIDN'T CHOOSE THE PATH OF SELFISH POLITICS. IF MODI HAS TO FACE HUMILIATION, SO BE IT. IF MODI HAS TO FACE ABUSES, SO BE IT. BUT I WILL FIRST FIX THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND THE BANKING SYSTEM - I STRESSED ON THAT. IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN MONEY,IT WAS A CONSPIRACY. FIRST THEY TAKE THE MONEY, THEN SHOW SOMETHING ON PAPERS, THEN KEEP THE MONEY AND LATER ENJOY. ALL THOSE THINGS CAME TO AN END. THEY CAME TO AN END BECAUSE OF OUR ACTIONS, DUE TO WHICH, THEY WERE FORCED TO FLEE. AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THOSE (CONGRESS) TO COME TO POWER, SO THAT THEY CAN RETURN HAPPILY. THEY FLED, WHY SHOULD I SPARE THEM? SO WE BROUGHT IN A LAW THAT ENABLED THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONFISCATE PROPERTY OF FUGITIVES IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD. YOU MUST'VE SEEN IN THE CASE OF VIJAY MALLYA. HE OWED BANKS Rs 9000 CRORE BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONFISCATED HIS PROPERTIES WORTH Rs 14,000 CRORE ACROSS THE WORLD.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YES, YES
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NOW, HE IS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING DOUBLE THE AMOUNT. ALL OF THEM, TAKE ALL THEIR NAMES. SECONDLY, DIDN'T PEOPLE FLEE PREVIOUSLY? DIDN'T PEOPLE FLEE WITH THE COUNTRY'S MONEY? PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS DID NOTHING. THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL THE COUNTRY THEIR NAMES AND THAT NUMBER IS A BIG ONE. NOBODY CAME BACK, NOBODY RETURNED THE MONEY. THERE WERE TOP BUSINESSMEN, WHO USED TO TAKE MONEY FROM BANKS AND THEN ENJOY. WE BROUGHT IN THE BANKRUPTCY LAW, THEY'VE LOST THEIR COMPANIES AND ARE NOW ON THE FOOTPATH. THEIR COMPANIES ARE IN THE HANDS OF PROPER MANAGEMENTS NOW. SO, WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS. THESE PEOPLE ARE FLEEING BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING THESE STEPS.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: CHRISTIAN MICHEL IS THE MIDDLEMAN IN THE AGUSTA DEAL. YOU COIN A PHRASE – 'MAMA CHACHA KI SARKAR'. PEOPLE WONDER WHO YOU ARE REFERRING TO. YOU SPEAK OF “MICHEL MAMA”. SO HERE IS THE STRAIGHT QUESTION. ARE YOU SAYING MODIJI THAT THE VADRA GANDHI FAMILY OR THE CONGRESS PARTY HAD LINKS WITH CHRISTIAN MICHEL. JUST AS THEY HAD LINKS WITH OTTAVIO QUATTAROCHI.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IT IS NOT MY JOB TO ACCUSE PEOPLE. BUT THIS IS CLEAR THAT QUESTIONS ABOUT CORRUPTION WERE RAISED ON THESE ISSUES BEFORE MY GOVERNMENT CAME IN. BUT INVESTIGATIONS WERE QUASHED. I CAME AND SAID 'FIND THE TRUTH'. I HAVEN'T REGISTERED ANY CASE. THESE WERE THERE FROM THE TIME BEFORE I CAME IN. THEY WERE IN THE COURTS. SO WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? SHOULD I ALSO WHITEWASH THEM? OR SHOULD I TRY TO BRING BACK MICHEL? I HAVE BROUGHT HIM. HE IS LOCKED UP IN JAIL, HE IS GIVING THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION. MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CAUGHT. THE LAW WILL DO ITS JOB.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: ON THE QUESTION OF RAFALE YOU ASKED THE OPPOSITION: 'BY SCRAPPING RAFALE WHICH COMPANY ARE YOU TRYING TO BENEFIT?”. ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE CONGRESS WAS TRYING TO PUSH RIVAL POLITICAL INTERESTS AND THE INTERESTS OF GLOBAL COMPANIES'? BECAUSE YOU KEEP SAYING ABOUT RAFALE - EVEN RECENTLY YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE SAD THAT RAFALE WASN'T THERE OR ELSE PAKISTAN WOULD BEEN EVEN MORE SCARED. DO YOU THINK THE OPPOSITION OR THE CONGRESS IS TRYING TO PUSH ANOTHER MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANY’S INTEREST?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN OUR COUNTRY, DEFENCE DEALS HAVE, IN A SENSE BEEN AN ATM FOR THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. ALL PREVIOUS CONGRESS GOVERNMENTS HAVE USED THESE AS ATMs. THEY CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT DEFENCE DEALS CAN HAPPEN WITH TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY. AND UNTIL THEIR OWN INTEREST WAS SERVED, THEY DIDN’T BOTHER ABOUT THE INTEREST OF THE FORCES. MY PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT MY NATION’S FORCES ARE STRONG AND CAPABLE. THAT IS WHY I AM TAKING QUICK DECISIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WELL YOU SAY YOU WILL KEEP DOING SO, BUT THE QUESTION IS WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE SO FAR?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THE EARLIER GOVERNMENTS HAD IN PLACE, SOME SORT OF A MECHANISM TO GET THEIR POTS SWEETENED IN SOME OR OTHER WAY. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN ALL CASES – WHETHER IT BE NAVY, ARMY OR AIRFORCE – IN EVERY DEAL. I AM TRYING TO DO THESE THINGS WITH INTEGRITY THROUGH GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT CONTACTS. I AM TRYING TO MODERNISE THE FORCES OF THIS COUNTRY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY. SECOND, IT MAY SO HAPPEN THAT RESULTS OF MAKE IN INDIA PROGRAMME MAY NOT COME INTO EFFECT THAT QUICKLY. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT I HAVE RECENTLY INAUGURATED A RIFLE MANUFACTURING FACTORY (REFERS TO AK-47 FACTORY IN AMETHI).
ARNAB GOSWAMI: PEOPLE SAY THAT AMONG THE VARIOUS EXPECTATION THEY HAD OF NARENDRA MODI, THERE ARE A COUPLE IN WHICH HE DID NOT DO AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD HAVE. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. “DAMADSHREE”. IT IS A POLITICAL QUESTION. AFTER THE 2014 CAMPAIGN THERE WAS HOPE AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT THERE WOULD BE INVESTIGATION ON "DAMADSHREE" ROBERT VADRA. MY QUESTION IS WHY DID IT TAKE SO MUCH TIME THAT TODAY ROBERT VADRA HIMSELF SAYS THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SO FAR AND NOW IF THEY INVESTIGATE IT WILL BE A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED DECISION.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: INDIA IS A DEMOCRACY. THERE IS A LEGAL SYSTEM IN INDIA. THESE PEOPLE GET NOTICES. AFTER RECEIVING NOTICES, THEY NEEDTO RESPOND TO THOSE NOTICES. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT MULTIPLE NOTICES WENT TO THE CONGRESS PARTY - MULTIPLE NOTICES WENT IN THE NATIONAL HERALD CASE. THESE PEOPLE CONSIDER THEMSELVES RAJA -MAHARAJAS (ROYALS). THEY DON’T EVEN RESPOND. SO WE TO GO TO COURT. IT IS NOT EASY TO GET DATES FROM COURTS – THAT IS THE REASON WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG. IT IS ONLY AFTER ALL THIS THAT THAT THEY WERE FORCED TO PLEAD FOR BAIL IN NATIONAL HERALD CASE. SO, THE LAW DOES ITS WORK. IF WE HAD WANTED POLITICAL VENDETTA, THEN WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT IN A FLASH. BUT WE WON'T DO THAT. WE SAY, IF SOME WRONG HAS BEEN DONE, THE LAW WILL DO IT'S WORK.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: NOW THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL, EVERYTHING IS A WITCH-HUNT.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: LOOK, IF WE DON'T DO IT, THEN YOU QUESTION US FOR NOT DOING. IF WE DO, THEN YOU SAY IT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR PROBLEM. IF TOMATOES BECOME EXPENSIVE, YOU ASK HOUSEWIVES HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. IF THE PRICES OF TOMATOES DROP THEN YOU ASK THE FARMERS HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THE PROBLEM. KEEP A BALANCE SOMEWHERE AT LEAST.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THERE IS BALANCE. MODIJI YOU CALL MAGATHBANDHAN - MAHAMILAWAT. PEOPLE SAY THAT BEFORE UTTERING MAHAMILAWAT, MODIJI MUST LOOK AT THE ARITHMETIC. IN THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT, THE SAME MAHAGATHBANDHAN HOLDS 120 SEATS – THE SAME GROUP YOU REFER TO AS MAHAMILAWAT, ENJOYS A 42 PERCENT VOTESHARE. DOES THIS ARITHMETIC CALCULATION NOT WORRY YOU?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NO IT DOESN’T.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHY? MATHEMATICS SHOWS THEY HAVE 42 PERCENT VOTESHARE, YOU HAVE 30-32 PERCENT.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY DO NOT DECIDE THIS WAY. IF, YOU PICK UP THIS KIND OF ARITHMETIC THEN YOU WILL FIND THAT IN 2014, OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE FORMED WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. IF YOU FOLLOW THIS ARITHMETIC, THEN YOU WILL FIND THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE WON AS MANY STATE ELECTIONS AS WE DID AFTER THAT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: BUT THIS TIME IT IS SAID THE INDEX OF OPPOSITION UNITY IS HIGH.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IF YOU GO GRANULAR, YOU WILL FIND THE OPPOSITION MORE SCATTERED NOW THAN IN 2014.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHY DO YOU SAY SO?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: YOU WILL FIND OUT ABOUT IT. LET THE NOMINATION PROCESS BE OVER. YOU WILL YOURSELF FIND OUT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU SEEM TO BE INDICATING SOMETHING.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: TELL ME, HAS THERE BEEN ANY AGREEMENT IN ANDHRA?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: NO
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: HAS THERE BEEN ONE IN BENGAL?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: CAN'T HAPPEN THERE.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: HAS THERE BEEN ANY (AGREEMENT) WITH COMMUNIST PARTIES? HAS IT HAPPENED IN KERELA? HAS IT HAPPENED IN ODISHA?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: AFTER ELECTIONS?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: HAS THERE BEEN ANY PLACE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: IT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THE ELECTIONS.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: HOW CAN IT HAPPEN AFTER ELECTIONS? TODAY THEY ARE LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED TO PUT EACH OTHER DOWN. YOU LOOK AT ALL THEIR STATEMENTS.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU ASKED A QUESTION, MAY I ANSWER? YOU ASKED HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN? BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP NARENDRA MODI OUT. POST POLL UNDERSTANDING.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: SEE THE FIRST THING IS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN ONLY IF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY GIVE FEWER SEATS TO NARENDRA MODI. WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND TO GIVE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SEATS TO NARENDRA MODI THEN WHAT CAN HAPPEN? THE RESULTS ARE CERTAIN. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY HAVE DECIDED TO BRING IN A GOVERNMENT THAT ENJOYS ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. THEY HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND TO GIVE NDA A MANDATE FOR A 300 PLUS GOVERNMENT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI, YOU SKIPPED MY QUESTION ON ARITHMETIC. SO NOW I WILL ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT CHEMISTRY. CAN NARENDRA MODI AND BJP HAVE CHEMISTRY WITH OTHER PARTIES?. THE ANALYSIS IS THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW NON-NDA, NON-MAHAGATHBANDHAN PARTIES. LIKE TRS, BJD, YSRCP OF JAGAN MOHAN REDDY. AND AIDMK IS NOW WITH NDA. CAN YOU WORK WITH THESE PARTIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL? IS THERE ANY HOPE?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NUMBER ONE. BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY WILL RETURN WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. NUMBER TWO, BOTH NDA AND BJP WILL WIN MANY MORE THAN LAST TIME. NUMBER THREE, A COUNTRY IS NOT GOVERNED ON THE BASIS OF MAJORITY. A COUNTRY IS GOVERNED THROUGH CONSENSUS. THAT’S WHY AS A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN, AS A RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL PARTY, AND AS A RESPONSIBLE PRIME MINISTER WITH A 5 YEAR TERM, IT IS MY COMMITMENT, IT IS MY CONFIRMATION, IT IS MY CONVICTION THAT NOT JUST NEUTRAL PARTIES, BUT EVEN IF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE OF CONGRESS, OR EVEN MAYAWATIJI, OR MAMATAJI GET ELECTED THEN I MUST WORK WITH THEM.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THIS IS A VERY SURPRISING STATEMENT
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN A DEMOCRACY, REGIONAL ASPIRATIONS MUST BE GIVEN IMPORTANCE. IN A DEMOCRACY, REPRESENTATIVES COULD BE OF ANY PARTY, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE GIVEN IMPORTANCE. THAT IS WHY, YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT ONLY NEUTRAL PARTIES, BUT EVEN THE PARTIES THAT STAUNCHLY OPPOSE ME, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THEM ALONG. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY & I WILL STRIVE TO DO IT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. YOU MADE A VERY SIGNIFICANT POINT AND ON THAT, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. BUT PEOPLE WILL SAY - DOES PRIME MINISTER MODI REALLY MEAN THIS? TODAY, IN BENGAL, THERE IS A KURUKSHETRA. THERE ARE FIGHTS WITH MAYAWATI. AND AMONGST ALL OF IT, YOU HAVE COINED ANOTHER PHRASE, YOU HAVE SAID 'SARAAB'. TODAY YOU SAID SARAAB: SP, RLD AND BSP...SARAAB. AND THEN AKHILESH YADAV SAID, 'THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SARAAB AND SHARAAB (ALCOHOL), THEY SPREAD HATE IN THE COUNTRY. SO, AFTER SAYING ALL THIS, THERE IS SO MUCH ANIMOSITY AND ONGOING POLITICAL FIGHTS. HOW ARE YOU SAYING MAYAWATI, MAMATA WILL BE PART OF A GOVERNMENT FOR NATIONAL UNITY?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: BECAUSE, THE COUNTRY DOES NOT RUN ON THE BASIS OF COMMENTS MADE IN THE HEAT OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN. ALL THESE THINGS GO ON DURING ELECTION TIME. A LITTLE BIT OF SWEET AND A LITTLE BIT OF SOUR. IT IS NATURAL. RUNNING THE COUNTRY IS A MASSIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND EVERYONE HAS TO BE TAKEN ALONG.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: ARE YOU SAYING THERE CAN BE A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CONSENSUS?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: NUMBER ONE: THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YES, YOU SAID THIS.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IT WILL BE FORMED BY THE NDA. TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT, AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY IS ENOUGH. TO RUN THE NATION, CONSENSUS IS NEEDED.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: AND YOU WILL ENDEAVOUR FOR CONSENSUS?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: I HAVE DONE IT FOR 5 YEARS. I WILL DO IT IN THE FUTURE TOO. THIS IS THE CULTURE OF OUR PARTY. ‘SABKA SAATH SABKA VIKAS’.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU ARE VERY CONFIDENT, MR. PRIME MINISTER. IT IS VISIBLE IN THE INTERVIEW. IN 2-3 STATES…
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT MY CONFIDENCE. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE SUFFERED FOR 30 YEARS. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. AND THAT IS WHY I AM TELLING YOU THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: THAT THE PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOUR OF A STRONG GOVERNMENT THAT HAS AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: IN BENGAL, WHY IS THE SITUATION AS IT IS TODAY? SUCH THAT THE CBI CANNOT ENTER, THE COMMISSIONER SITS ON PROTEST WITH THE CHIEF MINISTER, YOU HAVE SENT PLENTY OF TOP CHIEF MINISTERS THERE. IT SEEMS TO BE A POLITICAL KURUKSHETRA . WHY IS THERE SO MUCH BITTERNESS IN BENGAL?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT BITTERNESS. THE ISSUE IS ABOUT THE CONDUCT AND CHARACTER OF THE GOVERNMENT THERE (IN WEST BENGAL). IT IS ABOUT THE THE LEADERS' CONDUCT AND CHARACTER. IT IS ABOUT THE UNDEMOCRATIC NORMS THEY HAVE CHOSEN. THE MEDIA HAS ALSO FULLY SURRENDERED OVER IN WEST BENGAL. FOR ANY DEMOCRACY, THIS IS VERY WORRISOME. AND, I BELIEVE, THAT SLOWLY THE TRUTH WILL EMERGE. THE PEOPLE OF BENGAL ALREADY KNOW ABOUT IT. SLOWLY THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY WILL KNOW TOO.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU SPOKE OF KAMDAAR VERSUS NAMDAAR TO WHICH PRIYANKA VADRA SAID 'SO WHAT?'. SHE SAID 'SO WHAT' WHEN ASKED ABOUT DYNASTY. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH DYNASTY? AND THOSE WHO SAY THIS SAY THAT NARENDRA MODI HAS A MINDSET AGAINST DYNASTY. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM AGAINST DYNASTY? AND WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT 'SO WHAT?'. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON IT?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM. DYNASTY HAS THE WORST INFLUENCE ON ANY DEMOCRACY. THIS IS A DANGER TO DEMOCRACY. MODI HAS NO PROBLEM. I DON'T EVEN OPPOSE THIS (THAT) IF SOME POLITICIAN'S SON CONTESTS AN ELECTION, THAT’S NOT WHAT I CALL DYNASTIC.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: BECAUSE THAT IS THERE IN YOUR PARTY TOO.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THAT IS NOT WHAT I CALL DYNASTIC. THOSE PARTIES THAT ARE FULLY RUN BY A FAMILY. IF ONE FAMILY MEMBER IS NOT HEADING IT, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER STEPS IN. THE PARTY DOESN’T GO OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE FAMILY. IT'S ALL ABOUT ONE FAMILY. THIS IS DYNASTIC. SOME PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM, GIVE SMALL EXAMPLES OF HOW THE FATHER IS AN MP, THE SON IS A CORPORATOR, THE DAUGHTER IS A MAYOR, THIS IS NOT THE SAME DYNASTY. THOUGH, WE MUST SAFEGUARD AGAINST THAT TOO, I BELIEVE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: BUT THAT IS DYNASTIC TOO
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: BUT, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, A BIG DIFFERENCE. A PARTY THAT ENTIRELY RUNS LIKE A PERSONAL COMPANY OF A FAMILY, WHERE YOU KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN BECOME PRESIDENT, WITHOUT THAT FAMILY’S WISHES NO ONE CAN BECOME THE TREASURER, EVEN IF THE FAMILY CALLS THEM, JOINS THEM, THIS IS DYNASTIC. THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT OUT THE TRUE DEFINITION OF DYNASTY BEFORE THE NATION AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE IN THE MEDIA LIKE YOU. THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE EDUCATED ON THIS TOO.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU ARE SAYING…
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: YOU TELL ME... IN ANDHRA, THE TDP PARTY'S ONE FAMILY. TDP MEANS ONE FAMILY. HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM WITHIN THAT FAMILY WERE RUNNING FOR POLLS? HAVE YOU SEEN IT? WHY DON’T YOU DISCUSS IT?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THAT IS THERE IN THE SAMAJWADI PARTY TOO.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHY DON’T YOU DISCUSS IT? BUT IF YOU DISCUSS IT, THEN THEY WILL SAY THAT EVEN RAJNATHJI’S SON IS AN MLA. THIS IS WHERE YOU GET STUCK, AND THIS TRIVIALISES A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: YOU ARE SPEAKING ABOUT CHANDRABABU NAIDU, BUT WHAT ARE CHANDRABABU NAIDU AND OTHER PARTIES SAYING? THEY SAY THAT IF NARENDRA MODI BECOMES THE PRIME MINISTER THIS TIME, THIEN IT WILL BE INDIA'S LAST ELECTION, INDIAN DEMOCRACY WILL BE FINISHED. I QUOTE 'HE WILL DESTROY DEMOCRACY. IT WILL BE THE LAST ELECTION IN INDIA. EVERYTHING WILL BE SHUT DOWN AFTER THIS. ALL INSTITUTIONS WILL BE SHUT DOWN. AND DEMOCRACY IN INDIA, AS WE KNOW IT, WILL BE OVER.'
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHOEVER SPEAKS IN THIS MANNER...
ARNAB GOSWAMI: CBI, JUDICIARY, ELECTION COMMISSION ARE BEING USED. THEY TALK ABOUT INSTITUTIONS BEING DESTROYED.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHATEVER IT IS. WHOEVER SPEAKS IN SUCH A MANNER, THEY DO IT FOR THEIR SELFISH POLITICAL MOTIVES. WHEN THEY RUN OUT OF ISSUES, THEY TRY TO FEARMONGER. BUT IT IS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THOSE WHO SAY THESE THINGS. WERE THE MAKERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION SO NAIVE THAT THEY BUILT A NATION THAT COULD EASILY BE DESTROYED BY ANYBODY? WERE THE MAKERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION SO WEAK-MINDED? WERE THEY SO SHORT SIGHTED THAT THEY'D BUILD A DEMOCRACY SO THAT A PERSON LIKE MODI COULD COME AND DESTROY IT COMPLETELY? THEY (OPPOSITION) ARE INSULTING THEM. THEY ARE INSULTING THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR INDIA'S FREEDOM. THEY ARE INSULTING THOSE WHO HELPED SHAPE OUR STRONG AND PROSPEROUS DEMOCRACY. I REQUEST THEM, THAT IN THEIR BID AND EXCITEMENT TO INSULT MODI, DONT INSULT THE GREAT LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY. DON'T TRY TO RUIN BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR'S TAPASYA. AND WHETHER IT IS PANDIT NEHRU OR SARDAR VALLABHAI PATEL - THEY ALL HAD A ROLE TO PLAY. I DON'T HESITATE IN GIVING CREDIT TO THEM.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN THAT ALLEGED 'MODI IS AFTER CBI, MODI IS AFTER JUDICIARY. MODI IS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT.'
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN MODI IN THE LAST 13 TO 15 YEARS N GUJARAT, THEY KNOW WHAT MODI HAS GONE THROUGH. WHO TRIED TO IMPEACH SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE? WHO MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE COMMITTED JUDGES IN SUPREME COURT? WHICH PARTY BROUGHT IN LAWS TO REGULATE AND DIRECT THE INDIAN MEDIA? SHOULD I TAKE ALL THE NAMES? IT IS NOT BECOMING OF ME. THAT'S WHY I AM SILENT.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI IS UNEMPLOYMENT...
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHO BROUGHT IN EMERGENCY? WHO JAILED THE TALLEST LEADERS OF INDIA? THOSE PEOPLE WHO BACKSTABBED THEIR FATHER-IN-LAW WHEN HE WAS CHIEF MINISTER AND SAT ON THE CHAIR THEMSELVES LECTURE US? THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK INTO THE MIRROR BEFORE MAKING ALLEGATIONS ABOUT US.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI, IS UNEMPLOYMENT A WEAK SPOT FOR YOU? I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT IT. THEY SAY IT'S 'PAKODANOMICS' AND THEY SAY THERE ARE NO JOBS. YOU SAY 'LOOK AT THE INFORMAL SECTOR. THERE ARE MANY JOBS IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR.' THEY SAY THERE IS NO DATA, THERE ARE NO JOBS, UNEMPLOYMENT IS RISING...
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IF THERE IS NO DATA, THEN DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ABUSE? IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE DATA, DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ABUSE?
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THEY SAY YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: DATA...THIS IS THEIR (UPA) GOVERNMENT TRADITION. I AM TRYING TO MAKE NEW INSTITUTIONS SO THAT THERE IS A PERFECT SYSTEM. BUT, DO YOU REMEMBER DURING ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE'S GOVERNMENT? THEY WENT AROUND BEATING THE DRUM ON THE SAME ISSUE. DURING ATALJI'S TENURE, THEY CONTINUOUSLY SAID 'THERE IS NO EMPLOYMENT.' AFTER ATALJI'S TENURE THERE WERE STATISTICS THAT PROVED THAT THERE WERE 6 CRORE JOBS IN ATALJI'S TENURE. AND DURING UPA THERE WERE ONLY 1.5 CRORE JOBS AND YET THEY MALIGNED ATALJI'S GOVERNMENT. THE LUTYENS ECOSYSTEM KEPT BEATING THE DRUMS. IMAGINE, 4 CRORE PEOPLE, IT'S A TOTAL OF 15 TO 17 CRORE - EXACT NUMBER WILL BE HERE OR THERE - WHO HAVE TAKEN MONEY FROM BANKS VIA THE MUDRA SCHEME. 4 CRORE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN MONEY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY MUST HAVE STARTED SOME EMPLOYMENT, THEY MUST HAVE EMPLOYED SOMEBODY. WHAT DO I TELL YOU? THE REGISTRATIONS AT EPFO, MORE THAN 1 CRORE PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED. MONEY HAS TO BE GIVEN FOR THIS, IT'S NOT FOR FREE. WON'T YOU ACCEPT THIS OR NOT? TODAY, MORE ROADS ARE BEING BUILT IN INDIA. IS MANPOWER NOT REQUIRED FOR THAT? RAILWAYS ARE GROWING AT TWICE THE RATE, IS MANPOWER NOT REQUIRED FOR THAT? TODAY, THERE IS A HUGE CAMPAIGN FOR SOLAR ENERGY IN INDIA. IT'S BECAUSE OF BIG INVESTMENT. ARE THEY SAYING, THERE'S NO EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF IT? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? DO THEY HAVE ANY BASIS? WILL THEY SAY ANYTHING THEY LIKE & KEEP SHOUTING? AND I HAVE GIVEN A RESPONSE IN PARLIAMENT WITH ALL THE NUMBERS. I HAVE ANSWERED IN PARLIAMENT. I HAVE GIVEN A LONG & DETAILED RESPONSE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI, THERE TWO MODELS - ONE IS EMPOWERMENT AND ONE IS SUBSIDIES. NOW CONGRESS PARTY HAS MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. AND ON THIS, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SPEAK A LITTLE SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR ECONOMIC THINKING. THEY ARE SAYING THAT WE WILL GIVE RS. 72,000 TO THOSE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. AND YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN A LOT OF PRO-POOR SCHEMES LIKE JAN DHAN YOJANA, AADHAAR, AYUSHMAAN BHARAT, 10% QUOTA FOR THE ECONOMICALLY WEAK, THERE ARE 200 SCHEMES AND MORE THAN THAT IN TERMS OF DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFERS. BUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY WILL GIVE RS. 72,000 DIRECTLY (TO THE PEOPLE) AND WAIVE FARM LOANS. THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT IN RAJASTHAN AND MADHYA PRADESH BUT THEY WON THE ELECTIONS. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT? AND DO YOU THINK THAT THIS GUARANTEED INCOME SCHEMES THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.. IS IT PRACTICAL?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THEIR TRACK RECORD SHOULD BE SEEN. ONE FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS - NEHRUJI SPOKE ABOUT POVERTY, INDIRAJI ALSO SPOKE ABOUT POVERTY, RAJIV GANDHI ALSO SPOKE ABOUT POVERTY, SONIA GANDHI ALSO SPOKE ABOUT POVERTY AND NOW THE FIFTH GENERATION IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT POVERTY. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RULED THE COUNTRY FOR 55 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN ONLY THEM RULING FOR 55 YEARS. DESPITE THAT, THEIR TRACK RECORD SHOWS THAT THE POOR HAVE BECOME POORER. WHO WILL TRUST THEM? THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT...THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE ECONOMY... THIRDLY, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY WON'T FORM THE GOVERNMENT, THEY THINK WHAT'S WRONG IN MAKING THESE BASELESS CLAIMS? YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR 2004 MANIFESTO. THEY HAD SAID THAT WE WILL GIVE DBT TO FARMERS IN 2004, THEY REPEATED THE SAME IN 2009. DID YOU ASK THEM THESE QUESTIONS? THEY STILL HAVE NOT EXECUTED IT. IT'S ONLY AFTER I CAME TO POWER THAT IT WAS EXECUTED. THEY DID NOT DO IT. EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR RECORD IN STATE ELECTIONS. THEY ANNOUNCED TO GIVE THE YOUTH THIS KIND OF BENEFITS. IT'S WRITTEN DOWN, BUT THEY DID NOT. JUST SEE THEIR TRACK RECORD. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REACH TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMY. THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT COMING TO POWER, SO SAY WHATEVER.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: HAS RAFALE IMPACTED THE PERCEPTION ABOUT YOU? FOR ONE, THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THERE ARE FACTS. BUT THEN THERE IS AN ENGLISH SAYING THAT A LIE SPOKEN A THOUSAND TIMES BECOMES THE TRUTH. THEY SAY NARENDRA MODI ONLY WORKS FOR 15 BIG INDUSTRIALISTS. HE GAVE ANIL AMBANI THE RAFALE CONTRACTS. THE COUNTRY WANTS A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM YOU ON THIS. DO YOU THINK THIS PERCEPTION IS RIGHT?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THE MODI GOVT HAS PROVIDED ELECTRICITY CONNECTION TO 2.5 CRORE FAMILIES, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT WORK? ARE THERE 2.5 CRORE SUPER RICH IN THIS COUNTRY - HAVE I PROVIDED ELECTRICITY TO THEIR HOMES? I MADE 9 CRORE TOILETS. ARE THE 9 CRORE TOILETS FOR MUKESH AMBANI AND ADANIS? I HAVE MADE 1.25 CRORE HOMES, ARE THEY FOR MUKESH AMBANI? IS HE HOMELESS? DID I MAKE IT FOR THEM? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? YOU SHOULD ASK THIS QUESTION TO THEM. YOUR QUESTION IS CORRECT, BUT THE ADDRESS IS WRONG. PEOPLE WHO SAY THINGS WITH NO BASIS... SOMEONE SHOULD SHOW THE COURAGE TO ASK THEM THE QUESTIONS. AND I AM TELLING YOU THAT THIS FAMILY WILL NOT OCCUPY POWER IN THIS COUNTRY EVER AGAIN. DON'T BE SCARED, ASK THEM THIS QUESTION WITH COURAGE. DONT BE SCARED.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY FAMILY? THE GANDHI VADRA FAMILY?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: YES..THEY ARE THE ONES. THE ONLY SUCH FAMILY IN THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE RULED INDIA FOR 55 YEARS. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT READY TO ACCEPT THEM ANY MORE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI THIS ELECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT FOR YOUR RIVALS TOO. NOW I HAVE 3-4 MORE QUESTIONS. IMRAN KHAN WANTS YOU TO GO, JKLF AND HURRIYAT WHO YOU HAVE BANNED, WANT YOU TO GO. MAOIST SUPPORTERS WANT YOU TO GO. YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT ECONOMIC FRAUDSTERS THAT IF I COME BACK, I WILL GO AFTER THESE PEOPLE. I REMEMBER.SITTING RIGHT HERE, 4 MONTHS BEFORE THE DEMONETISATION ANNOUNCEMENT. YOU HAD GIVEN ME AN INTERVIEW. IT WAS IN JUNE OR JULY 2016, YOU HAD SAID WHILE LOOKING AT THE CAMERA "I AM GIVING THEM A WARNING". NO ONE HAD THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD BRING IN DEMONETISATION, WHICH YOU DID ON NOVEMBER 8TH. THE QUESTION IS STRAIGHT FORWARD: IF YOU ARE ELECTED AGAIN, THEN WILL YOU GO HARDER ON THESE GROUPS? WHO SOME PEOPLE CALL THE TUKDE TUKDE GANG, MAOISTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE SOVEREIGNTY OF INDIA... WILL YOU GO HARDER ON THESE GROUPS IF YOU COME BACK TO POWER?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HARD OR SOFT. NATIONAL INTEREST IS SUPREME. AND IN ANY MATTER WHICH IS AGAINST NATIONAL INTEREST, THE LAW WILL PERFORM ITS ROLE. IT WON'T BE ABOUT WHO IS OUR OWN, WHO IS NOT. IF SOME ARE OPPOSED TO ME, IT IS NOT A CRIME. THEY HAVE A RIGHT. BUT IF THE NATION IS HARMED, THEY WILL HAVE TO SUFFER.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI, EVERY CANDIDATE NEEDS A RIVAL, AN ADVERSARY. AT THE START OF THE 2014 ELECTION (CAMPAIGN) I HAD INTERVIEWED RAHUL GANDHI. AND AT THE END I HAD INTERVIEWED YOU IN GANDHINAGAR ON 7TH MAY. MODI VS RAHUL WAS VERY EASY FOR YOU BECAUSE IT WAS NO CONTEST. NOW THE QUESTION THAT THE NATION WANTS TO KNOW IS "MODI VS WHO?". IN THIS GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS THERE AT LEAST ONE PERSON..?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN THESE ELECTIONS, I KNOW YOU HAVE TRP PROBLEMS. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER FACE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR YOU. IN WORLD CUP IF INDIA AND PAKISTAN DON'T HAVE A MATCH, THAT TV CHANNEL DOESN'T GET BUSINESS. SPECTATORS DON'T BUY TICKETS. IF THERE IS SOME ONE ELSE, IT RAISES THE TEMPERATURE. THAT IS GOOD FOR YOUR TRP, I UNDERSTAND THAT. THESE ARE THE FEW MONTHS WHEN YOU EARN YOUR LIVELIHOOD.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: SERIOUSLY, THE QUESTION IS...
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: I WILL GIVE A SERIOUS REPLY...
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI...PEOPLE ARE ASKING THIS QUESTION VERY SERIOUSLY...
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THIS QUESTION MIGHT ARISE IN 2024. BUT THERE IS NO SUCH CHANCE IN 2019. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND ABOUT ONE SIDE. THAT IS WHY THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY ARE NOT IN SEARCH FOR A COMPETING FACE. NOT AT ALL. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU BECAUSE...SEE IN 2014 YOU HAD MANMOHAN SINGHJI. YOU COULD NOT HAVE GAINED TRP BY PITTING HIM AGAINST ME. SO YOU HAD TO GET KEJRIWAL WHO DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE MLA, A SINGLE CORPORATOR. BUT YOU HAD TO PITCH HIM AS A FUTURE PRIME MINISTER TO RUN YOUR SHOPS. IT WAS YOUR GAME. BUT NEITHER COULD HE WIN, NOR COULD HE MAKE ANYONE WIN IN 2014 ELECTIONS. SO TO MAKE IT LOOK FAIR, YOU HAD KEPT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAMILY BY HIS SIDE. SO YOU GOT THREE PEOPLE INTO THE MARKET TO RUN YOUR CAR. YOU GOT SO BADLY BEATEN IN 2014 THAT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE ANYMORE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI...LOOK YOU ARE A MASTER OF WORDS, BUT DON'T GIVE US SO MUCH IMPORTANCE. WE DON'T BRING IN OR TAKE OUT ANYONE. AND HONESTLY, WE DON'T PROMOTE OR PROJECT ANYONE. BUT THIS QUESTION IS THERE IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE AND SO I ASKED YOU "MODI Vs WHO?" IT IS NOT ABOUT TRP.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: WHEN I SAY "YOU", AT THAT TIME YOU DID NOT HAVE YOUR OWN CHANNEL. YOU WORKED FOR SOMEONE, BUT ALL IN ALL THERE IS A COMMUNITY - WHO GENUINELY FEEL THAT ONE CAN'T MAKE TROUBLE BY PITTING SOMEONE AGAINST ME.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE. IN PERSONALITY POLITICS, IF THERE IS ONE PERSONALITY, THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE ELSE...THERE SHOULD BE A BALANCE. IF THERE IS A STRONG RULING PARTY, THERE SHOULD BE A STRONG OPPOSITION. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PERSONALITY, THERE SHOULD BE A STRONG OPPOSITION.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: IN A DEMOCRACY, A STRONG OPPOSITION IS A MUST. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. I AM REPLYING TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT MODI Vs WHO. SO THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE IN 2019 BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND. MAYBE IN 2024...MAY BE...A FACE WILL EMERGE...BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL NOW.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI MY LAST QUESTION. I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF YOUR TIME. BUT YOU HAVE REPLIED IN DETAIL. MODIJI, I INTERVIEWED YOU LAST IN AHMEDABAD - I REMEMBER YOUR THROAT WAS PARCHED, YOUR VOICE WAS HOARSE AND WE SPOKE AFTER THE INTERVIEW AND MANY SAID THAT NARENDRA MODI IS AN OUTSIDER TO DELHI. IT WAS 2014. TODAY, ARE YOU STILL AN OUTSIDER TO LUTYENS DELHI?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: I HAVE FOUND MY WAY. I HAVE TAKEN DELHI OUTSIDE. EARLIER THE NATION USE TO BE RUN FROM VIGYAN BHAVAN (GOVT CONVENTION CENTRE, DELHI). ALL CEREMONIES ALL PROGRAMMES WERE RUN FROM THERE. I HAVE LEFT THAT OUT. NOW I TAKE EVERY SMALL PROGRAMME, OR EVEN NATIONAL PROGRAMMES OUTSIDE DELHI. I ATTACH AS MUCH IMPORTANCE TO DELHI, AS TO CHENNAI OR KOCHI, OR THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OR BHUBANESHWAR, PURI, CUTTACK, OR KOLKATA. THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE DONE. I HAVE LAUNCHED PROGRAMMES FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS OF INDIA. I DO BIG PROGRAMMES THERE. SO WHETHER DELHI ACCEPTS ME OR NOT, I HAVE TAKEN DELHI TO DIFFERENT CORNERS OF INDIA.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MODIJI YOU HAVE A BIG CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF YOU. I WILL THANK YOU AGAIN. A SMALL QUESTION, YOU DO THREE RALLIES AND FIVE PROGRAMMES IN A DAY - PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU EAT? HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SLEEP?
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF FOOD, IT IS A QUESTION OF COMMITMENT. I ACCEPT THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE ASSIGNED ME A JOB. I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE FOR MYSELF. WHATEVER TIME THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ALLOW ME TO DO THAT, I WILL WORK FOR THE NATION. WITH THIS CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT, I KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: MR PRIME MINISTER, MANY MANY THANKS FROM REPUBLIC MEDIA NETWORK.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: MANY THANKS TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM OF REPUBLIC AND TO ALL YOUR VIEWERS. I PRAY THAT TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY, TO HELP DEMOCRACY PROSPER - PLEASE KEEP BROADCASTING AND REQUESTING PEOPLE TO VOTE. THEY MUST VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS AND VOTE ON TIME. AND VOTE WITHOUT ANY FEAR. SO I HAVE COME TODAY. DEMOCRACY IS MY FIRST PRIORITY. MY PARTY COMES LATER. IT IS MY TOP PRIORITY SO IT IS THE MESSAGE I AM ENDING WITH THIS REQUEST FROM ME TO ALL THE VIEWERS. PLEASE DO VOTE.
ARNAB GOSWAMI: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN MR PRIME MINISTER.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: THANK YOU.
