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Journalism of Courage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday accused the Opposition of spreading lies about the electoral bonds scheme and said “everyone will regret when there is an honest reflection” that the country has been pushed towards “black money” in the elections. He also said the scheme should be viewed a success story as it has allowed the trail to show who had made contributions to political parties.
In an interview to news agency ANI, PM Modi spoke of his “2047 vision” and stated: “I have big plans…kissi ko darne ki zaroorat nahin hai (there is no need for anybody to be scared). My decisions are not made to scare anyone or to diminish anyone. They are made for the overall development of the country.” He was responding to a question regarding his pre-poll campaigns which have him saying, “This is just a trailer, lot more work is pending for 2047.”
He also spoke about the speed and scale of development in the last 10 years of BJP-led government. “We had to tackle two years of Covid-19 pandemic. In all parameters, our model is working better in comparison with the Congress model,” he added, in conversation with ANI’s Smita Prakash.
“2047 marks 100 years of independence. It is an inspiration in itself and an opportunity to move towards development with renewed enthusiasm,” the PM said when asked about his frequent reference to the “2047 vision.”
When asked about the purpose of using ‘Modi ki guarantee’ across poll rallies, he said: “Every candidate is important in the upcoming elections. But ‘Modi ki guarantee’ is about ownership and taking responsibility. If you see other political leaders’ speeches, there is no accountability.”
“Lately, I heard a politician say “Ek jhatke mein garibi hata dunga”. Those who got a chance to be in power for 5-6 decades, when they say this, the country thinks ‘what is this man saying?'” he added.
In the interview with ANI, the Prime Minister said that the Congress and its allies had used the Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue like a political weapon.Commenting on leaders from political parties not coming for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he said, “The invite to the consecration ceremony was rejected to appease vote banks.”
“…Because this is like a weapon in their hands, a weapon for vote bank politics,” the PM added, “Even, when the case was going on in the court, they tried to delay the judgement of the court. Why? Because for them, it was a political weapon. They kept saying Ram Mandir will be built, they will kill you. It was a way to appease a vote bank. Now what happened? Ram Mandir was built, no untoward incidents happened and that issue has gone out of their hands.”
“On the other hand, I was wondering how I will make myself yogy (worthy) enough for the ceremony,” he said.
Reacting to the statements given by DMK against the Sanatana Dharma, PM Modi said the anger has now encouraged people to move towards the BJP in a positive way.
Healso said the Congress party should be asked what is its compulsion to sit with people who are “spewing such venom against Sanatan?” “…This should be asked of Congress – the same Congress with which Mahatma Gandhi had associated himself once upon a time; the same Congress whose Indira Gandhi publically wore Rudraksha Maala round her neck. Congress should be asked what is its compulsion to sit with people who are spewing such venom against Sanatan? Will it leave its politics incomplete? What is this perversion in the Congress mindset – it is a matter of concern within Congress itself. DMK was perhaps born in this hatred…but the question is not about them. It is about a party like Congress. Has it lost its basic character?… It is a matter of concern for the country that it is a compulsion for Congress,” he added.
Talking about the BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai, he said the party gives opportunities to everyone who is capable. “Annamalai is a very good leader, articulate. He is young. He has left his job as an IPS cadre. Other people think that he left such a big career and joined the BJP. If he had gone to DMK, he would have become a big name. He didn’t go there. He came to the BJP. People think that he has gone to the BJP because he has believe in the party. So it has become a source of attraction. And the specialty of my party is that we give an opportunity to every level, every small and big worker who has the capacity. We don’t have any family-based parties. There are parties (Opposition) that have the mission: of the family, by the family and for the family. And that’s why everyone gets an opportunity here,” he added.
On the Congress party’s claim that the BJP does not appreciate diversity, the PM said: “Bharat ek bahuratna vasundhara hai. India is a country of diversity…Viewing India as different units is a result of mindlessness regarding India. Which part of India has the most number of villages associated with Lord Ram’s name? Tamil Nadu…How can you term it a separate (unit)?…There is diversity. An individual from Nagaland will not be like a person from Punjab. A person from Kashmir will not be like a Gujarati. Diversity is our strength, we should celebrate it. India is a bouquet where everyone can see their flower. That is the sentiment which should be harboured.”
When asked about the lack of a “level playing field” and the alleged influence over law enforcement agencies, the PM said: “Out of these, not a single law ( regarding the ED, CBI filing cases) was brought by my government, on the contrary, Election Commission reforms were brought by our government… We at least have members from the opposition in the commissions. Earlier, those close to the ‘family’ were made Election Commissioners who later got Rajya Sabha seats and ministries…We (BJP) can’t play at that level.”
Stating that the regional aspirations should be given the maximum attention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would never want a state to face obstacles in its path to progress, and will instead look forward to help the state achieve its target. He also stressed that, along with cooperation, healthy competition should also exist between the states to take the country forward.
“Secondly, when I was in Gujarat, even then I had a mantra. The government here (Centre) was of UPA. Even then I had a mantra, for the development of India, Gujarat should be developed. I will develop Gujarat. Why? Because I want to develop my country. There should be an environment in our country,” he further added.
“I want investment to come in India because in India, it doesn’t matter who has invested money, (but) the sweat put into the work must be of our own people. The product should have the essence of our soil, so that our youth in the country will get employment opportunities,” PM Modi said, to a question on Elon Musk’s Tesla and Starlink’s possible entry into India.
During the interview, the Prime Minister was asked about Elon Musk publicly saying that the latter was a fan of Modi. To that, he responded by saying that Musk is a supporter of India.
“The first time voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections will be the biggest beneficiary of 2047. I am urging them to join me as I work for their future,” PM Modi said, as a message to the “honest, middle-class taxpayers” on what’s in it for them in Modi 3.0.
He highlighted that the number of ITRs being filed doubled over the last 10 years during BJP’s rule. “Today over 8 crore people file ITRs, this has doubled in the last 10 years because they have the trust that their money is being used in the right places,” he said.
Ending with a message ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls starting April 19, the PM urged people to go out and cast their votes “for the country.”
“Vote for your future over the next 25 years,” he added.
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