PM Modi defends electoral bonds scheme: Today you know who gave money, who received it

“Today Modi has created election documents; that’s why you can search about it. You can find out who gave the money and who received it. Otherwise, no one knows where the money came from. Elections happened before too … Today, you know these details through election documents. Every issue may have some flaws. But if these flaws are fixed, it can be corrected,” the Prime Minister said.

He defended his actions in Tamil Nadu, denying allegations of electoral manoeuvring. “Do not attribute electoral motives to everything I do for Tamil Nadu,” he said.

When asked about allegations of misuse of central agencies against opposition parties, the Prime Minister said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other agencies operate independently. “We neither obstruct nor direct its actions; it should work independently and is evaluated by the scales of the judiciary,” he said.

“Currently, ED has around 7,000 cases, of which less than 3 per cent involve politicians. Out of these 7,000 cases, only 3 per cent are politically related. During their (Opposition) 10-year rule, the amount of money they seized was only Rs 35 lakh, while we have seized Rs 2,200 crore,” Modi said.

On the perception that the agencies target only Opposition leaders and not those from the BJP, he said, “Regardless of the party, the process is the same. ED cannot initiate any case on its own; various departments need to file the cases first, then ED takes action… The PMLA law has existed since before, but they did not use it. Over 150 court cases were filed to exempt the PMLA law, and they even went to the Supreme Court to remove or retain an officer. They used the judiciary as a weapon because they know Modi’s actions against corruption won’t stop. They think they can stop these organisations through the courts,” he said.

Modi also talked about a wide range of other issues, from his experiences in Tamil Nadu to broader national ambitions, culminating in a reflective account of his spiritually charged experience at the Ram Temple inauguration.

He said the invitation to the Ayodhya temple opening itself was an overwhelming moment for him. “I entered into a spiritual journey, thereafter… I can’t describe it in words. Knowledge and spirituality are seen as enemies these days. People might even use my words against me, but my experience was overwhelming,” he said about his fasting prior to the temple ceremony, claiming he experienced significant spiritual changes.

He said when he finally reached the temple on the day and stood before the deity, he wondered whether it was luck due to his position as the Prime Minister, or was he representing all Indians, or being a mere devotee. He said it was a closure for a 500-year-long struggle of faith and sacrifice of lakhs of people.

“I placed myself at the feet of him. I just stood there, not moving at all… At one moment, I felt like Lord Rama spoke to me – as if he said that the future of prosperity has started. I saw the dreams of 140 crore people in the eyes of Rama,” Modi said.

Replying to a question on whether the temple opening was scheduled ahead of the polls as a political move, he said the Supreme Court’s order and the subsequent developments were a matter of destiny, not orchestrated timing with elections in mind. “Not even the judge who penned the order would have expected that it would happen before the elections,” he said, asserting that Lord Rama has a huge significance in Tamil Nadu too.

The interview also touched on broader political themes, with Modi advising the opposition Congress to rely on its seasoned leaders who understand the party’s core ideologies to regain its strength and relevance.

When asked about his candidature, initially speculated from Tamil Nadu, Modi said he didn’t have a plan to contest elections this time. “I had other plans. It was not my plan but the party asked me to contest. That is how it has always been. There is nothing like a contest from a particular place… I never did politics with a personal motive,” he said.

The Prime Minister criticised dynasty politics, arguing for a democratic setup. He said he was never against more than one member from a family entering politics. “I do not call it dynasty politics. But a single family controlling a party for its own gains, and the family members alone becoming the next-generation leaders is what family dynasty is. That undemocratic system has to end,” he said.

When asked about his message for the DMK, the Prime Minister said, “They don’t need my advice. Tamil people are all set to give them a strong message.”

Modi said the aim of 400 seats is not an ambitious goal set by him but a wish of the people. But he also refused to comment about his poll expectations in Tamil Nadu. “First of all, I don’t look at Tamil Nadu with a vote motive. I see the state with huge respect for their tradition, culture, and language,” he said.