MODI INTERVIEW: About the General Elections scheduled this year, PM Narendra Modi said, “It is going to be ‘Janta’ versus ‘gathbandhan’. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
PM NARENDRA MODI INTERVIEW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday made it clear that an ordinance to build a Ram Temple can be considered only after legal process gets over. The PM said this during an interview with news agency ANI. The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case is being heard in the Supreme Court even as there has been a clamour for bringing an ordinance to build a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
PM Narendra Modi interview video
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On the General Elections scheduled this year, where the ruling party faces a possibility of a grand-alliance coming together and being led by the Congress, Modi said, “It is going to be ‘Janta’ versus ‘gathbandhan’. On demonetisation, he said, “We had warned people a year before, that if you have such wealth (black money),you can deposit it, pay penalties and you will be helped out. However, they thought Modi too would behave like others so very few came forward voluntarily.”
On demonetisation, the PM Modi said, "We had warned people a year before."
On his tenure as the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi said, "I leave it to people to decide whether they are satisfied or not with my work. But one thing, I am not surprised, I could neither make the Lutyen’s world part of me or me a part of them."
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview with ANI looked like a "parody", bereft of ground realities.
"Summary of Modiji’s ‘Monologue’ Interview:- ‘I’, ‘Me’, ‘Mine’, ‘Myself’ Country is suffering your ‘I’s & ‘Lies’!" he said.
"India should be judged on the basis of its response in Doklam. And nothing has happened with India that can be considered as deceit, but our principled position has been that we want friendly relations with neighbours," said PM Modi on Doklam standoff.
"India, whether UPA or NDA government, never opposed dialogue(with Pakistan). It is the consistent policy of the country, not Modi government or Manmohan Singh government. We only say one thing that amid the noise of bombs and guns, the dialogue cannot be heard," said Modi recounting the series of events during surgical strikes after Uri attack.
"If a Congress worker turns up to be Christian Michel’s lawyer, then it is worrying. People should be proud a 'razdaar' has come, now there will be a legal inquiry and the truth will come out. Instead of that, you are sending lawyers from your party to support Michel," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Aljo K Joseph, who represented Christian Michel in court after he was extradited to India, was expelled by the Youth Congress, for which he reportedly worked as the National Incharge for Indian Youth Congress legal department.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the Congress party, which announced loan waivers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, soon after winning the Assembly elections in the three states. Modi called the loan waivers a "political stunt".
"To say a lie and mislead, that is what I called lollipop. Like saying 'we have waived all farm loans'. The truth is that nothing like that has happened. Please see their own circulars, they should not mislead," PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that while the Triple Talaq bill, that aims to make it a punishable offence, is about gender equality and social justice, the restriction in the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple was a matter of 'tradition'.
"Most Islamic countries have banned Triple Talaq. So it is not a matter of religion or faith. Even in Pakistan, Triple Talaq is banned. So it is an issue of gender equality, matter of social justice. It is not an issue of faith. So keep the two separate," he said.
On the BJP protesting against the SC verdict on Sabarimala, the Prime Minister said, "India is of one opinion that everyone should get justice. There are some temples, which have their own traditions, where men can't go. And men don't go... In this, Sabarimala, a woman judge in the Supreme Court has made certain observations. It needs to be read minutely. There is no need to attribute those to any political party."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that those levelling allegations on him on the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France are "weakening the Indian security forces".
"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 are 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 merely to their fate. Whatever be their requirement, I will expedite the procurement processes. I will do it even if allegations are levelled against me, " he said.
"Those who fled during this government, they will be brought back, today or tomorrow. Diplomatic channels, legal courses and seizure of properties being done. Those who have stolen India’s money, they will have to compensate for each and every penny," Prime Minister Modi said today.
"Even Congress people say Congress is a thought, a culture. When I say Congress-mukt, I want to rid the country from this culture and this sort of thinking. And I say that Congress too needs to be mukt of this Congress culture," the Prime Minister said.
On BJP losing five states in the Assembly Elections in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the party is "discussing what was lacking".
"Telangana and Mizoram, nobody gave BJP any chance. In Chhattisgarh a clear mandate was given, BJP lost. But in 2 states there was a hung assembly. Secondly,15 years of anti-incumbency was being fought by our people. We are discussing what was lacking," he said.
In his first interview in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on a number of issues, ranging from the construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya to the government's demonetisation move and the sudden resignation of former RBI Governor Urjit Patel.
On the growing chorus for bringing an ordinance to build a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Modi said the party would wait for the judicial process to get over. "After the judicial process is over, whatever will be our responsibility as a government, we are ready to make all efforts," he said.
The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case is slated to be heard in the Supreme Court on January 4. "We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found to this issue under the ambit of the Constitution," the PM said
On cross-border attacks even after the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC) in September 2016, PM Modi said it would take more time for Pakistan to mend its ways.
"Ek ladai se Pakistan sudhar jayega, yeh sochna bohot badi ghalti hogi. Pakistan ko sudharne mein abhi aur samay lagega. (It would be a mistake to think Pakistan can mend its ways after a fight, it will take more time."
On the government's November 8, 2016 decision to scrap currency notes of denomination 500 and 1000, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the demonetisation decision was not a "jhatka".
"This wasn’t a jhatka. We had warned people a year before, that if you have such wealth (black money), you can deposit it, pay penalties and you will be helped out. However, they thought Modi too would behave like others so very few came forward voluntarily," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed for the first time that former RBI Governor Urjit Patel had informed him 6-7 months before resigning on December 10, 2018.
"He himself requested(to resign)on personal reasons. I am revealing for the first time, he was telling me about it for past 6-7 months before his resignation. He gave it even in writing. No question of political pressure. He did a good job as RBI Governor," he told ANI.
On whether the 2019 Lok Sabha elections would be anybody vs Modi, the Prime Minister said, "It is going to be 'Janta' versus 'gathbandhan'. Modi is just a manifestation of public love and blessings."