Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the poll bugle on Friday as he expressed confidence that the BJP is all set to improve its performance in the upcoming general elections compared with 2014. "People of India have decided. The result is determined, NDA will form the government with 300 plus seats. The BJP will get more seats than 2014 this time," a confident Modi said in an interview given to Republic Media Network's editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami on Friday.
"The people of the country have made up their minds, they want a government with an absolute majority. People have seen 30 years of instability and they want stability now," Modi said in his first interview to a media publication after kicking off the campaign for Lok Sabha elections 2019. He reasoned that the mahagathbandhan was more scattered today as compared with 2014. "The country is not against coalitions. The country wants stability," Modi exhumed confidence.
He added that for a democracy, having a strong opposition is very important. "As a responsible citizen, as a responsible political party, as a responsible PM, I will work with everyone together. Be it the Congress or Mayawati or Mamata Banerjee."
Modi spoke on a variety of issues, including fighting terrorism, Pakistan, dynasty politics and corruption during the detailed interview which was telecast on Republic Bharat channel on Friday morning. Here are the key topics he spoke about:
Dynasty politics
Continuing his attack against the Congress, Modi came down heavily against the Nehru-Gandhi family and dynasty politics. "Dynasty is dangerous for a democracy," Modi said, adding that the Congress has always banked on poverty as an election issue. "Four generations of the same family have spoken about removing poverty. Indira Gandhi also spoke about it, Rajiv Gandhi also spoke about it and now Rahul Gandhi is talking about it... Parties controlled by one dynasty hurt Indian democracy."
He also attacked his old ally Chandrababu Naidu for continuing dynasty politics in Andhra Pradesh. "Even in Andhra Pradesh, TDP is one family," Modi said.
Security and patriotism
Leaving no stone unturned, Modi said that the nation's security is of utmost importance for the NDA government. "The benefit of the nation is supreme, and if any activity is done against the nation—the law will do its work, it does not discriminate,” Modi declared.
Modi also carefully played up the patriotism card during the interview. "No one in this country can doubt Narendra Modi's patriotism. No one can question it," Modi said, adding that he valued for soldiers' lives. "When a jawan's life is at risk, I cannot stay uninvolved... I told the armed forces to make a plan, enough is enough. I had given them complete freedom."
Pakistan and terrorism
"Everyone should have celebrated that we shot down the F-16, but they raised questions," Modi charged when questioned about the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. "Our fight is not with the people of Pakistan, our fight is with terrorism," Modi added.
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"Pakistan has always assured that they will take decisive action, but they don't. I do not want to fall into their trap now... They (opposition) see statesmanship in Pakistan PM's statements and they doubt their own PM. The people should recognise these people," the prime minister said.
Interference in top institutions
"Those who have seen my tenure as CM of Gujarat in the past 13-14 years, they won't accuse me of trying to control the judiciary and parliament. I've been silent all this while but should I question as to who ordered for the Emergency? Who jailed political leaders? Who stabbed their own father-in-law? Please do not make me open my mouth," PM Modi said, referring to institutional interference during the Emergency years under Indira Gandhi's rule.
Focus on Modi
When asked if why he is the centre of attraction this election season, Modi said that is because he has been an active prime minister. "Focus should be on the people and not personalities for a healthy democracy. The focus is on me because I've been an active prime minister and worked amidst the people... People have given me a job, I have no right to live for myself. I will live for the country, for however long they have given me. Because of this one pledge, I continue to go on," he said.
Corruption and crony capitalism
"The Modi government has provided electricity connection to 2.5 crore families. Were they all industrialists?"—PM Modi was at his defensive best when he took on criticisms against crony capitalism.
He claimed that the current government sanctioned more gas connections in last five years than all previous governments put together. "They accuse me of having 250 pairs of clothes, but I say it's better than stealing Rs 250 crore," Modi said.
Emphasising that it was his government that made a law for the fugitives, Modi warned that "all the cheats are waiting for the government to change so that they come back". "Wherever in the world they (fugitives) hide, their money can be confiscated... Properties worth Rs 14,000 crore belonging to Vijay Mallya have been seized even though total liability against him stands at Rs 9,000 crore," Modi claimed.
Rafale and defence deals
Modi attacked the previous governments on tainted defence deals and said that the current controversy over Rafale deal is because of its transparent nature. "The previous governments used defence deals as their ATMs. They could not imagine that deals can be done with transparency," Modi said, adding that the law is taking its own course in the AugustaWestland case with Christian Michel in jail.
