NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, in his exclusive conversation with the ITV Network, appeared confident of winning the general elections. He asserted that the Opposition did not play any constructive role and was falling apart.
Finding time amid his busy campaign schedule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat down for an exclusive conversation with the iTV Network, of which The Sunday Guardian is a part. He speak on various issues—from the Opposition’s obsessive criticism of him to what he called the “nikab” of secularism that the Opposition wears when, in reality, practising communalism, and the work that his government has done while following the motto of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. He appeared confident about winning the 2024 general elections and asserted that the Opposition was falling apart, and “did not play a constructive role of any kind.” He said that “They thought that by their antics, taking up space in the media, they would be able to keep their boat afloat.” But that strategy has failed and now the “public has taken ownership of the election and the results will be as desired by the public.”
While criticising Congress’ talk about wealth redistribution, the Prime Minister explained that the issue has to be looked at from the larger perspective of Congress’ “overall thought process” where the party manifesto, among other things, says “they will give reservation (to Muslims) even when allotting government contracts…” He wondered if “any developing country in the world indulged in such madness”. He contrasted this with his approach towards governance. “Today, India needs to work hard to rise above its problems. We have made this attempt and pulled 25 crore people out of poverty. Where there used to be a few hundred start-ups, there are now over 1.25 lakh start-ups, and there are unicorns. You must go among the people and work with energy, and that will bring the right result,” he said.
When speaking on Ram Mandir and the Opposition’s claims about secularism the Prime Minister said that it’s the Opposition/Congress that hides “behind their politics of appeasement” and accuse him of being communal. “I am talking about those communal parties that wear the ‘nikab’ of secularism and indulge in hard-core communalism,” he added. He mentioned that there has never been any religious discrimination in the delivery of welfare schemes by his government and, according to him, that is true secularism: “I believe that true secularism is when 100% delivery is done. Social justice is when 100% is done.”
He was also scathing about the Opposition when he said, “I find three things common among these people. They are hardcore sectarians, they are extremely casteist, and they are hardcore dynasts. They are so full of these three things that they can’t come out of it.”
Explaining the rationale behind continuing with the free ration scheme even after Covid-19, the Prime Minister said, “Poor people who escape poverty need handholding. They should not return to that state in any condition. Once they escape poverty, they should be empowered to stand strong.”
The Prime Minister also spoke at length about how his government’s schemes have resulted in creating large-scale employment, thus debunking the Opposition’s claim that the country’s job situation is dismal. In this context, he spoke of the SKOCH report, which has analysed several schemes of the government and has revealed that “50 crore people have accrued benefits” from the implementation of the government schemes. He also touched upon the topics of Mudra loans, startups and the SVANidhi scheme, while speaking of the rise of aspiration among those who have benefited from his government’s schemes.