I want to win confidence of the people with my actions and not mere speeches: Narendra Modi

Strict, instrumental and performance-oriented are the words that are used widely to describe Narendra Modi's government that won the Lok Sabha elections 2014. Modi is known to be business friendly and has managed to steer the Indian economy out of its slumber. The GDP growth for the period between April to June 2014 has come in at 5.7% and is the fastest economic growth that India has seen in the last ten quarters. During the period of three months ending in March 2014, the GDP had grown by 4.6%. Between April to June 2013, the GDP had grown by 4.7%.

Meanwhile, prior to this, Narendra Modi had claimed economic turnaround in the first 100 days of his government and promised non-discriminatory and speedy clearances to investors and proposed co-opting two Japanese nominees in a decision making team under PMO to evaluate business proposals.

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Modi addressed a whole variety of issues. From India's relationship with United States of America to Russia's annexation of Crimea. Below are some points: 

On India's development and girl child's education: 

Narendra Modi stressed on the girl child's education and also on the need to ensure the safety of the girl child. He said that the dignity of women is a collective effort and not an issue which should be politicised by leaders in his first interview after assuming the office of the Prime Minister.

On India's growth strategy: 

India does not need to become anything else. India must become only India. This is a country that once upon a time was called 'the golden bird'. We have fallen from where we were before. But now we have the chance to rise again. If you see the details of the last five or ten centuries, you will see that India and China have grown at similar paces. Their contributions to global GDP have risen in parallel and fallen in parallel. Today's era once again belongs to Asia. India and China are both growing rapidly together. That is why India needs to remain India.

On India's comparison to China:

It is my absolute belief that Indians have unlimited talent. I have no doubt about our capabilities. I have a lot of faith in the entrepreneurial nature of our 1.25 billion people. There is a lot of capability. And I have a clear road-map to channel it.

On China's annexation: 

India is different. It is a country of 1.25 billion people. We can't run our country if we get worried about every small thing. At the same time, we can't close our eyes to problems. That's why India maintains that we are now in a different era. We are not living in the eighteenth century. China is also a country with an ancient cultural heritage. Look at how it has focused on economic development. It's hardly the sign of a country that wants to be isolated. It wants to stay connected. That is why we should have trust in China's understanding and have faith that it would accept global laws and will play its role in cooperating and moving forward.

On authoritarian government and growth policies: 

If China is one example, then democratic countries provide another example. They have also grown fast. You can't say that growth is not possible because of democracy. Democracy is our commitment. It is our great legacy, a legacy we simply cannot compromise. Democracy is in our DNA.

On the power of democracy: 

I have seen the strength of democracy. If there were no democracy then someone like me, Modi, a child born in a poor family, how would he sit here? This is the strength of democracy.

On India-US ties: 

I have a one word answer: YES. And with great confidence I say "yes". Let me explain. There are many similarities between India and America. If you look at the last few centuries, two things come to light. America has absorbed people from around the world ... and there is an Indian in every part of the world. This characterizes both the societies. Indians and Americans have coexistence in their natural temperament. Now, yes, for sure, there have been ups and downs in our relationship in the last century. But from the end of the 20th century to the first decade of the 21st century, has witnessed a big change. Our ties have deepened. India and the United States of America are bound together, by history and by culture. These ties will deepen further.

On Washington's desire to establish closer ties with New Delhi: 

Relations between India and America should not be seen within the limits of just Delhi and Washington. It's a much larger sphere. The good thing is that the mood of both Delhi and Washington is in harmony with this understanding. Both sides have played a role in this.

On India's stand in Russia's annexation of Crimea:

Firstly, whatever happened there, innocent people died in a plane accident. That's very saddening. These are not good things for humanity in this age. We have always expressed those views. There is a saying in India that the person who should throw a stone first is the person who has not committed any sins. In the world right now, a lot of people want to give advice. But look within them, and they too have sinned in some way. Ultimately, India's view point is that efforts need to be made to sit together and talk, and to resolve problems in an ongoing process.

On rising cases of crimes against women in India: 

Look, us political pundits shouldn't tangle ourselves up in knots by searching for the root cause of this problem. More damage is done by statements from political pundits. Dignity of women is our collective responsibility. There should be no compromise in this matter. There should be no erosion in the law and order situation. We have to revive the family culture in which a woman is respected and considered equal, her dignity encouraged. The main thing here is girl child education. By doing so the possibility of empowerment will increase. On August 15, my government pushed ahead a movement called: educate the girl, save the girl.

On Ayman-al- Zawahiri the head of Al Qaida issuing a video and an appeal trying to create an Al Qaida in India

My understanding is that they are doing injustice towards the Muslims of our country. If anyone thinks Indian Muslims will dance to their tune, they are delusional. Indian Muslims will live for India. They will die for India. They will not want anything bad for India.

On Al Qaida and defending peace: 

Firstly, I am not the authority for doing a psychological and religious analysis on this ... But the question is, whether or not humanity should be defended in the world? Whether or not believers in humanity should unite? This is a crisis against humanity, not a crisis against one country or one race. So we have to frame this as a fight between humanity and inhumanity. Nothing else.

On expectations from his own government's performance at the Centre: 

See the biggest thing is that the people of the country have faith. That trust should never break. The public should have faith that this is the government they elected, and it's trying to work for their welfare with honesty and commitment. That's the biggest thing. If I can win the confidence of the people of India-not from my speeches-but by actions, then the power of 1.25 billion Indians will come together to take the country forward.  

Then the conversation steered towards Modi's personal choices: 

On ways to unwind: Look, I'm not the "not-working" type. I derive pleasure from my work. Work gives me relaxation too. Every moment I am thinking of something new: making a new plan, new ways to work. In the same way that a scientist draws pleasure from long hours in the laboratory, I draw pleasure in governance, in doing new things and bringing people together. That pleasure is sufficient for me.

On Yoga:  I'm fortunate that I was introduced to the world of yoga and pranayama at an early age. That has been very useful to me. I always advise everyone to make this a part of their lives

The interview aired on CNN-IBN. Watch the full interview here