In an extensive interview with ANI, PM Modi spoke about a wide range of topics including his relationship with Lutyens’ Delhi, upcoming 2019 electoral battle, the Rafale deal, Shiv Sena’s tantrums, the Sabarimala verdict, the Triple Talaq bill, Grand Alliance, Congress, possible ordinance on Ram Temple, farm loans, surgical strikes and former RBI governor Urjit Patel’s tenure.
In an extensive interview with ANI, PM Modi spoke about a wide range of topics including his relationship with Lutyens’ Delhi, upcoming 2019 electoral battle, the Rafale deal, Shiv Sena’s tantrums, the Sabarimala verdict, the Triple Talaq bill, Grand Alliance, Congress, possible ordinance on Ram Temple, farm loans, surgical strikes and former RBI governor Urjit Patel’s tenure.
Watch PM Modi's full interview here:
Here’s how various political parties reacted to Modi's interview:
1. Congress calls it a ‘fixed interview’
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Terming it as a "fixed interview", the party said there was no mention of ground realities or any concern for promises made by him to the people.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the prime minister should have spoken about the 10 big promises and issues he had talked about earlier -- 15 lakh in every bank account, bringing back 80 lakh crore black money, 2 crore jobs per year, cost and 50 per cent profit for farmers, GST, demonetisation "scam", national security, corruption and "scams" such as Rafale, and cleaning of Ganga.
"The people are with the opposition and the 'gathbandhan of thugs' should start its countdown as only 99 days are left," he said on the prime minister's claim that the 2019 elections are going to be a fight between the people and the 'mahagathbandhan'.
"The monologue interview of Modi ji turned out to be much ado about nothing. It was about I, me, mine, myself...Modiji, your 'I's and lies' have destroyed the social fabric and the economy of the country, trampling upon Constitutional institutions as also rights of individuals," Surjewala said at a press conference.
2. Congress on Ram Temple
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whatever decision comes, should be adhered to and accepted by all.
"There is no need for an ordinance therafter, as prime minister is trying to deviate. Which constituency is he trying to please. He has already rejected his own party and RSS' demand.
"We are happy that the prime minister is today stating that the Supreme Court will decide the issue and is trying to confuse and sidestep the issue by saying that the ordinance will come thereafter. There is no need for an ordinance, Mr prime minister, that is the law of the land once they decide the issue," he said.
3. Congress on Rafale deal
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Surjewala alleged that corruption rules the roost, be it in the lives of the common man or in defence deals and cited the example of the Rafale deal.
Surjewala said the Prime minister again resorted to "lies blatantly" on the issue of Rafale.
"Prime Minister Modi said there is no charge, but the only charges made are against him....the charge Modi ji, is only against you of corruption and crony capitalism and that is why you are running away from a JPC," he said, daring him for holding a probe on the issue.
4. Congress on surgical strikes
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On Prime Minister Modi's surgical strikes remarks, Surjewala said the BJP accused the Congress of doing politics over surgical strikes, but both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had praised the armed forces for it.
But the BJP discredited the surgical strikes of the past and "politicised" the bravery of the army, he alleged.
Surjewala said, "Bereft of ground reality, 'jumlas' (rhetoric) galore, Modiji's interview looks like a parody." The Congress leader said that "with defeat writ large on the face as also in the arrogant words of 'I, Me, Mine, Myself', the first interview of Modi has put the entire future in perspective that now there are 99 days left for Modi ji for people to say 'bye, bye' to him".
He said the prime minister had become so helpless that he was not even making it clear from where he will contest the Lok Sabha polls and whether at all he will contest.
"This shows a defeatist prime minister," he said.
5. Don’t need lecture on democracy: TMC
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The Trinamool Congress Tuesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying BJP should stop lecturing it on "democratic rigts" as BJP itself has destroyed democracy and institutions in the country. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee took a dig at BJP"s defeat in three Hindi heartland states by saying that the BJP has got a taste of "democracy" in last few elections.
"The BJP should not lecture us on democracy and democratic rights. As BJP itself has destroyed democracy and institutions in this country. The BJP itself don't have any respect for democracy or constitution," Chatterjee said.
Chatterjee's comment comes in the backdrop of the Prime Minister's Office tweet, quoting Modi, "What has happened in West Bengal. A political party (the BJP) is being denied a basic democratic right. Our workers are brutally killed in West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka. Politics of violence has to end. All parties have to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful politics,".
The BJP and TMC, which is a ruling party in Bengal, are at loggerheads over BJP's proposed Rath Yatra in the state. The BJP has moved court and the matter is presently subjudice.
6. Lord Ram is not bigger than law for PM: Shiv Sena
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The Shiv Sena said Tuesday Lord Ram is not bigger than the law for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he has said that his government can take a decision on an ordinance for the Ram temple's construction only after the judicial process is over.
The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, has demanded an ordinance to pave the way for the temple's construction in Ayodhya, arguing that the matter has been dragging in courts for decades.
"The Supreme Court has said (hearing on the) Ram Mandir is not an urgent matter. Modi also did not say anything different. I congratulate him for making his position clear on the matter.
"...(The prime minister says) Will not bring an ordinance for the Ram temple. The constitutional meaning of this is that Lord Ram is not bigger than the law," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted.
7. PM demolished Congress agenda: BJP
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completely demolished the "motivated agenda" of opposition parties with his comprehensive interview broadcast Tuesday by television channels, the BJP said, as the Congress alleged that it was "fixed and full of rhetoric".
Hitting back at the Congress, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said it is not surprising that it was "desperately working overtime" to negate the positive message of the prime minister's comments.
In his counter-offensive, Kohli said, "It is a comprehensive, detailed and candid interview in which the PM has spoken on a wide range of issues that have been in the media space for some time. This interview completely demolishes the motivated agenda of opposition parties and vested interests that seek to malign the sterling performance of his government." Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain, said,"All the false narratives that the opposition was trying to build for many months were demolished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in just one interview. That's the power of truth and commitment."
Watch PM Modi's full interview here:
8. JD(U) praises PM on Ram Temple issue
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With Modi indicating that his government is not considering an ordinance to pave the way for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya as long as the matter is in court, BJP ally JD(U) said it feels vindication as it has always maintained that the contentious issue can be resolved either through a judicial process or a consensus among different groups.
"We welcome the prime minister's comments. It is a victory of our party's ideology," JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said.
