INDIA
In an extensive interview with Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, PM Modi explained his bonhomie with world leaders. While the Congress had put up an ill-timed video mocked PM Modi’s diplomacy, calling it ‘hugplomacy’, he explained that his friendly demeanour with top leaders stemmed from being an ‘outsider’.
In an extensive interview with Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, PM Modi explained his bonhomie with world leaders. While the Congress had put up an ill-timed video mocked PM Modi’s diplomacy, calling it ‘hugplomacy’, he explained that his friendly demeanour with top leaders stemmed from being an ‘outsider’.
PM said that he didn't have any baggage and hence managed to easily mingle with the world leaders.
PM said that he has come up from a humble background and just uses his common sense to freely interact with them. PM taking a dig at past leaders said that he is an outsider and hence managed to dodge set norms and protocols.
He also added that he always remembered it wasn’t him but he was there as the representative of 1.25 billion citizens.
He said: “Every time I stand beside world leaders such as Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, all I remember is that I am the representative of 1.25 billion citizens. They have given me the mandate to be here,” said Modi.
“On one hand, we should connect with the entire world, on the other hand, we should keep in mind our values.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a strong pitch for simultaneous Parliament and assembly polls, as he slammed caste politics and decried the abundance of allegations in place of constructive criticism of his economic policy.
In a wide-ranging hour-long interview with Zee News television, Modi said the polls should be like festivals such as Holi -- you throw colour and even mud on that day and forget about it until the next time.
Instead, "from logistical view, the country seems always to be in an election mode now," he said. "One election finishes, the second starts."
Having simultaneous Parliament, Assembly, civic and Panchayat polls, once every five years and completed within a month or so, will save money, resources and manpower, given that a large section of security forces, bueaucracy and political machinery seems to be devoted for 100, 150 to 200 days every year on electioneering, he said.
"If the elections are held together the country will be free from such a big burden," he said. "Otherwise we are spending so much resources, money."
After the 2014 general election, which brought Modi to power, the country has witnessed a spate of assembly elections including in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh last year. Several more states will go to polls this year, before the next Parliament elections in 2019.
Asked if he will be able to achieve his goal of simultaneous elections, Modi said: "It is not one party's, one person's agenda; for the country's benefit everyone should work together. Let there be a debate on it." Modi also spoke about the dangers of caste politics, saying it has been India's misfortune to be afflicted with this phenomenon.
Modi was also asked about the criticism he faced when GDP growth came down.
He replied that "one should never feel bad about criticism. That's the strength of democracy. Everything should be analysed. The good work should be praised and shortcomings should be criticised."
"But sometimes criticism is almost non-existent and allegations are more. Still, it is good that the nation is discussing GDP, agricultural growth, industrial growth and (stock) market".
On expectations of a populist budget on Feb. 1, Modi said: "Whether there is budget or not, election or not, first budget or last budget, Modi has one mantra, BJP has one matra 'vikas, vikas, vikas: sabka saath sabka vikas.'" "Whatever is needed for that we have been doing and we will continue to do it," he said.
Modi also praised his government's work, saying GST and demonetisation are not its only achievements. There are many others like financial inclusion, toilet construction and electrification that can be talked about for days together.
"If you consider only these two things (GST and demonetisation) as my government's work, it will be a big injustice to me," he said.
He listed bringing unbanked people into the banking network, construction of toilets in over four lakh schools, cooking gas connections to three crore families, electrification of left-out villages, ramping up of urea supply, low-cost insurance for poor, LED bulbs to save power bills and environment as the other areas his government has focused on.
"I am only talking about work done on the economic front.
I can list so many things that Zee News will have to run my interview for the entire week," Modi said.
To a question on job creation, he said just in the formal economy, 70 lakh people have enrolled in the provident fund scheme and 10 crore people have taken loans under the collateral-free Mudra Yojana, while a large number of jobs are also being created elsewhere.
Asked about whether he is confident of winning the 2019 elections, he said "I don't waste time thinking about elections. I have to worry about 125 crore people."
Watch the full interview tonight at 8 pm and a repeat telecast at 9 pm on Sunday only on Zee News
Who was Kim Rieul? Korean designer behind BTS and MONSTA X’s modern hanboks passes away at 32
Trade Compliance Meets Cybersecurity: Forensic Strategies for Risk Management
Enabling governance to organizations within AWS marketplace: A look at private marketplace
R Madhavan makes BIG STATEMENT about his bank account: 'I don't know how much I have and...'
Asense Interior: Celebrating 11 Years of Redefining Luxury Interiors in Bengaluru
Snow Moon 2025: When and how to witness February's full moon tonight? Know here
Kiss Day 2025: Why do we celebrate this day? Know history and significance
DNA Verified: Is Rashtrapati Bhavan hosting a wedding for the FIRST time? Know truth here
India's retail inflation slows to 4.31 per cent in January due to...
WATCH: Maha Kumbh girl Mona Lisa starts training before filming her 1st movie alongside Anupam Kher
Radhika Merchant stuns in blue and green suit at MahaKumbh Mela, it costs Rs....
BIG move by Mukesh Ambani, Reliance partners with US company, set to drive...
IND v ENG: Why are India and England players wearing green arm bands in 3rd ODI at Ahmedabad?
Tripti Dimri sets major beachwear goals in Maldives; can you guess price of her swimsuit?
Mitolyn Supplement Reviews: Ingredients, benefits, side effects, purple peel exploit
Gaurav Sharma: Visionary leader driving cybersecurity excellence
All About Details: Turning ordinary outfits into statement looks
Duolingo owl is dead? Launguage learning app urges users to respect Dua Lipa's privacy, know why
Why digitisation is necessary in construction industry and why its adoption remains slow
Meet IIT-JEE topper, who created record in Odisha by scoring 99.98 percentile, aims to join...
When is Shab-e-Barat 2025 – February 13 or 14? Check history, significance
THIS is India's last railway station where train never stops, know why
GBS outbreak: Mumbai reports its first death due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Ram Gopal Varma questions Rajinikanth's acting, says 'I don’t know if he can exist without...'
Who was Acharya Satyendra Das? Ayodhya Ram temple's chief priest who passed away in Lucknow
Old wedding card mentioning IIT degrees of couple creates buzz on social media; see viral post
Chunky Panday says Shatrughan Sinha advised him to 'make people wait': 'If you are punctual...'
UP Court summons Rahul Gandhi on March 24 over 2022 remarks against Army
Indian consulate in Marseille to strengthen 'people-to-people ties': PM Modi
India’s Top 5 Richest YouTubers: Know who’s earning more than Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia?
Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Mittal are working to revolutionise mobile calling in India by...
DNA TV Show: UP CM Yogi Adityanath's multi-level plan for Maghi Purnima
Tejasswi Prakash reveals why she joined Celebrity MasterChef: 'I am obsessed with...'
Delhi-NCR schools holiday: Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, schools closed tomorrow due to...
'We can teach children AI but...': Sudha Murty urges govt to provide funds to schools to promote...
THIS startup gives whopping bonus to employees for loyalty, they get Rs...
JEE Main 2025 Toppers List Released: Meet 14 candidates who scored 100 percentile this year
JEE Main Result 2025 DECLARED: Get direct link, steps to check NTA score and other details HERE
SHOCKING! Noida family held under ‘digital arrest’ for 5 days, loses Rs 1 crore to cyber fraud
Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna shoot for Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar in Mumbai, pictures get leaked
Why are hobby classes integral to Podar International School’s curriculum in Khopoli?
Mukesh Ambani buys Rs 6437604000 stake in THIS cricket team, not Mumbai Indians
World's richest man Elon Musk loses Rs 789330000000 in four days, net worth slips below Rs...
'Need global standards': PM Modi pushes for AI governance at Paris AI Summit
Ashutosh Rana slams Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan-starrer Adipurush: 'Audiences will not accept...'
Ahead of PM Modi-Donald Trump meet, India considers cutting tariffs on THESE items imported from US