Wonder what's wrong with education of those who deviate from ideals of our forefathers: PM Modi on nationalism debate

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, PM Modi spoke about some of the debates raging on media and social media. 

He spoke on the issues of groups chanting  ‘Bharat ke tukde’ (divide India into pieces) or chants of azaadi (freedom from India), or debates around the danger to democracy or the rising use of caste-based politics in everyday lexicon, PM Modi said it was a sad state of affairs that caste had dominated the country’s politics for too long.

Regarding the intolerance debate, PM Modi said that people should try to maintain national integrity. He said that for national integration, Ek Bharat, Sresth Bharat has been started.

He said politics should fought on the basis of issues like development, integrity performance and the country’s future. On those who spoke about ‘death of democracy’ or breaking up the country, he said that every party has some miniscule numbers of elements who harbour such a thought process, as did some people in the media fraternity.

Weighing on the issue of those debating the rendition of national song i.e Vande Mataram, he said that the issue that people shouldn’t be forced can be debated. But he wondered what was lacking in  education that there are people in the country who deviated from things  which our forefathers had fought for and given their lives.

PM said that he is yet to think about the 2019 elections. Regarding his hectic work life, PM said that his doctors have asked him to slow down. However, he said that he can't live without work and blessings of commoners help him to gain energy. Transformation of common people egg him on to do more work, said PM Modi. He maintained that he has never worked for personal goal. 

When asked about his philosophical take about the stunning rise of brand-Modi, PM said that he is a detached person. Modi said that hasn't become PM by mind, he is just doing his job diligently, while signing off. 

Catch the full interview on Zee News at 8pm on Saturday.