‘Haven’t Had the Time to Watch NaMo TV’: PM Modi in Interview

From Congress manifesto to controversy over NaMo TV, PM Modi touched upon various issues in his latest interview.

From Congress manifesto to the situation in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on various issues ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

(Photo: The Quint)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview to ABP News on Friday, 5 April, took a dig at the Congress party’s manifesto, calling it a “disappointment,” and saying it spoke the “tukde tukde gang's bhasha.”

He accused the Rahul Gandhi-led party of taking a shortcut in its manifesto.

“I was pained that Congress said such things in its manifesto about national security. It has insulted the Indian Army. Its manifesto was speaking <i>tukde tukde</i> gang’s language.”

PM Narendra Modi

The prime minister spoke to ABP News, days after a similar interview to Republic TV.

When the interviewers mentioned the controversy around the legality and ownership of NaMo TV, the prime minister responded with:

“Yeah, some people are running it. I haven’t been able to watch it.”

PM Narendra Modi

The interviewers did not ask a follow-up question.

A week before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the PM also asserted that there's a "pro-incumbency wave" in the country.

On BJP-PDP Alliance

Speaking about why the BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir was called off, Modi claimed that the Mehbooba Mufti-led party did not want the panchayats in the state to be empowered.

“Mufti sahib was the mature leader when we formed the alliance. Milaawat waala karyakram tha humaara ek tarah. We wanted panchayat polls to be held and funds to be given to panchayats. But the PDP didn't want that. So we decided to part ways, and panchayat polls were also held,” said Modi, in the interview.

On Sedition Law

While the Congress has promised to quash the sedition laws if they come to power, PM Modi claimed that they were the ones who had registered cases of sedition in Tamil Nadu.

“We have ended 1,400 laws in the country... Congress party had registered cases of sedition during the protests against nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.”

PM Narendra Modi

He added that one needs to maintain trust in the judicial system.

On Imran Khan’s Performance

Deflecting a question on Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s performance, Modi said that it should be left to the people of the country.

“You don’t know who runs the country in Pakistan – whether the government, ISI, military, or those sitting outside the country. They have to stop exporting terrorism. Look at China, we have differences, but we are still progressing,” Modi said.

The controversy around what was PM Modi doing when the Pulwama terror attack took place on 14 February was also brought up during the interview, to which he responded saying that “nobody would believe” in the allegations that were levelled against him.

“Nobody will believe in these allegations. I get very sad by such allegations.”

PM Narendra Modi

On Rahul Gandhi Contesting from Two Seats

When asked about his thoughts on Rahul Gandhi fighting the Lok Sabha elections from two constituencies, Modi said that the BJP wanted to know why the Congress president was running away from his home seat Amethi.

“The Congress has split the country, they have made Andhra Pradesh and Telangana fight... The media itself is saying that Rahul Gandhi has gone because he’s become weak in Amethi. We are not questioning why he’s contesting in two seats, we are questioning why he has run away from Amethi. The BJP has full right to question the latter.”

PM Narendra Modi

On Relations With Indian Muslims

PM Modi said that when the Manmohan Singh government sent the Sachar Committee to Gujarat, it reportedly asked him what he had done for the development of Muslims.

“I said, we haven’t done anything for Muslims, and won’t do anything in the future. (But) I also said, we haven’t done anything for Hindus, and won’t do anything in the future. Instead, my slogan is <i>‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’</i>. All my schemes are following that mantra.”

PM Narendra Modi

On Notebandi

Asked about the controversial demonetisation announcement of November 2016, Modi said the move, along with others, has helped the country advance towards a culture of honesty.

"The formal economy has been advanced, crores of undisclosed income has been found, benami properties have been seized, etc," the PM argued, while listing his achievements.