Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get more numbers than it did in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. In an interview to Hindustan Times, the prime minister said the BJP will form a full majority government this time around.
“I have never seen such a pro-incumbency wave during the Gujarat elections or in 2013-14. The wave I am seeing today is bigger. The way people are joining the BJP, from all over, be it Odisha or West Bengal, the wave is very much visible. Our government will indeed be formed. It is going to be a full majority government. The BJP will get more numbers than earlier.”PM Modi to Hindustan Times
Some of the key issues that PM Modi touched upon in his interview were the controversy over the Rafale deal, demonetisation and incorrect job data.
PM Modi On Incorrect Jobs Data
When questioned over allegations of employment data being fudged, PM Modi insisted that people making such allegations have “done great harm to the country.” Claiming that his government has followed the same system and methods used by previous governments, Modi told the daily:
“If you lose an election, EVMs [Electronic Voting Machine] are blamed; if judgments are not to your liking, impeachment proceedings are initiated against the Chief justice of India; if the media does not report according to your liking, you call it sold out.”
He further added that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have accepted India’s growth story.
‘Nothing Controversial About the Rafale Deal’
Dismissing concerns raised by the Opposition in the Rafale jets deal made by the NDA government, PM Modi said Congress President Rahul Gandhi spoke without any proof.
“There is a feeling of abhorrence towards the army; secondly, there is the burden to absolve his father (Rajiv Gandhi) of his sins (a reference to the controversial Bofors deal).”PM Modi to Hindustan Times
‘The World Trusts Modi’
Addressing the issue of air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force at Balakot in Pakistan soon after the terror attack at Pulwama, the PM said that his effort is to make terrorism a global agenda.
“The whole world is fighting against terrorism. Our effort is to make terrorism a global agenda and tell the world that Pakistan is in the business of exporting terror to India. Pulwama has convinced the world that what India says is right. Because of that, the entire world supported us when the air strikes were conducted.”PM Modi to Hindustan Times
While speaking on the issue of unrest in Kashmir, the PM said he did not agree that the condition of Kashmir isn’t good.
‘Demonetisation Done in National Interest’
Defending one of his government’s most criticised monetary policies, PM Modi said that he was “quite happy about the outcome of demonetisation,” and while it may not suit political arithmetic, he insisted that it had to be done in national interest.
“Our steps against black money in the last four-and-a-half years have resulted in the recovery of Rs 1,30,000 crore, which has been taxed. Properties worth Rs 50,000 crores have been seized.”PM Modi to Hindustan Times
He also claimed that tax compliance has doubled due to demonetisation.
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