Agencies
NEW DELHI, MAY 7
Arguing that his government’s track record must be viewed in context of the ‘policy paralysis’ during the UPA government’s tenure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the whole world is once again excited and enthusiastic about India’s economic potential.In an interview to Time Magazine, PM Modi said that governance had come to a standstill during UPA tenure as there was no leadership. “… The whole world is, once again, excited and enthusiastic about India and the opportunities that India represents. Whether it is the IMF, the World Bank, Moody’s or other credit agencies, they are all saying in one voice that India has a great economic future.”
The PM said that India is progressing at a fast pace and has again become a factor of growth and stability in the international economic system. “India is now one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” he said.
When asked whether he would like to posses authoritarian powers like that of China’s leaders, Modi said that democracy was in the DNA of India and strongly rejected the idea of dictatorship.
“So if you were to ask me whether you need a dictatorship to run India, No, you do not. Whether you need a powerful person who believes in concentrating power, No, you do not. If you were to ask me to choose between democratic values and wealth, power, prosperity and fame, I will very easily and without any doubt choose democratic values,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister also opened up on the US President Barack Obama’s remarks that for India to succeed, the nation should not splinter on religious lines and on the controversial statements by members of his cabinet and the BJP on minority rights.
Modi said that respect for all religious beliefs was ingrained in India’s cultural ethos.
“All religions and all communities have the same rights and it is my responsibility to ensure their complete and total protection. My government will not tolerate or accept any discrimination based on caste, creed, and religion. So there is no place for imaginary apprehensions with regard to the rights of the minorities in India,” he said.
He was also probed on what Hinduism meant to him as India’s leader. He replied: “Religion and faith are very personal matters. So far as the government is concerned, there is only one holy book, which is the Constitution of India.”
“In fact, if I look at the definition of Hinduism, the Supreme Court of India has given a beautiful definition; it says that Hinduism is not a religion, it is actually a way of life. If one looks at my own belief, I think I have grown up with these values which I mentioned earlier, that religion is a way of life. We also say ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ – the entire world is one family, and respect for all religions. Those are the values I have grown up with,” he said, adding that he steadfastedly believes in the philosophy of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’.
Speaking on India’s relations with world powers, Modi described India and US as natural allies. On China said that both sides are showing greater maturity and a commitment to economic cooperation.
The Prime Minister spoke at length on the issue of terrorism and highlighted the need to the pass the UN’s Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as it will be an important step in delinking terrorism from religion.
“We should not look at terrorism from the nameplates—which group they belong to, what is their geographical location, who are the victims. These individual groups or names will keep changing. Today you are looking at the Taliban or ISIS; tomorrow you might be looking at another name,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India and China have "learnt from history" in dealing with their border dispute and asserted that bilateral ties have reached a stage where they can cooperate at a global stage while competing in commerce and trade.
Ahead of his visit to China next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to TIME magazine, said, "There is by and large peace and tranquillity on the India-China border."
"It is not a volatile border. Not a single bullet has been fired for over a quarter of a century now. This essentially goes to prove that both countries have learnt from history," said Modi, who will embark on a three-day visit to China on May 14.
Modi will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the ancient Chinese city of Xian, the capital of the Chinese leader's home province.
The two leaders will have an informal dialogue on a host of issues before settling for formal talks on May 15 in Beijing.
Besides Xi, Modi will hold talks with Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the China's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC).
Talking about the vexed border dispute, Modi told the US-based magazine, "In so far as the India-China relationship is concerned specifically, it is true that there is a long border between India and China and a large part of it is disputed."
"Still, I think both countries have shown great maturity in the last couple of decades to ensure and commit to economic cooperation which has continued to grow over the last 20 to 30 years to a stage where we currently have an extensive trade, investment and project related engagement between the two countries," he said.
China says the border dispute is confined only to 2,000 km mostly in Arunachal Pradesh whereas India asserts that the dispute covers the western side of the border spanning to about 4,000 km, especially the Aksai Chin area annexed by China in the 1962 war.
Modi said given the current economic situation in the world, the two countries are at a stage where "we cooperate with China at the international stage but we also compete with China when it comes to commerce and trade."
Asked about China increasing its assertiveness and influence on the world stage including in the South Asia, he said it was a "very natural" tendency for nations to increase their influence in the international space.
"I think it is a very natural tendency for the nations to increase their influence in the international space, as they pursue their international relations with different countries," the Prime Minister said.
"I firmly believe that with due regard to international rules and regulations, and with full respect for human values, I think with these two perspectives in mind each country has the right to increase its presence, its impact and influence internationally for the benefit of the global community," he said.
When asked to convey a special message to President Xi through the interview, Modi said, "I firmly believe that the relationship between two countries...Should be such that to communicate with each other there should really not be a need for us to go through a third entity. That is the level of relationship that we currently have."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says poverty was the first inspiration in his life, triggering a commitment "to do something for the poor".
Asked who had influenced him the most, Modi recalled his poverty-filled younger years in an interview to Time magazine.
"I was born in a very poor family. I used to sell tea in a railway coach as a child. My mother used to wash utensils and do lowly household work in the houses of others to earn a livelihood.
"I have seen poverty very closely. I have lived in poverty. As a child, my entire childhood was steeped in poverty. For me, poverty, in a way, was the first inspiration of my life, a commitment to do something for the poor," said Modi, who became the prime minister in May last year.
"I decided that I would not live for myself but would live for others and work for them.
"My experience of growing up in poverty deeply impacted my childhood. Then, at the age of 12 or 13, I started reading the works of Swami Vivekananda.
"That gave me courage and a vision, it sharpened and deepened my sensitivities and gave me a new perspective and a direction in life.
"At the age of 15 or 16, I decided to dedicate myself to others and till date I am continuing to follow that decision," he said.
