Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condemned violence against Dalits and accused the “thekedars’ of the community of giving political colour to the social problem to create tensions. Asking politicians to avoid making irresponsible statements on these issues, he said he is committed to the welfare of Dalits and other oppressed sections of the society.
While asserting that he “never opened file to settle political score”, Modi said that the BJP will fight UP elections on development plank.
Claiming that some people cannot digest that “Modi is pro-Dalit,” the PM said, “Ever since I celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar... Many people felt that Modi is Ambedkar’s follower. They started having problems.”
He condemned the incidents of violence against Dalits, saying it did not suit any civilised society. “I want to tell politicians, including the leaders of my own party, that there should be no irresponsible statements against any person or community. The country’s unity, social unity and equality should not be affected. We should be extra cautious,” said Modi.
Noting that there are many Dalits who are BJP MPs and MlAs in the country, he said, “Those, who consider themselves as “thekedar” (self-appointed champions) of some special section and want to create tension in the society, could not digest that Modi is pro-Dalit...”
Insisting that he was committed to the welfare of Dalits, victims, oppressed, deprived, tribals and women, the Prime Minister said, “Those facing trouble because of this are creating problems and levelling baseless charges against me.”
Talking to Network18’s Group Editor Rahul Joshi, Prime MInister said, “Those who have poisoned this country in the name of casteism, they should stop giving political colour to a social problem.”
The Prime Minister said there should never be any violence against Dalits and added that the country has full faith that “our agenda is development only”. “There is no confusion among people of the country. But those who never wanted that such a Government is formed, those who never wanted that previous government should go, their problems are going on.”
“The issue of development is our agenda and it will remain our agenda. It is not a political agenda. It is my conviction.”
“If country wants to get rid of poverty, then there needs to be development. We need to empower poor people of the country,” said Modi.
Speaking of the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, the Prime Minister said voters have to choose between the BJP’s development agenda and the Opposition’s caste and community led vote bank politics.
“The poison of casteism and communal vote bank has caused enough damage in our country. The biggest obstacle to strengthening our democracy is the vote-bank politics. There was no atmosphere of vote-bank politics in last general elections, there was the atmosphere of development of politics. After 30 years people of section of our society unitedly voted for a majority Government. An entire section of our society has made a shift. It’s possible that the people of UP will do a similar thing for betterment of UP, they will vote keeping development in their mind.”
The Prime Minister said he has never nurtured thoughts of carrying out vendetta against his political opponents. “First, from a political standpoint, I have neither thought about this nor will I do so in the future. I have been a State CM for 14 years. And history is testimony that I have never opened any file due to political considerations. I have never been accused of this either. It has been over two years here too, the Government has given no instruction to open any file. The law will take its own course. I have no right to indulge in any cover up. You saying that we haven’t spared any dynasty isn’t correct. Second point, the first decision of my first Cabinet immediately after assuming office...a matter stuck for four years in the previous regime... a matter that was raised by the SC also...the matter of setting up an SIT on the issue of black money. We have constituted the SIT, it is doing its work also. The SC is monitoring the progress also. Another important work that we have done is to have such a strong black money law that no one dare send black money abroad. So this is a job that we have done. No new black money.”
Referring to reports of differences between the executive and the judiciary, Modi describes it as a “totally wrong perception”.
On his commitment to the judiciary, Modi says, “This Government goes by rules, law and the Constitution. There is no scope for any confrontation or tension with any constitutional institution. There must be as much warmth with judiciary as needed for constitutional decorum. I try my best to maintain as much decorum as possible.”
On the economic front, the Prime Minister is enthused by the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, terming it as “the biggest tax reform”. “This reform will bring a big change in India. Very few people in the country pay taxes. Some people pay taxes because they are patriotic, they want to do something for the country. Some pay taxes because they don’t want to break the law. Some pay to avoid any trouble. But most don’t pay because the process is so complicated, they think they might get stuck and won’t be able to come out. GST will simplify tax payments so much that anyone who wants to contribute to the country will come forward. Secondly, today if you go and eat at a hotel, the bill will come with this cess, that cess... And people send on Whatsapp, so much bill and so much cess... all this will end.”
Modi said when he came to power, there was a negative atmosphere and that had an echo effect. The country’s traders and industrialists had started looking out. “There was a paralysis in Government. On one hand it was this situation, and on the other we had to face two successive droughts. Third, there was a slowdown in the global economy. So there were a series of challenges,” he said.
The Prime Minister outlined a series of steps to revive the economy: “First of all, in our country, whatever is talked about is seen to be reform. If it isn’t talked about, it isn’t seen as reform. It shows our ignorance. Actually, reform to transform. I say in my Government: Reform, Perform and Transform. And since I am sitting for an interview, I would say Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform.”
Modi said he wanted to place a White Paper on the country’s economy before presenting his Government’s first Budget but he did not do so because it could have hit the stock market and painted gloomy scenario about Indian economy at the global level.
The Prime Minister said he prefers the full route over a short-cut to economic revival.
The Prime Minister perked up when asked how he saw himself portrayed in India’s history: “Why should the person who loves to live in his present worry about historyIJ One must not make that mistake in one’s life. Unfortunately, in our country, Governments, political parties, leaders always tried hard to make their own image. What if we had dedicated to build the image of our country rather than our ownIJ Image of this country is the unending legacy of 1.25 billion people. Modi is just one of those 1.25 billion Indians, nothing more. Modi’s identity must get lost among those 1.25 billion people. There will be no greater joy if Modi is lost in the pages of history.”