Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first television interview of 2018, following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, was telecast on Zee News on Friday, 19 January.
In his one on one with Zee News’ Sudhir Chaudhary, PM Modi talked about India’s growing influence in the world, relation with China and Pakistan, and the government’s policy on Rohingya Muslims.
The prime minister’s upcoming visit to Davos on 23 January for the World Economic Forum (WEF) was also a highlight of the interview.
Davos an Opportunity to Connect World with India Directly: PM
On the upcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on 23 January, PM Modi said his visit is aimed at further improving India’s economic growth.
“India is a big market and also has a big demographic strength so it is obvious that the world wants to connect with India directly. And Davos provides the opportunity for that,” Modi said in the interview.
On Why FDI Norms Were Relaxed
Modi claimed that his government’s move to relax Foreign Direct Investment norms was implemented at the right time as "India is doing well at home in economic, social and good governance and transparency. That is why the world is taking interest in us."
The prime minister also quoted the Ease of Doing Business report in which India jumped up 30 notches into the top 100 in the rankings.
‘World Leaders Find it Easy to Befriend Me’
When asked how he finds it easy “to gel with world leaders so easily”, PM Modi said that the fact that he is an ordinary person helps the other leaders befriend him.
Everytime I stand beside world leaders like Putin or Trump, all I remember is that I am the representative of 125 million Indians. They have given me the mandate to be there.PM Narendra Modi
‘How do You See India in The World Sphere?’
It was a bipolar world earlier. Now it is multipolar/interconnected. In this condition, you have to be proactive and tell the world about yourself. I brought up demonetisation at G20, and soon it was discussed that financial transparency in the world should be led by us.
On GST and Demonetisation
Don’t evaluate me on demonetisation and GST only. We brought economic reforms, built toilets, brought electricity to 18,000 villages. The success of GST lies in the power of the federal structure. It takes time to adjust to change, but the outcome will be good.
To a question on job creation, he said just in the formal economy, 70 lakh people have enrolled in the provident fund scheme and 10 crore people have taken loans under the collateral-free Mudra Yojana, while a large number of jobs are also being created elsewhere.
On 2019 Lok Sabha Elections
When asked about what his expectations are from the 2019 elections, Modi said, it was the misfortune of India that governments have worked only for winning elections. He added that he will prefer to focus on his work rather than wasting time over calculations for 2019 general elections.
India elects us to make reforms, not to win elections. If our reforms are for the benefit of the citizens, then the elections will reflect that, like we have seen in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat.PM Narendra Modi
PM Modi said that he does not waste his time on calculating numbers for upcoming elections and his daily schedule is very busy to wonder about seats and polls.
On Why Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha Polls Should be Held Together
In his interview, PM Modi said he believes that Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections should be held together and that he has discussed this idea with various policy makers.
One election after another, the focus of the politicians gets divided. So let’s just do it one particular time. State’s 80 to 100 top officers are acting as elections observers. How will the state function? Elections absorb massive manpower. Soldiers are on election-duty for 100-200 days in a year.
He further added that continuous elections also lead to excess expenditure by political parties.
If the elections are held together the country is saved from a burden and crores of funds are saved. The voters will also find it convenient to come out and vote at once. Our idea is to create a planned election system. The polling could be held in a certain week across the country at one time.
On Casteism and Politics
Modi also spoke about the dangers of caste politics, saying it has been India's misfortune to be afflicted with this phenomenon.
It is our country’s misfortune. I think politics should be done on development, integrity, performance and the future of the country.
On Budget 2018
Whether there is budget or not, election or not, first budget or last budget, Modi has one mantra, BJP has one matra ‘vikas, vikas, vikas: sabka saath sabka vikas.’” “Whatever is needed for that we have been doing and we will continue to do itPM Narendra Modi
Who Is Sudhir Chaudhary?
Sudhir Chaudhary's initial association with Zee Media dates back to 1993. After a three-year stint with Sahara Samay from 2003, he moved on to India TV for a brief period and subsequently to Live India in 2007. During his stint as the Channel Head at Live India, the news channel came under heavy controversy over a fake sting operation carried out against a school teacher in Delhi. The story earned Live India a month-long ban.
Chaudhary then returned to Zee Media in 2012. In April 2017, he was elevated to the editor-in-chief position at Zee News, Zee Business, WION and DNA.
In 2015, Sudhir Chaudhary won the Ramnath Goenka Award. In November 2012, within the span of a month during his stint at Zee Media, three FIRs were filed against Sudhir Chaudhary. Apart from his Nirbhaya case related interview, Chaudhary was also booked for extortion, after a complaint was filed by Congress MP Naveen Jindal, and also for allegedly forging a CAG document to air a story against Jindal, according to a PTI report.
Sudhir Chaudhary and another Zee Media journalist, Sameer Ahluwalia, were arrested by the Delhi police in the same month after forensic reports stated that conversations recorded between them and Naveen Jindal were not doctored. Jindal had claimed to have done a sting on the duo as they allegedly tried to extort Rs 100 crores worth advertisements from him in exchange for dropping stories linking the company to ‘Coalgate’
In an interview with Newslaundry, Chaudhary defended himself against the charges.
If a government starts chasing any person – a businessman or a journalist – it can make any fake case against you. It can get you arrested; even The Indian Express was shut down by the government.Sudhir Chaudhary
While two of the cases have been dismissed so far, allegations of extortion are still being heard in court.
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