Modi In Bharat Ki Baat: People Expect More From The Government, They Believe, We Can Deliver
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the near end of his 4 years of governance, checks his own performance and talks of the inherent changes that bring about the “impatience” among the people to “expect more from the government”. “Yes, people have more expectations from us because they know that we can deliver. People know that when they say something, the Government will listen and do it”, he said while interacting with participants at the ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath’ diaspora event at Westminster’s Central Hall in London on Wednesday.
Moderated by adman –lyricist and Chief of the Censor Board of India, Prasoon Joshi, PM Modi talks about personal life and growing up in hardship, says: “He was not born with an aim to be in history books. I request you all- remember our country and not Modi. I am just like you all, a common citizen of India...And, I also have drawbacks like normal people do”.
A direct remarks towards the previous government, he laments the attitude of ‘incremental changes’ and remarks that India is “getting increasingly inspirational”, which is a good sign of development.
After leading his party (BJP) to massive electoral manmade in 2014 general elections, PM Modi sought to restructure the lagging economy, sluggish policy decisions amid the wraths of corruption that plagued the previous government. He also sought to reposition India as a most favored investment destination, speculating the ballooning of industries and a vibrant economy based on ‘make in India’. But he faces a more aggressive opposition united against him and Congress, being the main opposition party, raising the bards over the various issues.
“Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism. I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. My problem is not against criticism. To criticize, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happen instead are allegations”, he relies to the questions over the rampant criticism underscoring the euphemism around his accomplishments in the last four years.
Reply to the question from a participant from Delhi that while he believed that he selected the government that worked for him and his Government tried to change systems, but should the changes have been done earlier? PM Modi said: “During the freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi did something very different. He turned the freedom struggle into a mass movement. He told every person that whatever you are doing will contribute to India's freedom. Today the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement. Democracy is not a contract agreement. This is not a labour contract too. Participative democracy makes good governance possible”.
Interacting with Prasoon Joshi, PM Modi said: “I have taken many difficult tasks on my head, but it is possible that someone can damage and create bad things too. But, because of these negative elements, should I give up my positive works? Then, you can imagine the grotesqueness of the incidents that happen with any children in the country. It is not to compare that the numbers in this government and that government. I understand that this is heinous and we will not tolerate this”.
He also spoke about the evils of terrorism and all around security threats. He said: “We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted. Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated”.
Earlier PM Modi was welcomed with the customary handshake by his British counterpart Theresa May at 10 Downing Street. He was received by UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at the Heathrow Airport, London.
