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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today categorically said the government would await the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Temple issue as he urged all parties to cooperate to complete the judicial process without any hurdles, while making a distinction in the differentiated approach of the BJP towards triple talaq and Sabarimala verdicts.
“We have said in our manifesto that a solution would be found to this issue under the ambit of the Constitution,” PM Modi told news agency ANI in an interaction where he chose to answer questions on a range of contentious issues.
These included the Rafale jet deal, efficacy of surgical strikes, the need for demonetisation, crackdown on defaulters, social issues like lynching and emerging political formations in the form of “mahagathbandhan”.
Downplaying the possibility of a coalition against him in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he said the polls would be between “janata” and “gathbandhan”, and that Modi was just a manifestation of public love and blessings.
He said the gathbandhan’s effort was firmly rejected in the Telangana Assembly elections recently, as also in the civic body polls in several states. He maintained the BJP believed in accommodating its allies.
Responding to whether the government would consider promulgating an ordinance for Ram Temple just as it did for triple talaq, PM Modi said in case of the latter, it came after the Supreme Court verdict. With the apex court currently hearing the case, the PM said lawyers belonging to the Congress should avoid placing hurdles in the resolution of the issue. “After the judgment is delivered, the government will do what it has to,” he said.
Foreign policy
PM Modi said the foreign policy pursued by India towards Pakistan had been consistent, be it the government headed by Manmohan Singh or him. “India is for dialogue and our country is prepared to discuss all issues but Pakistan has to stop cross-border terrorism.” The Prime Minister said it was on account of his government efforts that today Pakistan found itself isolated internationally on terrorism.
Responding to his reach-out to new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and subsequent cooling off, PM Modi said dialogue could not be heard amid the noise of bombs and guns.
On China, he disagreed with the question characterising the charge that his efforts to improve ties with Beijing ended in a “dhoka” (deception) on Doklam. The PM said what the country got for it could not be called “dhoka”. “We want good relations with our neighbours,” he asserted.
Rafale & surgical strikes
PM Modi said he had responded to charges on the fighter deal both in Parliament and in public and that he “refuses to be drawn into a debate every time someone raises it”. To a question that Congress president Rahul Gandhi had levelled charges of favouritism against him in the deal, he said: “I believe these are not against an individual but against the government... if he has, let him find out and bring it out against me.”
Stressing that the Supreme Court had made it crystal clear, as did the statements of the French President, the PM said media should have the courage to ask (Rahul) to prove what he was saying instead of raking up mud.
As the Prime Minister, he said, he worked diligently and honestly pursued the objective of providing the defence forces the arms they needed and continued to expedite the procurement process so the country’s security was not compromised.
While agreeing that there should be no politicisation of the surgical strikes, he said it was started first by the Opposition, which raised doubts over the deal and also called to question the ability of the country’s armed forces to inflict such damage.
DeMo, economy
Patting his government for keeping inflation under check that directly benefited people, especially the middle classes, PM Modi disagreed with the question that demonetisation was a “jhatka” (sudden shock), saying he gave enough indications beforehand.
On its efficacy, he said, even liberalisation of the economy in the 1990s first resulted in a dip in the GDP and then it grew stronger. He also saw the act of Mehul Choksi and Vijaya Mallya fleeing the country a fallout of the move, asserting the fugitives would be brought back. “Those who have stolen India’s money will have to repay each and every penny.”
Praising the work done by former RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Modi said the former had requested on several occasions to be relieved. There was no question of any political pressure.
Institutional dilution
Refuting charges that he was diluting the authority of institutions, Modi said those who had tinkered with the RBI, Planning Commission and even seniority of judges could not be talking of it.
People expect temple during BJP tenure: RSS
New Delhi: The RSS on Tuesday said people expect the Modi government to fulfil its promise of building the Ram temple within its tenure as the BJP was elected to power in 2014 for committing to all possible efforts to do so. PTI
‘Vigilantism, lynching condemnable’
In a civil society, not even one voice can speak in favour of such an incident... it is wrong and condemnable… There is a gap in our society and everyone should work to improve it. Be it the views of Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave or what the Constitution mentions, all should be respected. It is the responsibility of all citizens to play a role. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
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