PM Modi on surgical strikes, Ram temple, note ban and more: Top quotes
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Jan 1, 2019, 19:25 ISTHighlights
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the surgical strikes carried by the Indian Army in 2016, the Ram temple issue, demonetisation, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the recent defeat of the BJP in five states, the Congress, and other issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: ANI)On surgical strike
The surgical strikes were carried out days after terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri in Kashmir in which 20 soldiers were killed.
PM Modi, while revealing details of the military action for the first time, said the date of the attack was changed twice, keeping in mind the safety and security of the troops.
“I gave clear orders that whether you get success or failure, don’t think about that but come back before sunrise. Don’t fall for the lure and prolong it (the operation),” he said.
The Prime Minister revealed that he was keeping tab of the risky operation throughout the night and was getting live information. “I knew it was a big risk. I never care about any political risk to me. The biggest consideration for me was the safety of our soldiers,” he said.
On Ram temple ordinance
PM Modi, in the interview, made it clear that any decision on bringing an ordinance on Ram temple can be considered only after the judicial process is over.
The PM suggested that the judicial process was being slowed down because Congress lawyers were creating “obstacles” in the Supreme Court.
“We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found to this issue under the ambit of the Constitution,” the Prime Minister said about the Ram temple matter when asked whether the Ram Mandir issue had been relegated as merely an emotive issue for the BJP.
Asked whether the government could consider issuing an Ordinance on Ram temple, the Prime Minister said, “Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever will be our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts,” he added.
On demonetisation
PM Modi said that demonetisation wasn’t a "jhatka". We had warned people a year before, that if you have such wealth (black money), you can deposit it, pay penalties and you will be helped out. However, they thought Modi too would behave like others, so very few came forward voluntarily.
On November 8, 2016, PM Modi-led government banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, leaving 80 per cent of the cash in circulation worthless.
On Urjit Patel's resignation as RBI governor
The Prime Minister said that Urjit Patel requested (to resign) on personal reasons. I am revealing for the first time, he was telling me about it for the past 6-7 months before his resignation. He gave it even in writing. There is no question of political pressure. He did a good job as RBI governor.
Patel had resigned on December 10 amidst reports of differences between the central bank and the government.
On 2019 Lok Sabha polls
Responding to the opposition's efforts to stitch together a grand alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said the elections will be a battle between the 'janata' and 'gathbandhan'.
"Modi is just a manifestation of public love and blessings," he told ANI.
About the recent loss of the BJP in five state assembly elections, the PM said that in Telangana and Mizoram, nobody gave BJP any chance. In Chhattisgarh, a clear mandate was given, BJP lost. But in two states there was a hung assembly. Secondly, 15 years of anti-incumbency was being fought by our people. We are discussing what was lacking.
On Congress
PM Modi while taking a dig at the Congress and the Gandhi family said that it is a fact that those considered first family, who ran the country for four generations, are out on bail, that too for financial irregularities. It is a big thing. A set of people, who are at their service, are trying to suppress such information and push other narratives.
Even Congress people say that the party is a thought, a culture. When I say Congress-mukt, I want to rid the country from this culture and this sort of thinking. And I say that Congress too needs to be mukt of this Congress culture.
On GST
The government is in favour of bringing construction-related material in the 5 per cent slab of GST, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that changes in the tax structure will continue as there is scope for improvement.
On Congress president Rahul Gandhi describing GST as “Gabbar Singh Tax” and “Grand Stupid Thought”, PM?Modi said “jiski jaisi soch, waise uske shabd (the way someone thinks, the same are his words)”.
On farmer loans
Dubbing the loan waivers announced by the Congress governments as “political stunts”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that a majority of farmers do not benefit from these “misleading” announcements as only a few of them take loans from banks.
In an interview to ANI, he said the solution to the farmers’ problems is to empower them and his government is committed to this. “These are political stunts,” Modi asserted.
He recently described the loan waivers announced by the Congress governments in states like Madhya Pradesh as “lollipops”.
On triple talaq and Sabarimala
PM Modi said that while triple talaq is a matter of gender equality, entry of women in Sabarimala is related to tradition.
The Prime Minister tried to clear the air on BJP’s apparent contradiction in its stand on the controversial triple talaq ordinance and the ban on entry of women between the age group of (10-50 years) in the Sabarimala Temple by saying the ordinance against triple talaq was brought keeping in mind gender equality and social justice and it should not be seen as interference in religious issues.
However, on the entry of women of menstrual age in the Sabarimala Temple and protests by Hindu groups, Prime Minister Modi said that the issue relates to tradition and the Supreme Court judgement that saw a dissent by a lady judge should be read carefully.
On 2018 as a successful year
The Prime Minister called 2018 as a successful year. He said that elections are just one facet of a number of facets. If poor are given insurance of upto Rs 5 lakh, Ayushman Bharat Yojna to the people who were suffering, today they have got treatment, how can I consider this a failure?
The surgical strikes were carried out days after terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri in Kashmir in which 20 soldiers were killed.
PM Modi, while revealing details of the military action for the first time, said the date of the attack was changed twice, keeping in mind the safety and security of the troops.
“I gave clear orders that whether you get success or failure, don’t think about that but come back before sunrise. Don’t fall for the lure and prolong it (the operation),” he said.
The Prime Minister revealed that he was keeping tab of the risky operation throughout the night and was getting live information. “I knew it was a big risk. I never care about any political risk to me. The biggest consideration for me was the safety of our soldiers,” he said.
On Ram temple ordinance
PM Modi, in the interview, made it clear that any decision on bringing an ordinance on Ram temple can be considered only after the judicial process is over.
The PM suggested that the judicial process was being slowed down because Congress lawyers were creating “obstacles” in the Supreme Court.
“We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found to this issue under the ambit of the Constitution,” the Prime Minister said about the Ram temple matter when asked whether the Ram Mandir issue had been relegated as merely an emotive issue for the BJP.
Asked whether the government could consider issuing an Ordinance on Ram temple, the Prime Minister said, “Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever will be our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts,” he added.
On demonetisation
PM Modi said that demonetisation wasn’t a "jhatka". We had warned people a year before, that if you have such wealth (black money), you can deposit it, pay penalties and you will be helped out. However, they thought Modi too would behave like others, so very few came forward voluntarily.
On November 8, 2016, PM Modi-led government banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, leaving 80 per cent of the cash in circulation worthless.
On Urjit Patel's resignation as RBI governor
The Prime Minister said that Urjit Patel requested (to resign) on personal reasons. I am revealing for the first time, he was telling me about it for the past 6-7 months before his resignation. He gave it even in writing. There is no question of political pressure. He did a good job as RBI governor.
Patel had resigned on December 10 amidst reports of differences between the central bank and the government.
On 2019 Lok Sabha polls
Responding to the opposition's efforts to stitch together a grand alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said the elections will be a battle between the 'janata' and 'gathbandhan'.
"Modi is just a manifestation of public love and blessings," he told ANI.
About the recent loss of the BJP in five state assembly elections, the PM said that in Telangana and Mizoram, nobody gave BJP any chance. In Chhattisgarh, a clear mandate was given, BJP lost. But in two states there was a hung assembly. Secondly, 15 years of anti-incumbency was being fought by our people. We are discussing what was lacking.
On Congress
PM Modi while taking a dig at the Congress and the Gandhi family said that it is a fact that those considered first family, who ran the country for four generations, are out on bail, that too for financial irregularities. It is a big thing. A set of people, who are at their service, are trying to suppress such information and push other narratives.
Even Congress people say that the party is a thought, a culture. When I say Congress-mukt, I want to rid the country from this culture and this sort of thinking. And I say that Congress too needs to be mukt of this Congress culture.
On GST
The government is in favour of bringing construction-related material in the 5 per cent slab of GST, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that changes in the tax structure will continue as there is scope for improvement.
On Congress president Rahul Gandhi describing GST as “Gabbar Singh Tax” and “Grand Stupid Thought”, PM?Modi said “jiski jaisi soch, waise uske shabd (the way someone thinks, the same are his words)”.
On farmer loans
Dubbing the loan waivers announced by the Congress governments as “political stunts”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that a majority of farmers do not benefit from these “misleading” announcements as only a few of them take loans from banks.
In an interview to ANI, he said the solution to the farmers’ problems is to empower them and his government is committed to this. “These are political stunts,” Modi asserted.
He recently described the loan waivers announced by the Congress governments in states like Madhya Pradesh as “lollipops”.
On triple talaq and Sabarimala
PM Modi said that while triple talaq is a matter of gender equality, entry of women in Sabarimala is related to tradition.
The Prime Minister tried to clear the air on BJP’s apparent contradiction in its stand on the controversial triple talaq ordinance and the ban on entry of women between the age group of (10-50 years) in the Sabarimala Temple by saying the ordinance against triple talaq was brought keeping in mind gender equality and social justice and it should not be seen as interference in religious issues.
However, on the entry of women of menstrual age in the Sabarimala Temple and protests by Hindu groups, Prime Minister Modi said that the issue relates to tradition and the Supreme Court judgement that saw a dissent by a lady judge should be read carefully.
On 2018 as a successful year
The Prime Minister called 2018 as a successful year. He said that elections are just one facet of a number of facets. If poor are given insurance of upto Rs 5 lakh, Ayushman Bharat Yojna to the people who were suffering, today they have got treatment, how can I consider this a failure?
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