NEW DELHI, June 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that India’s efforts for engagement with Pakistan is on with peace as supreme objective but the forces have “full freedom to answer back” in whatever manner they have to.
He also said there are different types of forces operating in Pakistan but India engages only with a democratically-elected system.
To a question about his “uncompromising approach” towards Pakistan in May 2014 and about the killing of eight CRPF soldiers near Srinagar on Saturday, Modi said India has always wanted friendly ties with its neighbours over which there can be no debate.
“Those who have to work from the table, will work from the table and those who have to work at the border, will work at border with full strength.
“Each one will fulfil the responsibility entrusted to them. And our jawans are fulfilling their responsibilities. It’s true that pressure on terrorists has increased, their schemes are proving unsuccessful.
“The intent with which they move forward are foiled and they have to face major challenges. It is because of this disappointment that such incidents are taking place and our jawans are risking their lives and protecting the country. We are very proud of our Jawans,” he said.
Modi said India will have to be “alert and conscious” all the time but wondered with whom in Pakistan red lines can be drawn for conducting talks–with the elected Government or “other actors”.
“Look, there are different types of forces operating in Pakistan. But the Government only engages with a democratically-elected system. Our effort for that engagement is continuing. But our supreme objective is peace. Our supreme Objective is to protect India’s interests.
“We keep making efforts towards that objective and sometimes our efforts are successful. As far as meetings and talks are concerned, we signalled right from the day I took oath and sent invitations for the oath taking ceremony, that we seek friendly relations but without compromising on our interests.
“And that is why I have said that my country’s soldiers have full freedom to answer back in whatever manner they have to and they will keep doing that,” he told Times Now in an interview.
Asked what would be the ‘laxman rekha’ for talks with Pakistan, Modi said “The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan you will decide about laxman rekha–with an elected Government or with other actors.
“So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence.”
Modi was asked what is the ‘lakshman rekha’ for holding talks with Pakistan because in 2014 it was said it will be only talks between the two countries and not with Hurriyat, the second was 26/11 and now Pathankot.
He said because of his consistent efforts like the visit to Lahore or inviting the Pakistan Prime Minister here that he no no longer has to convince the world about India’s stand on terrorism.
“The world in one voice is praising India’s role. Pakistan is finding it difficult to answer. The world is watching. If we remain an obstacle then we will have to convince the world that we are not like this.
“Earlier, the world would not buy India’s theory on terrorism and sometime it would even treat it as out law and order problem. Now the whole world is accepting what India says on terrorism. It is accepting the loss caused to India by terorrism, the loss caused to humanity by terrorism. I believe India will have to continue putting forth its view on this matter,” the Prime Minister said.
Notwithstanding China objecting to India’s entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group, Modi exuded confidence that the country will get membership of the bloc and the process for it has begun on a “positive note”.
Modi said India has a number of problems with China and efforts are on to resolve them one-by-one through talks.
Asked whether he was disappointed as China blocked India’s bid for membership of the NSG and how close it was to getting it, Modi only said things will move forward as per rules.
The Prime Minister said successive Governments have made consistent efforts for getting membership of the UN Security Council, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and NSG
“First thing is that India has taken up such efforts consistently whichever Government was in power — be it membership of UN Security Council, SCO or MTCR or NSG. All of us made efforts.
“It is not only this Government which has done this. This is in continuity. It is true that in our tenure, SCO has been achieved, MTCR membership has been achieved. I am fully confident that we have begun efforts in the direction of the NSG (membership), formally.
“The process has begun on a positive note. Everything is governed by its own rules. Things will move forward as per rules,” he said.
Asked about China scuttling India’s NSG bid and its efforts to get Masood Azhar banned by the UN despite Modi’s frequent interactions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister said efforts are on to resolve issues with that country through talks.
“We have an ongoing dialogue with China and it should continue. In foreign policy, it is not necessary to have similar views to have a dialogue. Even when there are contradictions, talks are the only way forward and problem should be resolved through dialogue.
“We do not have one problem with China, we have a whole lot of problems pending with China. There are so many issues. Slowly and steadily efforts are on to find solutions to them one-by-one,” said Modi.
He said China has also been cooperative towards finding solutions.
“But there are some issues in which we differ from them and they differ from us. But the most important thing is that we are now talking to China eye-to-eye and raising the issues of Indian interests boldly. Three days back I met the Chinese President and put forward issues relating to India’s interests strongly,” he said.
Modi disapproved of party MP Subramanian Swamy’s attacks on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and some top Finance Ministry officials saying they are “inappropriate”.
Calling Rajan “no less patriotic”, he virtually ticked off Swamy saying “if anybody considers himself above the system then it is wrong”.
The Prime Minister’s comments assume significance in the context of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the BJP distancing themselves from Swamy’s recent attacks on Rajan, CEA Arvind Subramananian and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.
Swamy also had made some carping comments about Jaitley without taking his name.
“Whether it is in my party or not, still I think such things are inappropriate. This fondness for publicity is never going to do any good to the nation. People should conduct themselves with utmost responsibility. If anybody considers himself above the system, it is wrong,” the Prime Minister said.
Without taking the name of Swamy, Modi was asked about the comments of “your Rajya Sabha MP” in the context of Raghuram Rajan and queried whether it was appropriate.
Even after that there have been criticisms made against very senior Government officials, the questioner said recalling Modi’s recent counsel to party leaders in Allahabad to maintain balance and restraint in their speech and conduct.
“My message is very clear. I have no confusion about it,” Modi said when he was asked whether his message on the issue is clear.
Modi then went on to praise Rajan, who has said no to a second term in RBI, saying his patriotism was no less and was sure that he would continue to serve India irrespective of whether he was in some position or not.
“My experience with him has been good and I appreciate the work that he has done. He is no less patriotic. He loves India. Wherever he will work, he will work for India and he is patriotic,” he said in an apparent riposte to Swamy’s attack that Rajan not mentally fully Indian.
Referring to apprehensions whether Rajan would be allowed to complete his term, the Prime Minister said though he was appointed by the previous UPA Government, Rajan would be completing his term.
Asked about reports and apprehensions that Rajan’s exit would affect the image of Indian economy abroad and whether it would harm investment, Modi said if one recalled the media reports for three months after he took over in 2014 there were a number of articles written whether Rajan would be allowed to continue in the post to which he was appointed by the UPA Government.
“They said I would not allow him to continue (as RBI Governor). So it was proved wrong.
“It is wrong to say that Rajan is less patriotic than us. It will also be unfair to say that he will not work for India’s interests. I am sure wherever he works or whichever post he holds, Rajan will continue to serve India,” the Prime Minister said.
Asked about some of the willful defaulters leaving the country and whether he was determined to take the cases to logical conclusion, the Prime Minister said law will catch up with them.
“The people of India have the confidence that if someone who can do this, it is Narendra Modi and he will do it. Citizens have full confidence,” he said.
On whether the defaulters had misused the law, Modi replied, “I take this as an opportunity and I will show them what the law is.”
Replying to a question on whether logjam in Parliament has held him back from achieving his objectives, Modi singled out Congress, asserting that the Government tried to have talks with the parties on every issue.
“There is one party which has problem and the whole world knows about that party,” said Modi, adding it was unfair to compare BJP’s behaviour when it was in opposition to what Congress was doing as opposition after running the country for 60 years.
He said many parties though they were not part of the NDA have been supporting the Government on various issues and it would be unfair to blame the entire Opposition for Parliamentary logjam.
Modi ruled out political witch hunt in the probe into the AgustaWestland chopper deal, saying investigating agencies will do a professional job and whatever names come up, “let’s see”.
However, he maintained that a “sin” has been committed and those behind them have had a “big protective cover”.
“The case about Agusta helicopters. I can’t deny it and I believe that we have the right to doubt that people behind this are very experienced.
“They have perfectly practiced the art of doing wrong deeds. They are very experienced and knowledgeable. And one can also smell the fact that such a thing wouldn’t have been done without a big protective shield. Now, agencies are probing. Let’s see how far the probe goes,” he said.
He was asked about a feeling that there is some kind of a political witch hunt while it could not also have been done without political patronage.
“There should be no targeting (of individuals). Nor does my Government do it,” he said.
“A sin has been committed. How was it done, who did it and how much was done. Probe agencies will find out in a professional way. Whatever names come out, let’s see,” he said.
Talking about the web of corruption in defence deals, Modi said, “There are many things which are not visible. One can’t imagine the difficulty I am experiencing in taking out things from dirt. One who is working there knows the amount of dirt that exists and how certain things have been caught in a web. There are certain powers behind it.”
On the stalled GST bill, Modi said the Congress has made it a prestige issue but expressed confidence that the evolving arithmetic in Rajya Sabha would ensure that the legislation would be passed soon.
“GST is beneficial for the poor people of the states represented by them, because those states will economically benefit the most from GST…This is why be it Mamata Banerjee, be it Nitish Kumar, be it Akhilesh Yadav or Naveen Patnaik, all these States want the GST bill to be passed at the earliest.
“There is just one group which has made it the issue of prestige. Now the kind of arithmetic which is working out, I hope that this decision is passed in favour of the poor,” he said.
Modi said only the Congress can answer why it has made the Bill a prestige issue.
Referring to the discussions he had with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Modi said he had made all efforts and held talks at every level.
“…But despite this, I will keep trying. I am ready to convince them in which ever way possible. If I have to convince someone over a cup of tea at their house, I am even ready for that. I have no problem. My only aim is the welfare of the poor of my country and the poor of states like Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
To a question on the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh and whether he would ensure that there would be no communal agenda, the Prime Minister said development would be the focus and that is the way the country would progress.
“It’s my conviction, it’s my commitment. You must have seen during the 2014 elections that I fought elections on the issue of development. The new generation of the country only believes in development. I believe that solution to all problems is in development.
On hotheads triggering communal tensions, he said the media should not make heroes out of those people who make such comments.
“Don’t make them heroes, they will stop. Why do you make them so big? I see such statements by people on TV, whose faces I haven’t even seen and they end up becoming spokesmen on TV,” he said.
Conceding “there have been a lot of problems” in Parliament because of disruptions, he blamed the Congress saying a party which has been in power for 60 years and which knows nitty gritties cannot behave in a way a new opposition party behaves.
“A party which hasn’t been in power or hasn’t seen anything, could behave in this way. For example, we are in power now, and consider in 2040 we become the Opposition party. So, in 2040 we can’t have the same conduct as the one we had in 2009 or 2010,” he said. (PTI)
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