Standing beside the tranquil banks of the River Ganga in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant statement on Tuesday during an interview with Network 18. Amidst a backdrop of national debate over religious polarization in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Modi reaffirmed his governance model's commitment to impartiality, stressing its foundation devoid of religious or caste-based discrimination. Reflecting on his personal experiences, he shared memories of celebrating Eid with neighbors during his childhood and highlighted his close friendships with members of the Muslim community. Responding to queries regarding Muslim support in the polls, Modi expressed confidence in the Indian electorate's discernment, expressing his belief that they will choose to extend his leadership for a third consecutive term.
PM Narendra Modi speaks to News18 in Varanasi (Image: News18) LINK
PM Modi on His Relations with Muslims
“I have lived among Muslim families in childhood. I have a lot of Muslim friends. After 2002, efforts were made to tarnish my image,” PM Modi said while referring to communal violence in Gujarat in 2002 when he was the chief minister.
“Muslim families used to live in our neighbourhood. On Eid, we didn’t used to cook food in my house as the food used to come from the neighbouring Muslim households. On Muharram, we were taught to go under the taziya,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that after 2002, when his image got tainted, he carried out a survey to know the ground reality. “In Ahmedabad, there is a place called Manek Chowk where people go to eat in the evening. But during the day, all businessmen are Muslims and all buyers are Hindus. I sent some people to carry out a survey in that market. When one of them spoke against me, the shopkeeper stopped him and said ‘do not say a word against Modi. My kids are going to school because of Modi.’ Almost 90 percent of shop owners had the same thing to say,” PM Modi said.
He narrated another incident where, he said, that a woman came to him from the Muslim-dominated Juhapura area and congratulated him. “She appreciated me for my work on getting electricity in every house. I said but I have cut connections, how is it good? She said it’s good because people used to steal the government’s electricity and take money to give us electricity connections,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that a lot of such things have happened in his life but he doesn’t advertise all of this. “My mantra is ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas‘. I don’t work for a vote bank. If something is wrong, I’ll say it’s wrong,” the PM said.
PM Modi Clarified His Recent Statement
When asked why he called out Muslims for “having more children '', the Prime Minister said, “I’m shocked. Why do people assume I’m talking about Muslims when I talk about people having too many children? Even poor Hindu families have this issue. They are not being able to give their kids proper education. I have neither named Hindus nor Muslims. I’ve just made an appeal that have only many kids as you can take care of.”
When asked whether Muslims will vote for him in this election, PM Modi, who filed his nomination from Varanasi on Tuesday for the Lok Sabha Polls in a massive show of strength, said, “I believe that the people of the country will vote for me. The day I start doing Hindu-Muslim, I won’t be fit to live in public life. I will not do Hindu-Muslim divide, this is my commitment.”
“If I give a house, I am talking about saturation, 100 percent delivery. This means, suppose there are 200 houses in a village – irrespective of which society, which caste, which religion – if there are 60 lakh Indians in those 200 houses, then those 60 lakh people should get it. And when I say 100 percent saturation, it means true social justice. It is true secularism. When there is no possibility of corruption. You know, even if I get it on Monday, I will get my number on the next Monday,” the Prime Minister added.
Last month while addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, PM Modi cited the Congress manifesto, saying that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims. He also cited former PM Manmohan Singh’s remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country’s resources.
PM Modi said that he does not market love toward Muslims, and the day Hindu Muslims start doing so, he will not be able to live in the public domain. If people were allotted a house, it would go to anyone irrespective of religion, he said.
“I do not work for a vote bank. I believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” he added.
PM Modi Filed his Nomination
Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat after offering prayers at the Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Kaal Bhairav temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, party boss JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Alliance partners present included Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan, as well as Apna Dal (Sonelal) boss Anupriya Patel and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party's Om Prakash Rajbhar were among the leaders present at the collectorate when Modi filed his papers on Tuesday.
Muslims benefitting under BJP
In a notable shift towards minority welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has prioritized education and skill development for India's Muslim population. During Modi's first term, an unprecedented 23.7 million Muslim students received government scholarships, surpassing figures from the tenure of his predecessor, Manmohan Singh. Under Modi's leadership, an additional 2 million minority students gained access to educational scholarships compared to the Congress-led UPA government. Moreover, the government expanded India's Haj quota, facilitating more Indian Muslims to undertake the sacred pilgrimage. Initiatives such as free gas connections and housing have also directly benefited Muslims and other minority groups, marking a concerted effort towards inclusive development.
In an endeavor to preserve and promote traditional art forms among minority communities, the Ministry of Minority Affairs launched the "Upgrading the Skill and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD)" scheme. Central to this initiative are the "Hunar Haats," organized by the Ministry, offering a platform for minority artisans and culinary experts nationwide to showcase their craftsmanship and delicacies. These events not only celebrate India's rich cultural heritage but also provide economic opportunities for talented individuals to market their products to a broader audience, fostering socio-economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
Complementing these efforts are comprehensive programs aimed at empowering youth from minority backgrounds with education and vocational training. The Nai Manzil scheme, for instance, targets educational and skill enhancement for young individuals, equipping them with the necessary tools to pursue promising career paths. Additionally, initiatives like the Gharib Nawaz Employment Training Programme offer short-term, job-oriented skill development courses to minority youths, enhancing their employability and socioeconomic status. Under the ambit of the Skill India Mission, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) stands as a flagship initiative, providing skilling opportunities to over 11 lakh minority candidates, with a significant proportion finding placement in various sectors. These holistic endeavors underscore the government's commitment to fostering inclusive growth and creating pathways for minority youth to contribute meaningfully to India's development journey.
Comments