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Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a strong defense of the 10 months that his party has been in power, saying in an exclusive interview to the Hindustan Times newspaper that his administration has reversed the ailing economy and government it inherited from the UPA regime.
"(Our) Achievements have to be seen with reference to the past. In what situation did the people bring us to power? And what is the situation now? Is there a policy paralysis anymore? No. Is there a transparency issue? No. Is there stagnancy in governance? No. Instead, there is dynamism," Modi told the English daily on the eve of a tri-nation tour to Germany, France and Canada. This is his first major interview to an Indian publication since leading the Bharatiya Janata Party to a sweeping win in May last year.
Modi also rejected a growing chorus of complaints from corporate India, which is starting to show signs of impatience with the slow rate of reforms in ease of doing business, as well as the lack of any so-called ‘big bang reforms’.
"Industry has to come forward to take the benefits of the process we have set in motion,” he said. “, "I would request the media to counterpose two things together - the allegations our Congress friends level against us and the complaints that businessmen have; the Congress says we are a government of industrialists and industrialists say we do nothing for them!"
However, he added the caveat that his government was working for the common citizen and not just for Big Business.
"Our job is to run a policy-driven government. Red tape nahin hona chahiye. Ab red tape nahin hona chahiye matlab Mukesh Ambani ke liye red tape na ho aur ek common man ke liye red tape ho, waisa nahin chal sakta (Red tape should not be there does not mean it shouldn't be there for Mukesh Ambani, but be there for a common man; that won't do),” he said.
Modi also sought to explain the recent spate of tax notices – mostly to global companies – that have called into question the government’s commitment to improve the business environment in the country – as administrative legacy issues, including tax terrorism, duty inversion and selection exemptions.
"That is why we tried to address many such issues during the budget of 2015-16 and to correct them across the board. We know that such steps are important for creating jobs and opportunities for millions of Indians. I repeat my assurance to all: if you take one step, we will walk two steps for you," he said in the wide-ranging interview with HT.
The BJP-led government has also come under fire for a series of inflammatory anti-minority comments by its ministers and leaders that suggest a return to the hardline Hindutva of the Nineties that helped revive the BJP’s flagging political fortunes through that decade. The Prime Minister – who came to power on a campaign agenda of better governance and development – has come under criticism for not publicly disavowing his colleagues’ comments and invited speculation that he is, in fact, supportive of such views.
In the interview, however, Modi indicated his disapproval of these but added that he could not be expected to publicly clarify or make statements every time such a thing happens.
The Prime Minister also said that India wants peace and prosperity in South Asia, and that his invitation to SAARC leaders for his government’s swearing-in ceremony was driven by a desire for regional cooperation and connectivity.
However, he clarified that terrorism would first have to be eradicated. “… peace cannot co-exist with terrorism, can it? Peace can only thrive when the climate is right. We remain open to bilateral dialogue with Pakistan on all outstanding issues in an environment free from terrorism and violence. The Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration have to be the basis for going forward,” he said in the interview.
On the border issue with China, which has been a sticking point for decades, Modi said he and China’s President Xi Jinping have “taken a conscious decision not to allow confrontation to escalate into conflict”.
