Call it the biggest confidence vote for the NDA government, and it is coming from none other than PM Modi himself.
In a freewheeling interview to The Times of India, Modi said he is fully confident of making a comeback with more seats than in 2014.Talking at length about his governments priorities ahead of the 2019 polls, Modi says policies wont be tweaked to garner votes, making it clear that the focus will be on development, and development alone.
The prime minister hit out at mob lynching, saying that there cannot be any justification for such dastardly acts.
On the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, the PM hit out at the Congress for politicising what he calls an honest and transparent deal between two sovereign governments.On economic development, Modi gives a pat on his back, saying that big-ticket reforms like GST and other tax tweaks will boost the economy in the long run.
Modi also rubbished the Opposition propaganda over jobless growth, claiming that his government has added more jobs than promised.According to Modi, the bluff on the Mahagathbandhan has been called with the NDA candidates election as the deputy chair of the Rajya Sabha.
On ET NOWs India Development Debate, party leaders and political commentators discussed the claims made by the prime minister over the state of the economy and polity in the run-up to the all-important 2019 polls.
Here are the key takeaways:PANEL VIEWYOGENDRA YADAVFOUNDER, SWARAJ INDIA POLITICAL PARTYI have never heard of an interview which has no follow ups.
Why was the question on Rafale dismissed in four sentences What PM said on job front is nothing new.
Thats the new narrative for the past few months.
The simple story is these were people earlier not on the roll.
Lets not say these are new jobs.
PM wants us to actively speculate.
If new jobs are created then why it is in every single opinion survey employment is the highest concern.GOURAV VALLABHSPOKESPERSON, CONGRESSIts not an interview, its Mann ki Baat.
There is a basic error in EPFO counting.
91% of exposure of Mudra loans is on an average 21000.
How can one person start a new venture When we left the government, the NPA was 2.5 lakh crore, now its 11lakh crore.
Gross fixed capital formation is at its lowest.
Exports are at an all-time low.
PM statements and actions are not same.
PM mentioned about noconfidence.
Has he reacted on any questions asked by Rahul GandhiSANJEEV SRIVASTAVPOLITICAL COMMENTATORIt was a comprehensive answer statements.
I liked the statement on opposition alliance.
But what is the point of asking every issue if you are not asked follow up questions When lynching have been happening PM was expected to be more pro-active.
Despite all this PMs unequivocal statement is welcome.
There is soft peddling of the issue.
There is a clear sense of communal atmosphere.
There is this Hindutva subtext that BJP will benefit from.
Will caste subtext overpower Hindutva subtext That will be the deciding factor in North India.HITESH JAINSPOKESPERSON, BJPWhen the answers are clear you dont need any follow up questions.
You cannot locate economic reforms only on the basis of privatisation.
We are flagging the fact we inherited problems of UPA but we are not shying away from solutions.
IBC is a solution.
People conveniently forget everything.
On NRC, its a SC undertaken exercise.
People are trying to confuse.
As far as illegal citizen are concerned we should have a clear policy.
PM also said our campaign is focusing on development.ANAND RANGANATHANSCIENTIST AND AUTHORIn retrospect, having looked at the scope and scale of the interview, I think Times of India did ask him tough questions.
The questions were tough but again there is no point in asking a tough question if you cannot follow it up with another subsidiary question.
The answers were very factual.
Some of the facts are impressive.
The thing about jobs, the debate is settled.
Its actually tilting towards Modi.
PM has yet again not answered on Rafale.
It is a real shame.