I consciously avoided choosing œpopulist course: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he has consciously avoided choosing a “populist course” and had instead opted for a “more difficult path” of correcting the defective government machinery. Looking back at
Q. No.21: There is criticism that all powers are concentrated in the PMO. Is there any merit in such a view?
Ans: Your question is loaded. It would have been better if this question had been asked when an unconstitutional authority was sitting above the constitutional authority and exercising power over the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office are very much part of the constitutional scheme, not outside it. We have made major increases in the delegated powers of individual Ministries so that many decisions that earlier needed to come to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet can now be taken by Ministries themselves. The financial delegation for ministries has been trebled. Devolution to the states has been increased and states have become full partners in governance through the NITI Aayog. All successful and transformational administrations need close coordination across different Ministries and there is nothing unique in it. We have not made any changes in the Business Rules of Government and decisions are taken by those authorised to take them.
Q. No.22: You received a massive mandate from the people who wanted a change from absence of governance in the final years of UPA II. One year on, there are murmurs that you have not exactly delivered Achche Din. Are people being impatient?
Ans: The 21st Century should be India's century but from 2004 to 2014 bad ideas and bad actions have affected the country adversely. Every day was a new bad day and there were new scandals. People were furious. Today, after a year, even our opponents have not accused us of bad actions. You tell me, if there is not a single scandal, is this is not Achche Din?
Q. No.23: The country is facing an agrarian crisis. The issue of farmer suicides has become a cause of political slugfest. The Government has taken a number of steps to address the situation faced by farmers. What more is the Government planning to do?
Ans: Suicides by farmers has been a serious concern for several years. Political point-scoring through comparing how many suicides occurred under which government will not solve the problem. For a government of any party, and for every one of us, even one suicide is worrisome. I had said in Parliament with great sadness that mudslinging between the ruling and opposition parties would be unproductive and, respecting the sanctity of Parliament, we need to collectively find an answer to this issue. We need to find where we have gone wrong and why we are not able to solve this over so many years. I have asked all parties for their suggestions to bring contentment and security to our farmers. I want to assure our farmers that this Government will never be found wanting in doing whatever is needed for their welfare.
Q. No.24: After getting a massive drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections the Congress Party seems to have founds its voice of late, with both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi attacking the Government. Mrs. Gandhi has accused your Government of showing ‘obstinate arrogance' in Parliament and working to scuttle administrative transparency. She said that yours is a Government by ‘one person'. What is your response?
Ans: Perhaps, she is referring to the fact that, earlier extra-constitutional authorities were the ones really wielding power whereas now power is wielded only by constitutional means. If the charge is that we are working through constitutional channels and not listening to any extra constitutional authorities, then I plead guilty to that charge.
Q. No.25: Your Government has also come in for criticism for its ‘clamp down' on NGOs with the US saying that such actions could have a ‘chilling' effect on freedom of speech and expression. Is that an alarmist view?
Ans: The current Foreign Contribution Regulation Act was passed by the UPA Government in 2010, not by this Government. The steps taken are only to enforce the law as passed by the previous Government. There has been no action taken contrary to law. No patriotic citizen can object to this.
Q. No.26: Sir, you have been talking about Cooperative Federalism. As Prime Minister, what is your experience of dealing with Chief Ministers? How cooperative are they in strengthening this Cooperative Federalism?
Ans: The experience of Chief Ministers with the Centre over many years has generated an atmosphere of dis-trust. “Doodh ka jala chhaachh bhi phook phook kar peeta hai” -once bitten twice shy. Even now there is a lot of mutual suspicion between the Centre and the States as a legacy of the previous decades. However, I can say that there has been a good beginning in building trust. The NITI Aayog is acting as a catalyst to build a vibrant Centre-State partnership to take the nation forward. This spirit of partnership and team work is gradually increasing and the fruits will be seen in the coming years.