"Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye": 18 Highlights From PM Modi's 78-Minute-Long ANI Interview

In an exclusive interview with ANI's Smita Prakash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed various matters from domestic politics to geopolitics and his plan for the future of India. Here are key highlights:

1. 2024 different from 2047: Modi asked not to confuse between 2024 and 2047. While 2047 is an inspiring milestone when India will complete 100 years of independence, 2024 should not be taken lightly and instead be made a celebration of democracy, he said.

2. Congress v/s BJP: The PM said that the country saw five-six decades of Congress rule, one decade of his rule and his rule performs better in every parameter better. He asserted that if there are some shortages, they are not in efforts.

Modi highlighted that of his tenure, two years were spent fighting with Covid, but despite that, he was able to bring a comprehensive and inclusive development. He said that in his next term pace and scale will be increased.

3. "Kisiko darne ki zaroorat nahin hai": On being asked why he claims that the last 10 years were just a trailer, Modi said that his decisions neither intend to create fear nor suppress anyone.

"Nobody needs to be afraid... I just do not want to waste time. I have done most I could but still, many things are left. I want to fulfill the aspirations of every family," the PM said

4. Future plan: Modi said that election time should not be a vacation period for officers and hence he has made a 100-day plan. He said that there are three parts of his planning -- BJP manifesto, next 25 years and the first 100 days.

The PM asserted that before 2019 election also, he gave a 100-day plan and as a result, he was able to execute the abrogation of Article 370, Triple Talaq Bill, UAPA bill, banks merger and start cattle vaccination worth Rs 15,000 crore in first 100 days.

Modi said that he took suggestions from various people and with Artificial intelligence's (AI) help, he made it into a subject-wise 25 years of planning. "Documentation is undergoing during the election period. After elections, it will be sent to states. Then NITI Aayog discussion will happened and it will get finalised after meeting with CMs," he said.

5. Modi ki guarantee: On the question that does Modi ki guarantee mean that candidates are not important, Modi said, "Not just candidate, every voter, every booth worker is important. Such huge election cannot be conducted without them."

He said that by Modi ki guarantee he means that unlike other leaders who give contradictory statements, one should take ownership like our tradition of "pran jay par vachan na jaye" (life can be given to fulfill commitments).

6. Politicisation of Ram Mandir: "Who politicised Ram Janmabhoomi issue? When our party was not born, the issue could be resolved at that time. During partition, it could be decided. But this was kept pending to be used as a weapon for vote bank politics," Modi said.

He alleged that the opposition even tried no judgment came out of the issue but the due judicial process was followed. "From Somnath till now, they have negativity against India's soul, faith, belief," Modi said.

"What was the problem with Somnath? There were no BJP, no RSS, no Jan Sangh, why you didn't go then," the PM questioned Jawaharlal Nehru distancing himself from the event.

7. Ram Mandir: On Congress declining invitation to Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, Modi said, "Those who struggled for Ram Mandir, went to inite them forgetting everything and inviting, but when you decline that, it shows vote bank is everything for you."

He shared about his 11-day anushthan ahead of the Pran Pratistha, "I took advice from saints and experts what needs to be followed. For 11 days, I was on coconut water, slept on the floor, went to those places where Lord Ram went, read Kamba Ramayan."

Modi said that he was very serious about Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha for four reasons, one, the struggle for the temple, the long judicial process, ASI findings and the contribution of Indians to the temple construction.

8. On South India: Modi said that five generations of BJP have contributed to build the party's base in Tamil Nadu. He said that disappointed by Congress, people went to regional parties but now disappointed with them also, especially after seeing BJP's government model.

He expects the "anger against DMK to be diverted positively in favour of the BJP." He praised TamilNadu BJP president Annamalai for being articulate and young, who joined BJP after leaving a prestigious IPS job.

9. On anti-Sanatana remarks: Modi said the DMK was born on an anti-Sanatana Dharma stance but the real question is to the Congress that why it is in a political alliance with the DMK.

"Has it lost its original character? Constituent Assembly had most members of Congress' ideology. The first page of the constitution has an image of Sanatana," Modi said referring to Lord Ram's image.

10. North-South divide: Modi said that India is full of diversity but seeing this as fragments is a misunderstanding. He said that when the maximum villages with Ram in their names are in Tamil Nadu, then how can one say that north and south India are different?

The PM asserted that regional aspirations should be given importance, one can't reject that. "I know what a CM expects from Centre, I have faced that. I will clear obstacles," Modi said asserting the need for competitive cooperative federalism.

11. On G20: "When Global good is in mind, there are no personal ifs and buts, you can take the world onboard," Modi said on bringing all countries to agree on the G20 declaration in the first session of the second day of the summit.

"I wanted to surprise the negativists. As the Silk route evolved, it will have a similar impact. Gulf countries, US, Europe all are needed. I brought Saudi king to handshake with (US president) Biden because I have friendship with both of them," Modi said.

12. On his approach to diplomacy: "If diplomacy is confined to protocols, we can't perform. Diplomacy's power is in the informal approach. Protocol is positioning.," Modi said citing the presence of SAARC countries in his oath ceremony in 2014.

"My first day was disruptive as I went out of protocol to greet SAARC leaders. My focus was on performance and I succeeded," the PM said. He said that Neighbourhood First and Act East for ASEAN countries are his policies since day one.

"Neighbours are happy. We helped every neighbour during Covid or natural calamities, we helped Sri Lanka during its crisis... China, Pakistan and Maldives are influenced by their internal politics," Modi said.

13. On democarcy: Modi said that one has to research on terminology and conclusion of those rating agencies who judge Indian democracy to be poor. "There are 6 lakh Panchayats, they have regular elections, multiple parties have governments in states," Modi said questioning the information deficit of these agencies.

14. On electoral bonds: "I wanted to get rid of black money and develop transparency in political funding. We found a way, we didn't claim it was perfect. We eliminated Rs 1,000 and Rs 2000 notes that were widely used in elections," Modi said.

He remembered the 1990s when the BJP lacked political funding because they made a policy to receive money only through cheques but the donors feared an action as the cheque would put it into accounts.

Modi said that electoral bonds are a success story as it formed a money trail, otherwise which system had the power to find who gave how much to whom. He said that the matter should be discussion.

The PM countered narrative that companies donated after ED/CBI action by saying, "3,000 companies donated via electoral bonds. Of them 26 faced action. Of them 16 bought bonds when raid happened but only 37 per cent amount was given to BJP, 63 per cent to opposition parties."

15. On influence on agencies: "ED, CBI, IT Department, Election Commission, none were formed by us. Instead, we brought election reforms, otherwise Election Commissioners would become Rajya Sabha MP or Congress candidates," Modi said.

He said that the opposition is just searching reasons for its loss by referring to Hindi idiom, "Naach na jaane aangan tedha". He questioned, "How many opposition leaders in jail?," in response to concerns of level-playing field.

"Of the total ED cases, only 3 per cent political, 97 per cent non-political comprising drug mafia, corrupt officers and benami property. Before 2014, Rs 34 lakh cash was seized. Rs 2,200 crore cash was seized in last 10 years. This is my personal commitment against corruption," he said.

16. On Elon Musk: Modi claimed that Elon Musk appreciates India and recalled 2015 went he to see Musk's factory. "Musk canceled his plans and came back to show me the factory himself. I understood his vision," Modi said.

The PM said that 2,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs) were sold in 2014-15, while 12 lakh EVs were sold in 2023-23. This is a result of charging station network, he said referring to India's newly drafted EV policy.

"Investment should come. Paisa kisi ka bhi ho, paseena desh ka hona chahiye, so that employment can be created. Samsung, Google and Apple are operating in India onlarge scale. Vadodara has aircraft manufacturing. Semiconductor has just begun," Modi said.

17. To first time voters: Modi said that they will be the biggest beneficiary of 2047 vision. "It is a golden opportunity. I am making future, come with me. Youth wants to get out of tradition," the PM said critcising the opposition's manifesto.

He said that it will fail economy and it will be the biggest loss for people under 25 years of age. "I want to make their lives, I want to encourage innovation. Digital revolution came due to cheap data. Education is accessible," the PM said.

18. To taxpayers: Modi said that honest middle class taxpayers should be respected, not abused. "Less than 4 crore people used to file ITR, now they are more than 8 crore. Tax collection increased three times from Rs 11 lakh crore to Rs 34 lakh crore," he said.

"This happened because people believe tax money is being used rightly. Despite no tax for income upto Rs 7 lakh, l tax collection increased. I thank them. I appeal them to motivate at least three people to pay tax."

The interview ended with Modi hoping for the implementation of 'One nation one election". Calling it one of BJP's commitments, Modi said, "Many people have come onboard. There are positive and innovative suggestions. It would be beneficial if we could implement it."