Tag: Narendra Modi

Who will succeed Modi? Oppn thinks Amit Shah will, but PM said this

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, May 21, cleared the suspense over his successor while addressing a rally in Bihar. Modi said the people of India are his successor.

“I do not have any successor, the people of this country are my successor,” Modi said while addressing a rally in Maharajganj, Bihar, ahead of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that he will not become the prime minister as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Dempcratic Alliance (NDA) will not form the government at the Centre.

“PM Modi has chosen you as his successor. You became so proud of this that you started abusing and threatening people. You have not become the prime minister yet and you have become so arrogant. For your information, let me tell you that you are not becoming the PM, because people are not forming the BJP government on June 4,” Kejriwal said in a press conference today.

The discussion over Modi’s successor gains significance as the saffron party has a rule of leaders retiring from active politics after 75 years of age. And Modi will turn 75 on September 17, 2025.

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have been raising the issue of Modi’s retirement and naming his successor.

“In 2014, PM Modi made a rule that if anyone in the party is 75 years old, he will not be allowed to hold any post in the party or the government and will be made to retire. Following this, Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were made to retire…PM Modi will turn 75 on September 17, 2025. PM Modi has decided to make Amit Shah his successor and to make him Prime Minister on September 17, 2025. PM Modi is working on it for the last one-two years,” Kejriwal had said in another address.

On May 11, Shah had negated Kejriwal’s remarks on making the former as Modi’s successor. While Shah had told reporters in Hyderabad, “I would like to tell Arvind Kejriwal and company and the whole I.N.D.I.A. bloc that when Modi becomes 75, there is no need for you to feel happy. It is not written anywhere in BJP’s constitution. Modi will complete the term and will continue to lead the country. There is no confusion in BJP on this.”

In an interview to ANI, Shah had said the BJP will fight elections under Modi’s leadership in the future too. “I want to make it clear again, Modiji will remain till 2029. And Kejriwalji, there is no good news for you. Even after 2029, Modiji is our leader. We will contest elections under his leadership,” Shah had said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

PM Narendra Modi says his government’s track record on job front best

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government’s track record in creating job opportunities for youth is best compared to previous governments, as support to emerging sectors like space, semiconductor manufacturing and EVs as well as aid to startups, substantial spend on infrastructure and PLI schemes helped create more employment.

Addressing criticism of not creating enough jobs in the economy, Modi in an interview with PTI said his government has worked with “a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to bring the best opportunities that the world has to offer at India’s doorstep”. “Our track record in creating more and more opportunities for our youth as compared to previous governments has been the best,” he said.

Listing out the initiatives that created more employment, he said a large number of recruitments have been done in the government sector. “Lakhs of letters were given for recruitment in the central government offices in the last one year alone.” To complement this, the government created a conducive environment for the growth of the private sector, which also creates jobs.

“Within 10 years, we improved our Ease of Business rankings from 134th rank (in the world) in 2014 to 63rd in 2024,” he said, indicating that the easier it is for the private sector to do business in India, the more it helps them grow and create jobs.

Also Read: India to participate in G-7 and Ukraine peace summits: PM Narendra Modi

Also, the government brought the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for various sectors to make India a manufacturing hub. “In 2014, 78% of mobile phones sold in India were imported. Today, more than 99% of mobile phones sold in India are ‘Made in India’ and we have now become leading exporters of mobile phones in the world,” he said.

“We have emerged as the third largest startup hub in the world. We are home to 107 unicorns and 1.26 lakh recognised startups generating over 10 lakh jobs. In 2014, we only had 350 startups. The best part about this is that the new wave of startups is emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with 47% of startups coming from there. As a result, employment opportunities have grown manifold.”

On top of this, the economy is being expanded and the country is venturing into new and emerging sectors such as space, semiconductor manufacturing and EVs, he said, adding defence production, tech startups, and cybersecurity have all seen exponential growth, creating millions of direct and indirect jobs.

“Lastly, we are investing heavily in building next-generation infrastructure. In this year’s budget, we increased the capital expenditure to Rs 11.11 lakh crore. The speed and scale with which we are building roads, airports, railways, and ports has been unprecedented. Don’t you think this rapid infrastructure development does not have any bearing on employment generation?” he said. The prime minister went on to cite data to support his claims.

Also Read: PM Modi declares assets worth ₹3.02 crore, owns no house or car

According to PFLS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) data, the unemployment rate has halved – from 6.1 to 3.2%. “If you compare the EPFO Payroll data just between 2017-18 and 2022-23, the enrolment has increased by nearly 9 times! These are no small numbers,” he said.

A recent report states that a total of 51.4 crore person-years of employment were generated between 2014 and 2024 because of governance-led interventions coupled with credit-led initiatives of the government. “When the youth votes, they do take into consideration the momentum and opportunities India has built in the last 10 years. This is the reason why BJP has emerged as the natural choice for India’s Yuva Shakti,” he added.

Despite growing at the fastest pace among major peers, the Indian economy hasn’t generated enough jobs for its large and expanding young population, some economists and opposition leaders claim citing PLFS data showing the unemployment rate which stood at 3.4% in 2013-14 only declining marginally to 3.2% in 2022-23. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, an economic think tank, the unemployment rate was 7.6% in March.

Also Read: Exclusive interview: ‘Southern states will be a big surprise,’ says PM Modi

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India to participate in G-7 and Ukraine peace summits: PM Narendra Modi

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

India will participate in all important summits that promote the agenda of global peace, security and development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said while referring to invitations to him to attend the G-7 meeting and the Ukraine peace summit next month.

In an interview with PTI, the prime minister said India will “resonate the voice of the Global South” at these summits to shape the global discourse and advance the vision for human-centric development and a prosperous and peaceful world.

“The level of participation will be the factor of timing, logistics and parallel commitments,” Modi said in response to a question on whether he will be attending the two multilateral gatherings.

Also Read: Southwest monsoon makes onset, to hit Kerala coast by May 31 but Delhi has to wait till June 27

Italy is hosting the G-7 Summit meeting from June 13-15, while the Ukraine peace summit will be held in Switzerland from June 15-16. Modi said the invitations extended to India to attend the summits were an acknowledgement of its significance and contribution to international affairs.

“These reflect the robust global engagement that we have in keeping with our philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family),” the prime minister said.

“India will be participating in all important summits that promote the agenda of global peace, security and development,” Modi said.

Also Read: India needs new capital market reforms, says Chief Economic Advisor

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

‘Modi won’t be Prime Minister’ | Rahul Gandhi Exclusive

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In an exclusive interview with News18 India, Rahul Gandhi made a bold prediction about the future of Indian politics, confidently stating that Narendra Modi will not continue as prime minister after the upcoming elections.

Speaking to News18 India, Gandhi outlined his reasons, saying, “I don’t think they will get more than 180-200 seats. Narendra Modi will not be the prime minister, I can assure you that.” He emphasised that the central issue is the election itself, highlighting concerns about constitutional changes and the impact on youth employment.

Gandhi criticised the current government’s approach, alleging, “Their leaders are openly saying, ‘we will change the Constitution, throw it away.’ They’ve attacked reservation policies and left millions of youths unemployed. The whole country is aware of this.”

Gandhi expressed optimism about the upcoming elections, predicting a strong performance for the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, which he believes will form the next government. Addressing questions about the alliance’s manifesto, he explained that it reflects the voices and needs of the people, particularly those expressed during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

When asked about the I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s leadership plans, specifically the rumour of changing the prime minister every year, Gandhi dismissed the idea, stating firmly, “It won’t happen. The I.N.D.I.A. alliance will decide that.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India must increase share in global manufacturing, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman at CII event

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Policy stability, absence of flip-flops and a corruption-free environment is the kind of government that the country wants, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is returning for a third term with a good majority in Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

“The India story is a compelling growth story. We can consider some of these once the government is elected, looking at India with a global growth contribution of 18% over the next five years,” she said at the CII Annual Business Summit 2024 on May 17.

Citing an S&P report, the minister highlighted that India’s consumer market is likely to double by 2031 and that a $2.9 trillion opportunity lies here. “India will continue to remain the fastest-growing economy.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and government’s economic survey shows that today India enjoys a twin balance sheet advantage and that government and corporate balance sheets are in the pink of health. Banks can be buoyant enough to push credit growth and can be the track on which the economy will grow fast, she said.

The PM Modi-led government looks at the private sector as a partner in developing India. “By 2047, we see a very big role for the private sector, with the government acting as a facilitator and an enabler.”

She also explained that since it is the election season, there cannot be a slip in communication. The government can hear and listen but not comment, so she wants to leave some thoughts for the industry to mull over.

The government looks forward to what else can be done in the July budget and that a lot of consultation is required with the industry on that, she said.

Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman warns of household savings risks amid F&O retail trading surge

Reflecting on sectors, she said, manufacturing in India must increase at such a scale that its share rises globally as well. “We need to see how best this can be given policy support,” she said, adding that expanding manufacturing will help India become self-reliant.

Sitharaman cited the example of the telecom sector production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, which she says has helped India become ‘aatma nirbhar’ in a better way.

“Sixty percent import substitution has been achieved under telecom PLI. Today, 99% of all mobiles sold in India are made in India,” she said, adding that India is becoming Apple’s second-largest manufacturing hub outside China. She pointed out that the rapid growth in the past year is very noticeable, with the number of GCCs in the country rising to 1,882, up over 50%.

She also spoke about AI, a space where she said skilling is being ramped up. Also, speaking about the renewables sector, she said the transition to green energy has to be responsibly built up. “The push in solar energy has shown the extent of job creation and has also generated a lot of interest.”

Also Read | Exclusive: FM Nirmala Sitharaman says poverty alleviation can’t be achieved by throwing money at the problem

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

PM Modi’s Mumbai Roadshow: Metro services to remain suspended from 6 pm today — details here

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow, the Mumbai Metro partially suspended services between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar metro stations at 6 pm today, May 15.

SERVICE UPDATE | Due to security reasons, metro services will be suspended between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar Metro Stations, from 06:00 pm till further notice. Commuters are requested to plan their journey accordingly. Inconvenience is regretted.

— Mumbai Metro (@MumbaiMetro01) May 15, 2024

Now, Mumbai Metro has provided an update stating that full services from Ghatkopar to Versova have resumed. Normal frequency is expected to be restored within 10 minutes.

SERVICE UPDATE | Full services between Ghatkopar to Versova have resumed. Frequency will normalise in 10 minutes. Regret the inconvenience. https://t.co/pBjBGYgkM9

— Mumbai Metro (@MumbaiMetro01) May 15, 2024

The Mumbai Metro earlier announced the suspension, urging commuters to adjust their travel plans accordingly. The disruption is expected to impact thousands of daily commuters who rely on the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro line, a critical link between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs. The metro line typically serves over 300,000 passengers each day.

Traffic advisories and road closures

Vehicular traffic will be restricted on several key roads during the roadshow. LBS Road will be closed from Gandhi Nagar junction to Naupada junction, and Mahul Ghatkopar Road will be shut from Meghraj junction to RB Kadam junction.

Additionally, AGL Road will be inaccessible from Ghatkopar junction to Sakinaka junction, Hiranandani Kailas Complex Road towards Gulati Petrol Pump junction, and the area from Golibar Maidan and Ghatkopar Metro Station (West) to Sarvodaya junction will also be closed as needed.

The Mumbai Police have issued an advisory detailing extensive road closures and traffic diversions from 2-10 pm. Key affected metro routes include Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, the Eastern Express Highway, and the Western Express Highway. The roadshow will start at 8 pm at Shreyas Cinema on LBS Road in Ghatkopar and will end at Gandhi Market, covering a distance of 2.5 km.

In view of the Road Show organised at LBS Road on 15th May 2024, large number of individuals are expected to participate in it.

Therefore in order to ease the traffic on the adjoining roads, the following traffic arrangements will be in place.#MTPTrafficUpdates pic.twitter.com/6cF97LScCr

— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) May 15, 2024

Alternative routes

To mitigate congestion, alternative routes have been recommended. These include the Eastern Express Highway, Western Express Highway, Andheri-Kurla Road, Saki Vihar Road, MIDC Central Road, Santacruz Chembur Link Road, Sion Bandra Link Road, and Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road. Travellers are advised to plan their journeys well in advance to avoid delays.

Advisory for air and train travellers

Passengers travelling by air or long-distance trains are particularly urged to leave early and consider the suggested alternate routes to ensure timely arrival at their destinations.

Passengers planning to travel by air or long-distance train should plan their journey in advance and avoid inconvenience by following alternative route announced in order to reach their destination on time.

#MTPTrafficUpdates

— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) May 15, 2024

Security measures

In a bid to enhance security, the Mumbai Police have banned the use of drones, paragliders, balloons, kites, and remote-controlled microlight aircraft in the city on May 15 and May 17. This prohibition is enforced under Section 144 of the CrPC, citing potential threats from terrorist or anti-social elements during the prime minister’s visit.

Upcoming elections

The roadshow is part of a campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the voting in Mumbai and the adjoining Thane and Kalyan constituencies — scheduled for May 20 — in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Supreme Court refuses plea seeking 6-year poll ban on PM

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from participating in any elections for years. The plea, filed by an individual named Fatima, alleged that PM Modi violated the model code of conduct (MCC) by soliciting votes in the name of religion during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Bar and Bench reported.

The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma directed the petitioner to first approach the relevant authorities with the grievance. “Have you approached authorities? For a writ of mandamus, you must approach the authorities first,” the Court stated. Subsequently, the petitioner chose to withdraw the plea, to which the Court responded, “Dismissed as withdrawn. We will not grant any liberty to approach, etc. That is your job.”

Fatima’s plea specifically accused PM Modi of urging voters to support the BJP based on appeals to “Hindu deities and Hindu places of worship.” This move was deemed as a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) which prohibits the use of religious sentiments for electoral gains.

Notably, the Delhi High Court had also recently rejected a similar plea filed by lawyer Advocate Anand S Jondhale.

Also read: US Ambassador Garcetti: Pannun probe being handled ‘maturely’

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

PM Modi files nomination for 3rd term from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers on Tuesday, May 14, offering prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi files nomination from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/lSgGcPiNjR

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024

He offered prayers at the Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganga around 9 am.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/WKQ9is8856

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024

He took a cruise trip to the Namo Ghat in the city ahead of filing nomination papers.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi boards a cruise ship at Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi.

PM Narendra Modi will file his nomination for #LokSabhaElections2024 from Varanasi today. pic.twitter.com/eqknZdzY5b

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024

He will hold a meeting with BJP workers at the Rudraksha Convention Centre.

#WATCH | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi greets people in Varanasi. PM Modi will offer prayers at Dasaswamedh Ghat shortly

PM Narendra Modi will file his nomination for #LokSabhaElections2024 from Varanasi today. PM is the sitting MP and BJP’s candidate from Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/WKO6T3D3vn

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024

Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from the Varanasi seat, where voting will be held on June 1.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be present for Modi’s nomination filing. The BJP’s NDA partners Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary, LJP chief Chirag Paswan, Apna Dal (S) president Anupriya and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president Omprakash Rajbhar are also expected to attend.

In a show of strength, Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar (Bihar), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh), Eknath Shinde (Maharashtra), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan), Himanta Biswa Sharma (Assam), Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana), Pramod Sawant (Goa), Prem Singh Tamang (Sikkim) and Manik Saha (Tripura) are likely to attend the prime minister’s nomination filing.

On May 13, Modi held a six-kilometre-long roadshow in the city. People from different communities, including Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Maheshwari, Marwari, Tamil and Punjabi, welcomed Modi at 100 points in 11 zones marked out on the route of the roadshow.

With inputs from PTI

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

PM Modi to hold roadshow in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar on May 15; here’s traffic advisory

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow in Ghatkopar in the Mumbai North East constituency on Wednesday, May 15. It will be a 2.5 km long roadshow starting from 8 pm from Shreyas Cinema on LBS Marg to Gandhi Market.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated Mihir Kotecha from the seat which will go to polls on May 20 with other Mumbai seats in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha election.

Here’s the traffic advisory:

The Mumbai Traffic Police said no vehicles will be allowed on LBS Road from Gandhi Nagar Junction to Naupada Junction and on Mahul-Ghatkopar road from Meghraj Juntion to RB Kadam Junction from 2 pm to 10 pm.

Other roads that will be closed are – Andheri Ghatkopar Link Road from Ghatkopar Junction to Sakinaka Junction, Gulati petrol pump junction from Hiranandani Kailas Complex Road and from Golibar Maidan and Ghatkopar Metro Station (West) towards Sarvodaya Junction.

A list of alternate routes has been marked to avoid inconvenience to commuters. These are Eastern Express Highway, Western Express Highway, Andheri-Kurla Road, Saki Vihar road, MIDC Central road, Chembur-Santacruz Link road, Sion-Bandra Link road and Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link road.

Modi will be addressing a rally first at Dindori and then at Kalyan before coming to Ghatkopar for the roadshow.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Exclusive interview: ‘Southern states will be a big surprise,’ says PM Modi

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In a candid interview with News18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discusses the unfolding dynamics of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, while emphasising the importance of leadership stability and national aspirations. He also discussed the ongoing narratives and the party’s electoral prospects, while responding to the opposition claims.

Here are the edited excerpts:

Q. We have completed four phases of voting; where do you see this election going?

PM Modi: The I.N.D.I. Alliance has no clear direction. They think that by opposing Modi, they can win. However, this is a vast country and voters want to know a name that will make the nation’s aspirations come true and the I.N.D.I. Alliance has not been able to decide on that one name. I recently read in a newspaper that the I.N.D.I. Alliance plans to rotate the position of PM every year. How can a PM understand India’s complexities in one year; what will that PM do in one year?

Q. The Opposition says, now PM Modi is not talking about 400 paar!

PM Modi: The agenda of the Congress Party is not just about winning seats; their agenda is to see whether we (the BJP) can win 400 seats or not. I have travelled extensively across India and I can see a storm of support for the BJP-led NDA alliance. We will easily cross the 400-seat mark.

Q. Do you think the BJP will repeat its success in the Hindi-speaking belt?

PM Modi: The BJP’s influence extends across the entire country and we are poised for a hat-trick. The BJP-led NDA will surpass its previous electoral performance. This time, the South will deliver a big surprise. We expect to clean sweep Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Q. Why do the narratives surrounding these Lok Sabha elections keep changing frequently?

PM Modi: Narrative is same ‘Phir ek baar, Modi Sarkaar’ and ‘abki baar 400 paar.’

Q. Modi is one narrative. Is there a lot of pressure on you to come back?

PM Modi: There’s no pressure on me; this is the affection of the people.
The pressure is on the I.N.D.I. Alliance.

Q. We have also heard statements suggesting that if the Congress comes to power, they will change the decision regarding the Ram Mandir.

PM Modi: This is not my statement; it has been attributed to a Congress advisor. Their willingness to use such issues for political gain is evident. However, our commitment to the Ram Mandir remains unwavering.

Q. Lalu Yadav spoke about Muslim reservation.

PM Modi: He said that all reservation should go to Muslims. But our constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion. Even Pandit Nehru supported this principle.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow