"TAKE off your political glasses and see the real Narendra Modi…Don't judge me through perceived notions," this was the Prime Minister's message to the media when Network18 asked him what the real Modi was like.
"There is nothing like real Modi or fake Modi. A human being is a human being," the PM said, in a rare peek into a side of himself.
Asked pointedly what the real Modi was like - the lohpurush that the BJP projected during the election campaign or the emotional man who wept when he entered Parliament for the first time - the Prime Minister said: "A soldier who bravely fights on the border, and the same soldier when he plays with his daughter cannot behave in the same manner. Narendra Modi, whatever he is, is after all a human being. Why should I suppress or hide what's inside me? I'm what I am. Let people see what they see. As far as my duties and responsibilities are concerned, I have to fulfil them to the best of my abilities. If I have to take strong decisions for the country's sake, then I will have to make those decisions. If I have to work hard for that then I will have to. If I have to bend I'll bend. If I have to walk fast then I'll walk fast."Also Read: Full transcript of the interview
The PM reminisced that he developed an interest in reading, thanks to Gaekwad king who built libraries and primary schools in every village in Gujarat while he was growing up. And that's how he discovered Swami Vivekananda who continues to influence him.Also Read: Top 10 quotes from the interview
Modi said he is too occupied by the present to be bothered about how history will judge him. "Unfortunately in our country, governments, political parties, leaders have always tried hard to make their own image. What if we had dedicated to build the image of our country rather than our own? The image of this country is the unending legacy of 1.25 billion people. Modi is just one of those 1.25 billion Indians, nothing more. Modi's identity must get lost among those 1.25 billion people. There will be no greater joy for me than Modi getting lost in the pages of history," he said.
And as the Network18 crew signed off with a customary click with the PM, he had a word of advice: "Think beyond politicians, show the life of non-politicians."
And of course, he put it all with his trademark sarcasm. "During election time, reporters start shooting from your bedroom and start asking about breakfast etc. But not many know the sacrifices of our sportsmen. Instead of wasting time on politicians, we should spend more time on our sportsmen -- how they control their food, sleep, how they still stay committed even after losing. Our youth must be shown those sacrifices," he said.PM Modi to Network18: Self-appointed Guardians Don't Like That I'm With Dalits
Comments
0 comment