IANS/New Delhi

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refusing to be drawn into comparisons with China, yesterday said growth was also possible through democracy.

“If China is one example, then the democratic countries provide another example. They also grow fast. You cannot say that growth is not possible through democracy. It is our legacy, it is in our DNA,” Modi said in an exclusive interview to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria.

“I have seen the strength of democracy. If there was no democracy, then how would I, Modi, be sitting here,” he said.

Asked whether India can be the next China, Modi said: “See, India does not need to become anything else. India just needs to become India. We have fallen from where we were before. But now we have a chance. If we see the details, then you will see that India and China have grown at similar paces.

“This is a country that once upon a time was called the ‘golden bird’. We have fallen from where we were before. But now we have the chance to rise again,” Modi said.

“Their (India and China) contributions to global GDP have risen in parallel, and fallen in parallel. Today’s era once again belongs to Asia. India and China are both growing rapidly, together,” Modi said when asked if India could match up to the GDP growth achieved by its neighbour.

Questioned on China’s behaviour in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, which has worried many governments, Modi said: “India is different. It is a country of 1.25bn people. We can’t run our country if we get worried about every small thing.

“At the same time, we can’t close our eyes to problems. We are not living in the 18th century. This is an era of partnership. Everyone will have to seek and extend help mutually.

“We should have trust in China’s understanding and have faith that it would accept global laws and will play its role in co-operating and moving forward,” he said.

Modi said he has a lot of faith in the capabilities of Indians.

“It is my absolute belief that Indians have unlimited talent. I have no doubt about our capabilities. I have a lot of faith in the entrepreneurial nature of our people. There is a lot of capability. And I have a clear roadmap to channel it,” Modi said.

He also said dignity of women in the country was a collective responsibility and there should be no compromise on that.

“There should be no erosion in the law and order situation. Family culture is important,” he said.

The prime minister said the main thing for India was education for the girl child.

“By doing so, the possibility of empowerment of women would increase,” he said, adding that the government had on August 15 proposed a movement for this.

The prime minister also said that political pundits should abstain from making statements, trying to search for answers to such issues.

“More damage is done by statements from political pundits.”

Modi said he was not the “not-working type” and derived pleasure from his work.

“Work gives me relaxation too. Every moment, I am thinking of something new - making a new plan, new ways to work. In the same way that a scientist draws pleasure from long hours in the laboratory, I draw pleasure in governance, in doing new things and bringing people together. That pleasure is sufficient for me,” Modi said.

The prime minister, however, said yoga has been very useful for him.

“I’m fortunate that I was introduced to the world of yoga. That has been very useful to me. I always advise everyone to make this a part of their lives.

“Sometimes we notice our mind works on one thing, the body on another, and time brings us in conflict. Yoga synchronises the heart, the mind, and the body. That is yoga,” he said.

 

 

 

 

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