PM Modi says Rajan is patriotic, loves India -Governance Now

PM Modi says Rajan is patriotic, loves India

“He [Rajan] is no less a patriot than any one of us. I know him and I appreciate his work. I know he loves India and wherever he goes he will keep working for India.”

GN Bureau | June 27, 2016

#Pakistan #India #Raghuram Rajan #PM Modi #Narendra Modi #India NSG

Prime minister Narendra Modi

In what has come as too late a reaction from the highest echelons of government on RBI governor Raghuram Rajan’s decision to quit following open criticism by the BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, prime minister Narendra Modi has said “those seeking to create controversy around him were doing injustice to him.”

In an interview to Times Now news channel, Modi said he valued Rajan’s contribution and his work. “He [Rajan] is no less a patriot than any one of us. I know him and I appreciate his work. I know he loves India and wherever he goes he will keep working for India.”

Defending his Pakistan policy, Modi said that he believes “both talks and tough action by forces on border should continue.” He claimed that this approach had made the world have a better understanding of India’s stance against terrorism and also efforts to make peace with Pakistan. “This has made Pakistan look for words to tell the world about its policies on Kashmir and terrorism.”

Commenting on the recent attack by Laskhar-e-Taiba on CRPF in Srinagar, Modi said, the terrorists had suffered huge losses recently and they were desperate to retaliate and hence the attack in which 18 soldiers were killed. He claimed that forces on the borders have full authority to retaliate in ample measures.

On the issue of China not backing India on its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group [NSG], Modi said that talks with China are going on. “Even when our views are contradicting we still got to make a lot of effort. China has been cooperating with India on many issues but basic differences remain.”

Taking repeated digs at the media, Modi said the hype created by media around his address to the US Congress was the main cause for his government’s criticism for failure to get entry into the NSG.

He also said that India media was often making a mistake of comparing India with Pakistan. “We are a 1.25 billion people nation and we should move on our own.” He said in the changing world, all countries were vying for coming together with India and that was country’s strength.

He further blamed media for giving space and thus glorifying the hotheads making communal remarks.

Modi said the fear of media’s nitpicking was keeping him away from lacing his speeches with humour. “I used to render speeches full of humour but now I am also conscious. You never know which line will be highlighted and hyped by the media and its meaning turned and twisted.” He was replying to a question on positive reaction to his speech to the US Congress for its humour content.

“The fear of media has taken away humour from public life,” he remarked.

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