In a brutally honest interview given by PM Modi to the Indian Express, he did not mince words in responding to the questions hurled at him. He answered a plethora of questions ranging from the corruption charges levelled by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to his government’s controversial policy decisions such as demonetisation. Instead of evading the uncomfortable questions, Modi took them head-on and answered the questions without beating around the bush.
On one such instance, Comparing the UPA’s rights-based model- Right to information, rural jobs, education etc., the question asserted that there’s obscurity in the model implemented by the current government. The question further alluded that there’s a stark difference in the policies implemented by the government such as Mudra loans, which is a tool for self-employment and PM-Kisan which is perceived as a dole.
Responding to the question in a confrontational mode, PM Modi said that he fails to understand the definition of a dole. Enunciating his stance, he says that his government has been giving advertisements to the Indian Express, will it be considered as dole? To drive home his point, PM Modi explains how in several sectors the government has to build the infrastructure due to lack of private players in the field. Modi asserts that he is getting houses built for the poor. Such investments are empowerment and not doles, he claims. “We have created a chain over which the health sector will be built up — is this empowerment or dole?” PM Modi asks.
Modi further added that he has never called Right to Education or Right to Food as doles, but he has rather termed them as election stunts. According to him, the rights-based model should be discussed after looking at their status before he was elected to power on May 25, 2014.