Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee met PM Modi earlier today. The PM spent some time discussing several issues with Banerji. After the meeting, Banerjee was bombarded with questions by journalists over his meeting with the PM.
Replying to a journalist who had begun his question by saying that Banerjee has been critical of the economy, the Nobel Laureate stated that when he met the PM, PM Modi started their conversation with a joke.
He dismissed the journalist’s question and stated that he is going to take no more questions on the issue.
“The Prime Minister said how the media is trying to trap me into saying anti-Modi things. He has been watching the TV, he has been watching you guys (journalists), and he knows what you are trying to do. So, stop”, said Banerjee.
#WATCH Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee after meeting Prime Minister Modi: Prime Minister started by cracking a joke about how the media is trying to trap me into saying anti-Modi things. He has been watching TV, he has been watching you guys, he knows what you are trying to do pic.twitter.com/sDgXnSBQqI
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2019
Before the presser, Banerjee had stated that it was his privilege to meet the PM. He added that the PM spoke to him at length about governance and the problems associated with the distance between the people on the ground and the bureaucracy. He also added that the PM stressed on exposing the higher officials and elite decision-makers to the realities on the ground.
Here’s what Nobel Laureate Prof Abhijit Banerjee said after meeting PM @narendramodi. @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/J09mUj9GMs
— Marya Shakil (@maryashakil) October 22, 2019
Banerjee stated that it was a unique experience as one usually hears about policies, and there is rarely an opportunity to know the thinking that goes behind making the policies.
PM Modi has also tweeted about his meeting with Banerjee and has stated that India is proud of Banerjee’s achievements.
