Q. No.16: While you have been accused by opposition of being pro-corporates, some in the industry like Deepak Parekh say nothing is happening on the ground for the industry. What do you say?
Ans: The answer is to be found in your question itself. If opponents are accusing us of being pro-corporate but the Corporates are saying we are not helping them, then I take it that our decisions and initiatives are pro-people and in the long term interests of the nation.
Q. No.17: Rahul Gandhi has recently got active and raised issues of farmers as well as Land Acquisition Bill. He has also called your government ‘suit-boot ki sarkar'. What is your comment on this?
Ans: The Congress has suffered a crushing defeat and ended with less than 50 seats. Even after a year, they are not able to digest this. The people have punished them for their sins of omission and commission. We thought they would learn from this, but it looks as though they are proving right the earlier saying that if con is the opposite of pro, then Congress is the opposite of Progress.
Q. No.18: Recently, CAG has raised questions over the country's defence preparedness. It has said that the army has ammunition which can last only 10-20 days if there is a war. Its report was based on 2013 figures. What would you say on this?
Ans: National security is a serious matter and I do not think it is in proper to discuss such details in a public forum. However, I can assure our countrymen that the country is safe in the hands of the brave warriors of our Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Q. No.19: One of the campaign promises was that the new Government would take stringent action against black money. Has there been any progress in this?
Ans: The very first decision of this Government after taking office was to constitute the Special Investigation Team to pursue black money. This step had been pending for years with no action and we executed it in our very first Cabinet meeting. Subsequently, we have also brought a new Bill which will combat black money held abroad and it prescribes stiff penalties. Thanks to our efforts, an agreement was reached at the G-20 summit in November 2014 to curb tax evasion and in particular to exchange information between countries. This will help us to trace black money. These are very strong and concrete actions.
Q. No.20: What efforts have you taken to change the way the Government works?
Ans: We have tried to remind Government servants that they are servants of the public and have restored discipline in Central Government offices. I have done a small thing, one that appears small from outside. I regularly interact with officers over tea; it is part of my working style. Philosophically, I feel that the country will progress only if we work as teams. The Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers are one team. The Cabinet Ministers and the State Ministers are another team. The Civil Servants at the Centre and the States are yet another team. This is the only way we can successfully develop the country. We have taken a number of steps for this and the abolition of the Planning Commission and its replacement with NITI Aayog in which States are full partners is a major step in this direction.
