Highlights: 5 years of effective governance has gone into the making of Sankalp Patra, says PM Modi in interview to News18

On LK Advani's recent blog

"He has stated the basic principles of the BJP. These are our principles. All BJP workers say the same. The nation is supreme, the party is next and the self is last. Even on the issue of nationalism, this remains our stand. It’s the Congress that is to blame. Do you know a Congress leader termed Vajpayee a traitor? Do you know that on the floor of the House, a senior Congress leader who recently passed away called Atal ji a traitor? So, Advani ji is absolutely right."

On Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad

"The Constitution allows anyone to contest from two seats. Nothing wrong with that but the situation under which he has had to run away from Amethi is the real issue. Having to run away from a seat that has been the family heirloom is an issue that must be talked about."

On asked how many seats he thinks the NDA will get his time

"Firstly, it is not me who decides how many seats we get, it is the voters who decide. 125 crore Indians have decided to grant victory to the BJP. We will form the government with a bigger mandate as compared with 2014. NDA allies will also increase their tally. The NDA's strength will rise in these elections. We will carry our governance agenda forward with the same selflessness and confidence with which we have worked in these five years"

On post-poll alliance with Jaganmohan Reddy and KCR

"BJP will win with a full majority. We will win with a bigger seat tally. NDA is an additional strength with us and its tally will also rise. We will be in a position to form the govt with more than the required majority. We will not need anyone's help to form the govt. Our aim is not just to form or run the govt, our mission is to run the nation and take it forward. This is possible only through general consensus. We will thus take along even those parties who send one MP to Parliament. No matter how strongly a party opposes us, we will take them with us because our mission is to take the nation forward."

“Removing AFSPA in J&K amounts to sending soldiers to gallows”

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) can be removed carefully after creating an environment where the act becomes unnecessary, said Modi. Removing AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir now is equal to sending them to the gallows, he added. "I will not let this happen to our soldiers."

"First, we must create an environment where AFSPA is unnecessary, like we did in Arunachal Pradesh. We removed it from a few districts. We then removed it from some states," the PM said. Read more here

"India, China have differences but don't want them to become disputes"

India has to abide by international rules and regulations while trading with international partners, said Modi while speaking about the sentiment among people to boycott Chinese goods following Beijing's opposition to tag Jaish-E-Mohammad as international terrorists.

PM Modi said, in this era of globalisation, all nations are interdependent and connected, and have to follow international laws. "As a government, our official stands must align with international rules and regulations and India abides by that. As far as public sentiment on Chinese goods is concerned, that is up to them. We, including the media, should guide the public," he said. Read more here

“BJP manifesto mirrors 5 years of effective governance, promises to change lives of common man”

The Bharatiya Janata Party's intent behind releasing the manifesto was not to make headlines the next 24 hours, but it is a commitment till 2024, said Modi.

"We intend to change the lives of the common citizen," he said. "Our manifesto is well grounded. Five years of effective governance has gone into the making of this Sankalp Patra. And only we can and we will deliver what we have promised in the next five years." Read more here

"Congress lied to people on Rafale deal, they have no proof"

The Congress party's allegations of fraud in the Rafale aircraft deal had no basis and so were rejected by the Supreme Court and the Comptroller Auditor General, said Modi.

"Congress has been destroyed by defence scams. So they try to make the same allegations against all governments. During the Vajpayee government, they tried to trap George Fernandes in the coffin scam. It turned out to be lies. Now they are trying to similarly trap me," said the PM. Read more here

"Congress should give 'nyay' to victims of anti-Sikh riots and Bhopal gas tragedy"

The main slogan of the Congress party, "ab hoga NYAY", is an admission of the fact that the grand old party has not done justice to India despite being in the power for the past 60 years, said Modi.

"When they talk about nyay, what about justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots? What about nyay for the victims of triple talaq? What about the farmers of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh who were promised loan waivers? You promised them justice in just 10 days. It has been 100 days now. When will they get justice?" he asked. Read more here 

"Congress should give 'nyay' to victims of anti-Sikh riots and Bhopal gas tragedy"

The main slogan of the Congress party, "ab hoga NYAY", is an admission of the fact that the grand old party has not done justice to India despite being in the power for the past 60 years, said Modi.

"When they talk about nyay, what about justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots? What about nyay for the victims of triple talaq? What about the farmers of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh who were promised loan waivers? You promised them justice in just 10 days. It has been 100 days now. When will they get justice?" he asked. Read more here 

“Demonetisation boosted India's economic growth”

Demonetisation had crippled illegal companies and released a large amount of money in the formal system, boosting the economic growth, said Modi.

"Demonetisation is the reason why our formal economy has risen so fast. The number of people paying income tax in the 60 years since independence has doubled in the last five years," he said.

"More than 3.5 lakh companies – hundreds of them operated out of tiny rooms – all illegal outfits that ran a parallel economy, that ran hawala networks and looted the economy, were identified thanks to demonetisation and their operations were stopped. Crores of rupees that were disclosed entered the government coffers," he added. Read more here