If I am abused this war of words will continue: Modi

As the polling date for Gujarat Assembly election approaches, Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rhetorics get shriller. The notice from Election Commission notwithstanding, Modi says he will continue to speak his mind if the Congress party continues to provoke him. On his campaign trail in Dakor, Gujarat CNN-IBN National Bureau Chief Bhupendra Chaubey catches up with Modi for an exclusive chat on Gujarat, Congress, development and terrorism.

Bhupendra Chaubey: Are you convinced about your chances at the Assembly elections?

Narendra Modi: There is no question of being convinced, but this time the people of Gujarat are more convinced. The people have complete faith that the government of their dreams will come to power and be there for five years.

Bhupendra Chaubey: During this election, what is the real issue? Your opponents say that the only issue is you.

Narendra Modi: I can’t say anything about what my opponents say. But if I am attacked repeatedly and if my pseudo-secularists friends continue to abuse me and allege wrong things about me then this war of words will continue. There are many who gain publicity by abusing me, so then it’s obvious that I will be part of discussions and debates.

Bhupendra Chaubey: In your two gatherings today you did not mention Sohrabuddin Sheikh but till yesterday all your rallies focused on the fake encounter case. Have you changed your mind after the order by the Election Commission?

Narendra Modi: Firstly, no order has come from the Election Commission. They have sent a letter and a reply will be sent. Secondly, the Gujarat elections are spread over 20 days so we speak on different subjects on different days.

Bhupendra Chaubey: But don’t you think this is a setback for you because the Election Commission has asked for an explanation for you speeches. And this could again lead to a debate over your statements on the fake encounter case. Is this fair and was there a need to speak about this issue?

Narendra Modi: Don’t you think the Election Commission should do its job? It’s a constitutional work and will be done.

Bhupendra Chaubey: In 2002, you said a lot of things about former Election Commissioner James Michael Lyngdoh. You also mentioned about pseudo-secularists. Do you think even in the Election Commission there is a certain bias against you?

Narendra Modi: I don’t waste my time getting into such debates. I prefer to interact with the 5.5 crore population of Gujarat during this time.

Bhupendra Chaubey: There is also talk that not just the Congress but even members of the BJP have gone against you. Are you going to try and appease these members?

Narendra Modi: My job is to convince and appease the people of Gujarat and I am doing that.

Bhupendra Chaubey: Keshubhai Patel has been publishing ads in the papers. Do you think he is doing something wrong? Will you try to appease him since he is elder to you and angry with you?

Narendra Modi: (Long silence)

Bhupendra Chaubey: Should I consider this as a no comment?

Narendra Modi: (Silence again)

Bhupendra Chaubey: You just spoke about the Sujlam Suflam yojna. But the Congress party claims that there are a lot of such things, which don’t exist on the ground. Is this true?

Narendra Modi: The party that can lie about Lord Ram will not stop short at Narendra Modi. They can say 50 lies against me. You are the media, go find out how much work has been done in the yojna.

Bhupendra Chaubey: Do you see any difference between the 2002 and 2007 Assembly elections?

Narendra Modi: In 2002 the elections were for the welfare of Gujarat and this year also it is the same case. In the last elections I was relatively new and people knew me less but in the 2007 elections people have seen the work I have done for the state and are also more aware of me as an individual. I consider this as a benefit.

Bhupendra Chaubey: It seems that we are seeing two sides of your personality during this election. On one side you are talking about the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case and on the other side you also taking about terrorism. Why are you stressing so much on terrorism? Is this election for India or Gujarat?

Narendra Modi: Is there no terrorism in India? Why are you so scared to discuss terrorism? Shouldn’t India and the other countries discuss this problem? There are lakhs of people dying due to terrorism. Our forces are losing soldiers. More soldiers have died due to terrorism than all the dead soldiers put together in the two World Wars. Bomb blasts are taking place all over the country, there were the ghastly Mumbai train blasts, then Hyderabad and now the recent UP serial blasts. And then you say I should not be worried about or talking about terrorism. I am amazed.

Bhupendra Chaubey: Why are you targeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi? She is not even standing for elections in Gujarat? Is this some sort of a personal battle between you and her?

Narendra Modi: If the Congress party had announced a candidate or got somebody to the forefront in this Assembly elections then this situation wouldn’t have come up. Congress has no politician in Gujarat and Soniaji is handling the entire campaign. So, it’s a natural course. The way I am targeted while discussing BJP, she is targeted when the Congress is discussed. Had there been a Gujarat candidate then I wouldn’t have taken her name.

Bhupendra Chaubey: There are many who feel that you are running a misleading campaign. It’s a diverging tactic because you began the campaign with developmental issues and then moved on to terrorist activities and the fake encounter case. Why this deviation?

Narendra Modi: I feel sorry for you. This image of me has been created by the media. You are looking for things that I have said and trying to put two and two together. But you cannot lay your hands on anything like this. I have always been committed to the development and well being of Gujarat. I have been doing it for the last five years and if you think so then show the development of the state to the nation through your medium. If not then you can continue to do what you have been doing.

Bhupendra Chaubey: How will you reply to the Election Commission?

Narendra Modi: Answer will be given in accordance to the Constitution to whatever the Election Commission has asked for.

Bhupendra Chaubey: Thank you so much for talking to us.

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