New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a three-hour interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, stated that his strength lies not in his name but in the support of 1.4 billion Indians and India’s timeless culture and heritage. He emphasized that whenever he shakes hands with world leaders, it is 1.4 billion Indians shaking hands.
Speaking about Pakistan, Modi revealed that he had invited Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in a sincere attempt to begin a new era of peace. However, every peace effort was met with hostility and betrayal. He said, “Pakistan does not believe in peace, but in proxy war. However, the people of Pakistan want peace. We sincerely hope that one day Pakistan will realize this and choose the path of peace.”
India-China Relations: Competition, Not Conflict
Discussing India-China relations, PM Modi asserted that healthy competition is necessary instead of confrontation. He mentioned that after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, there has been progress toward normalcy at the border. “We are working to restore the situation to pre-2020 levels. Trust will take time, but we are committed to dialogue,” he said.
He further stressed that the 21st century belongs to Asia, and both India and China must compete naturally but not engage in conflict.
2002 Riots: Political Targeting Failed
Reflecting on the 2002 Gujarat riots, PM Modi recalled that on February 27, 2002, his government was about to present the budget when they received news of the Godhra train burning incident, where innocent people were burned alive.
He highlighted that his government acted swiftly to control the situation, but the opposition tried to falsely implicate him in cases. Despite their efforts, he said, the judiciary cleared him twice after thorough investigations.
“Before 2002, Gujarat frequently witnessed riots, but since then, no major incidents have occurred,” he concluded.
