PM Narendra Modi on Congress Manifesto: 'My responsibility to tell the truth', says PM

Prime Minister said that he does not just run an "election-time government" but remains connected to the people throughout his term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Congress manifesto has the stamp of Muslim League, adding that it is the responsibility of all, especially the learned people, to bring out the truth in public.

The Prime Minister was speaking to News18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, News18 Kannada Editor, Hariprasad and News18 Lokmat Anchor Vilas Bade in an exclusive interview.

The Prime Minister, who has launched a no-holds barred attack on Congress's manifesto campaigning, was asked about his charge that the grand old party wants to take away the "gold and silver" of people and distribute it among Muslims and "infiltrators".

PM Modi suggested that he hasn't just been talking about the Congress manifesto and said that he spoke about several developmental issues and the work done by his government for the welfare of the people. He extensively highlighted the schemes rolled out by his government during the last 10 years to uplift the poor, pointing out that the country used to be categorised under "Fragile 5" during the UPA era but has now transformed into a vibrant economy.

Speaking about the manifesto, PM Modi said that it clearly has the "imprint of the Muslim League".

"The way they are flouting the Constitution, the way they are insulting Ambedkar … There is a threat to reservation for SCs and STs. Should I not inform the people of the country about this? I believe that it is the responsibility of all the learned people, who are rich in knowledge, who are unbiased, to educate this country, to tell it the right things," PM Modi said during the interview.

He also pointed out Congress's decision in the 1990s to classify Muslims as OBCs in Karnataka for "electoral gain".

He added that despite facing legal hurdles and public outcry, Congress persisted in its attempts, including proposing OBC quota for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh.

He emphasised that the Constitution, drafted by leaders like Nehru and Ambedkar, prohibited religious-based reservations, contrasting it with Congress's actions.

PM Modi also took a dig at chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda for his recent remarks on inheritance tax wherein he called it an "interesting idea".

"You see, when one of their greats gave an interview in America where he brought up the issue of inheritance tax, about 55 per cent tax on your property. Now I am talking about development and inheritance and they are talking of plundering that inheritance," he said.

He said that it is his responsibility to tell the people about the direction Congress intends to take the country towards.

"Now you decide whether you want to go or not. But it is my responsibility that on the basis of facts and importance, I should tell you [the truth]," he said.