No discrimination towards any religious minority, says PM Modi

India is being touted by world leaders, business consultants and banks as an alternative investment destination for a world increasingly suspicious of Beijing.

India has undergone substantial changes over the past decade, and the people of the country now acknowledge the potential for further progress and express a strong desire for an expedited journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Financial Times newspaper in an interview published on December 21. The PM pointed out that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is perceived as the most capable entity to facilitate and lead the country's advancement.

When asked about the future of the Muslim minority in India, PM Modi highlighted the economic success of India's Parsis, whom he referred to as a "religious micro-minority residing in India."

The PM mentioned that despite facing persecution in other parts of the world, Parsis have found refuge in India and are living happily and prospering, suggesting that the prosperity of religious minorities like the Parsis reflects a lack of discrimination within Indian society.

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PM affirms Constitution's integrity

PM Modi asserted that any discussion about amending the Constitution lacks substance, emphasising that the most transformative measures initiated by his government, such as the nationwide “Clean India” toilet-building campaign and connecting nearly 100 crore people online through an innovative digital public infrastructure push, have been accomplished without the need for constitutional amendments but through active public participation.

India's foreign policy

"The world is interconnected as well as interdependent," PM Modi told the British business daily, outlining New Delhi’s mix-and-match foreign policy. "Our foremost guiding principle in foreign affairs is our national interest. This stance allows us to engage with various nations in a manner that respects mutual interests and acknowledges the complexities of contemporary geopolitics," he said.

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Ties with the US

PM Modi emphasised that relations with the US are on an "upward trajectory," even in the face of recent allegations by US prosecutors. The allegations claim that an Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist leader and dual citizen of America and Canada.

“Today, the India-US relationship is broader in engagement, deeper in understanding, warmer in friendship than ever before,” the PM added.

Israel-Hamas war

Regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, where his government has generally refrained from criticising the Benjamin Netanyahu administration, PM Modi pointed that New Delhi has supported the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, reiterating India's backing for a two-state solution.

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On China

When asked about obstacles such as administrative hurdles and the skills gap among the youth, concerns shared by both Indian and foreign companies, which could potentially hinder India from replicating China's manufacturing-driven economic success, PM Modi suggested that it might be more appropriate to compare New Delhi with other democracies rather than making a direct comparison with Beijing.