India’s women-led development story dominated Davos: Smriti Irani

Union minister Smriti Irani in conversation with Moneycontrol's Shweta Punj

Union Minister Smriti Irani spoke to Moneycontrol’s Shweta Punj at the Ladies Study Group, Kolkata. Edited excerpts from the interaction:

On India’s Davos moment — when Coca Cola cited India as a shining example

On the streets where money walks and talks was the India story of women-led development. We had Microsoft, we had 300 global ministers in lounges, we had 30 heads of government, kings and queens from across the world in the India lounge - talking not only about women in India, but opportunities for women across the globe. As the Prime Minister says, when we reap the benefits, we don't keep them only for ourselves. He talks of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, i.e., the world is one family, and we distribute generously what we have achieved.

In that lounge was the famous Sesame Street from the US discussing the government’s toilet programme, which is unheard of, and unimaginable. While that conversation was going on, there was a similar discussion in a different room.

The global leadership of Coca-Cola told a collection of CXOs on a public platform that India has done everything it can to prove to the world that it offers a resilient supply chain, that it shares essentials like Covid vaccines with mankind, and that they are bringing fresh investments to India.

India was in focus. At the World Economic Forum, which represents 85% of the world's economic strength, the sense was that India is well positioned to be the bridge between the global North and the global South.

Life comes a full circle for everyone. These are the same countries that were once under political pressure to cancel their invitation to Prime Minister Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

On Ram Mandir and the western narrative on Ram

All those people who never wanted India to be a power in this ecosystem are desperate. If you remember pre-Covid, there was a sense of 'Inke paas 6 lakh gaav hai, gareeb janta hai' (India has six lakh villages, they are a poor nation), how will they manage? But while many countries were handing out chits for vaccinations, we had an app.

We were told 'UPI Hindustan mei ayega, kaun isko use karega?' (If UPI comes to India, who will use it?) Today, 50% of global payments happen on UPI. Global, not Indian. We have made a case to the world that we as a nation under PM Modi have ensured that for the past 2.5 years, 800 million people were given free food. No country in the world has done that consistently for 2.5 years.

We created a vaccine. We delivered 2.2 billion doses to our people in a timeframe which is unheard of. There was no chaos.

The West says that you were colonised as a country. We taught you democracy, correct? So we were supposed to be 'gulaams' (slaves) because they taught us democracy. Now, we have evidence going back 1,100 years written in stone in the state of Tamil Nadu, which shows how a candidate is elected and disqualified from local governments.

If you look at the Magna Carta, when did it come? We wrote our democratic processes of election and disqualification 1,100 years ago. Besides, 1880s was when the first case was filed in a court of law so that the Ram Mandir can be built? Who was in charge of our country in 1880s? Who?

We went to court knowing that it is beholden to the throne of England. We as a community showed our belief in the justice system, so strong was our inheritance. Azadi aayi (freedom came), ek republic ban gaya (India became a republic). After the 1800s, the consecration happened in 2024. We have shown patience for our faith for 500 years. We can show some patience with the western media as well.

On women and policymaking

An army of 2.5 lakh women carry a digital device and go to every customer. It was unimaginable even 15 years ago. Even if these 2.5 lakh women do transactions worth Rs 1 lakh a day, can you imagine the volume of business those women are doing?

Then there are about nine crore women in self-help groups. Do you know the size of business they do every year? About $37 billion.’’

On the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and the Lok Sabha battle in Amethi

After four decades of Congress rule, nearly 80% of the people (in Amethi) had no electricity, 499 factories were shut, there was no fire station, dialysis centre, etc.

We have had three lakh toilets built, we have had one lakh homes built, there is a fire brigade. Now Amethi is directly connected to the expressway. It also has south Asia's largest Coca-Cola plant. As per SBI, nearly Rs 4,200 crore has been loaned to small businesses last year. Apart from that, I have investments worth Rs 8,000 crore coming in.

On her career, life journey and political fights ahead
One of my first jobs was selling products on the streets for 200 bucks. In the first McDonald’s that opened in this country, I was the first dishwashing team member. Even then my question to the person hiring was, how do I become the manager? So, if you ask how do I deal with an opposition member who attacks me, I don't. Because I don't need validation. I don't need it from my friends. I don't need it from my family. I don't need it from anyone.

But if anyone were to attack my kids, then I am a battleaxe. You don't want to mess with me. I don't say this very nicely. I've said it publicly without remorse. I come from the footpath. I don't mind going back to the footpath as long as I can protect my kids. I don’t care if I have no money, no power, no position, no job. The question is those attacking my kids, are they willing to do the same? Most probably not.

And that’s why the Gandhis will never win Amethi again.