Network18 interview with Amit Shah: Read the full transcript here

Amit Shah interview,

In an exclusive conversation with News18 Network’s Group Editor Rahul Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lays out the BJP’s roadmap for Bihar 2025, from claiming a two-thirds majority target to reaffirming Nitish Kumar’s leadership under the NDA banner. In this wide-ranging interview, Shah discusses the BJP’s electoral calculus, Bihar’s development record, national security priorities, and the party’s expansion plans across states.

Here’s the full transcript of Amit Shah’s interview with Rahul Joshi.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, welcome to this platform of News18. With me today is Amit Shah — India’s Home Minister, the strategist of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and currently the key figure overseeing the BJP’s election campaign here in Bihar. We’ll be discussing that today.

Amit ji, this is your third election in Bihar under your supervision. In 2015, Nitish ji and Lalu ji were together, and your side lost. Then in 2020, you won. What do you foresee this time? Give us an estimate — how many seats do you expect the NDA to win?

Amit Shah:

See, giving an exact number is always difficult, but through your channel, I would like to tell viewers across the country that this time we will form the government in Bihar with more than a two-thirds majority. When I say two-thirds majority, I’m referring to the NDA alliance. The NDA will win more than two-thirds of the seats, and under the leadership of Modi ji and Nitish ji, form the government here.

And I also want to tell viewers across the country — from what I have seen while touring Bihar — there is a clear wave in favor of the NDA, and we will see an unexpected increase in our victory margins this time.

Rahul Joshi:

What kind of wave are you seeing? Nitish ji has been in power for many years now — isn’t this a case of pro-incumbency?

Amit Shah:

See, the way a government performs — not how long it’s been in power — affects electoral prospects. If a government performs well, its strength actually increases over time. And I can say with certainty that during these 11 years of the double-engine government, and even before that when Nitish Kumar ji and the BJP governed together, Bihar has undergone tremendous change.

Let me talk about just these 11 years — roughly: 8.52 crore poor people in Bihar receive 5 kg of free food grains per person per month. Around 87 lakh farmers receive ₹6,000 annually under the PM-Kisan Yojana. 44 lakh people have already received houses, and 33 lakh more have been allotted houses. 3.53 crore people have Ayushman Bharat health cards, giving them free treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh, including hospitalization, surgeries, medicines, and tests — saving poor families crores of rupees. 6.6 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened — something the Congress couldn’t do in 70 years. 1.6 crore people have access to drinking water. 1.33 crore households received LPG cylinders, and the same number of families got toilets constructed under Modi ji’s leadership on the land of Bihar.

If you combine all these efforts, you can understand the scale of this transformation. And along with that, the infrastructure has changed — today, there’s no corner of Bihar that takes more than five hours to reach from Patna. Whether it’s two, three, four, or five hours — connectivity has improved drastically. I have done a full tour today. Everyone says that the kind of roads that have been built, the kind of new bridges that have been built on Ganga ji, 10 more bridges are being built. The work of connecting Bihar to roads and bridges, has been done very well in 11 years.

Two AIIMS have been established — one in Darbhanga, another in Patna. Two new airports — Darbhanga is operational, Purnia is coming soon, and a new terminal is being built in Patna. So, under Modi ji and Nitish ji’s leadership, Bihar has been put firmly on the path of development.

And Nitish Babu, within these 11 years, has completely freed Bihar from the era of ‘Jungle Raj.’ Remember, this is the same Bihar where, 20 years ago, massacres, murders, kidnappings, ransom, and loot were daily headlines — newspapers had stopped reporting them because killings became so common that it wasn’t even “news” anymore. Now that Bihar has been liberated from that, trade and industry have returned — the Barauni plant has been built, ethanol plants are coming up, a petroleum refinery is on the way — a lot of progress is happening here.

Rahul Joshi:

More than two-thirds of the total-- over 160 seats. This is a very big number, a very big figure. If you form the government again, who will be the Chief Minister?

Amit Shah:

See, don’t try to spread confusion. Let’s be clear about where this issue comes from — Lalu ji has always had a deep desire that his son becomes Chief Minister, and Sonia ji wishes the same for her son — to become Prime Minister. I want to tell both of them — there is no vacancy either in Bihar or in Delhi. Here in Bihar, Nitish Babu is firmly in place, and in Delhi, Modi ji is firmly in place. We are contesting this election under the leadership of Nitish Kumar ji. So, there’s no confusion within the NDA.

Rahul Joshi:

That means after the election, Nitish ji will remain Chief Minister?

Amit Shah:

I have said very clearly — we are contesting under his leadership.

Rahul Joshi:

And who will be the Deputy Chief Minister?

Amit Shah:

That will be decided after the results, through mutual discussion. In our alliance, we don’t have internal fights where we need to make last-minute announcements to appease anyone. The team that the BJP and NDA will decide on will be dedicated to Bihar’s development, not formed out of compulsion.

Rahul Joshi:

One more question, Amit ji — the opposition keeps raising concerns about Nitish ji’s health. Recently, Tejashwi ji said that “our uncle” isn’t doing well. Do you think these remarks could create a sympathy factor in Nitish ji’s favor?

Amit Shah:

As far as health is concerned — Nitish ji is absolutely fine. As per my information, he holds four rallies a day, meeting thousands of people. To do that, one has to climb up and down several stories and walk two to three kilometers in total — you can’t do that if you’re unwell. He’s answering every question raised by Lalu ji and Rabri Devi. But they are trying to create a false image to divert attention.

Rahul Joshi:

There was also a long tussle in the Mahagathbandhan over seat-sharing, and they barely reached a conclusion. Then Owaisi ji made a statement — that someone with 2% votes will become Deputy CM, the one with 12% votes will be CM, and the one with 18% votes will just spread the carpet. How do you view this?

Amit Shah:

I’ve been observing their alliance closely for the past five months — there’s no harmony among them. It’s an alliance born out of compulsion, not conviction. One partner sulks and disappears abroad for two months, another refuses to attend a press conference — so they hand him the Deputy CM’s lollipop to pacify him. Even seat-sharing caused major disputes among them — to the extent that they couldn’t release their candidate list on time.

On the other hand, the NDA released its entire list together, without confusion. We are united — five parties, like five Pandavas — fighting together. The opposition, however, is so fragmented that it’s unimaginable. Even Indira Gandhi once said about such opposition alliances — “These are like oranges — once you peel them after the election, all the segments fall apart.” That’s exactly what’s going to happen here — this alliance will break apart and scatter.

Rahul Joshi:

Today in Darbhanga, you mentioned PFI, and said that Lalu ji doesn’t want them to be arrested or banned. As the elections approach, do you think this could lead to polarization?

Amit Shah:

No, no — what polarization? Tell me — the PFI, the Popular Front of India — was formed by followers of which religion? Should such an organization be allowed to function based on that? Our policy is very clear — anyone who talks about breaking the country or works against the country, regardless of who they are, should be banned and put behind bars. Many people have already been jailed for such acts. But their (the opposition’s) politics is such that they view every action taken for national security through the Hindu–Muslim lens. That should not be done. Linking national security with religion is, in itself, a grave sin.

Rahul Joshi:

Lalu ji says that what’s being done to the PFI should instead be done to the RSS.

Amit Shah:

Now, what can one even say to Lalu ji? Rahul ji isn’t here, but they (the opposition) will say anything for their own political benefit — to score points or to appeal to their vote bank. But they themselves know very well what the RSS is and what the PFI is.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, this time the fight seems triangular — there’s also a new party, the Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor. How do you view his entry into this election?

Amit Shah:

Look, there are around 1,550 political parties in this country, and Bihar has the highest number of them. So if we talk about a “triangle,” there are actually a thousand angles!

Rahul Joshi:

So how do you see Prashant Kishore's party in this election?

Amit Shah:

Look, everyone has the right to form their own party. They have also formed a party. But I see the entire election clearly that this election is clearly between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA has a clear edge.

Rahul Joshi:

So the vote will not be cut because of them. There will be no special difference

Amit Shah:

Of course, every party gets some votes — if someone doesn’t get a ticket elsewhere, they stand as an independent and take a few votes — that happens every time.

Rahul Joshi:

Tejashwi ji has started saying “Victory in Bihar, factories in Gujarat.” Prashant Kishor says, “The bullet train runs in Gujarat, but passenger trains run in Bihar.” How do you see these kinds of statements that come up during election season?

Amit Shah:

These are typical election-time remarks. But I want to ask Lalu Prasad Yadav ji — during whose time was the Barauni factory shut down? It was during their alliance’s time. And who reopened it? Modi ji did. Who set up so many ethanol plants? — Modi ji. Who brought the petroleum refinery? — Modi ji.

Who established the PM MITRA textile park, with thousands of crores in investment? — Modi ji. All the industrialization of Bihar that was shut down — that happened during Lalu ji’s time, due to law and order collapse. For 20 years, Nitish Babu restored law and order, and Modi ji improved the infrastructure. Now, power plants, industries, IT parks, and top educational institutions are being built here.

Rahul Joshi:

Rahul Gandhi started his campaign here calling it the “Vot Chori Yatra” — the “Vote Theft Yatra.” Then he went abroad and came back. How big is the issue of vote-stealing? He’s claimed that you stole the elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, and now you’ll do the same in Bihar. How do you respond to that?

Amit Shah:

Honestly, I often fail to understand how the Congress party even thinks. They were showing some presentation about Karnataka —Who’s in power in Karnataka?

Rahul Joshi:

Congress itself.

Amit Shah:

So, did they “steal votes” from themselves there too? They were also citing Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress is in government. As for Bihar, they launched the so-called “Vote Theft Yatra” because, under the Election Commission’s drive, illegal infiltrators were being identified and removed from the voter lists. So I want to ask the people of Bihar — Should infiltrators have a place on Bihar’s voter list? Our stand is crystal clear —No infiltrator should have the right to vote in India.

And these people (the opposition) allow infiltration and protect infiltrators because they consider them their vote bank. Rahul Baba can go on as many yatras as he wants — the Modi government will continue to identify and remove infiltrators one by one. That is our firm commitment.

Rahul Joshi:

So, in this recent SIR exercise in Bihar, many infiltrators were caught and removed?

Amit Shah:

Yes, many names were removed from the voter list — those who couldn’t prove Indian citizenship. If someone is truly an Indian citizen, they can easily show their documents. Neither you nor I would have a problem if asked for proof — we’d simply show it. And look at the data — only three appeals came in after names were struck off. If injustice had really been done, there would have been hundreds of appeals, right? That means those whose names were deleted were genuinely not Indian citizens. Rahul ji, in opposing Modi ji during elections, has now gone so far as to insult “Chhath Maiya.”

Rahul Joshi:

He has said something today.

Amit Shah:

Yes. In the whole country, on the day of Chhath festival the whole country prays with their hearts, gives alms, and also receives its prasad. If Modiji respects Chhath festival, and he sees it as a drama, then Rahul Ji is not insulting Modi Ji, Rahul Ji has insulted all the devotees of Chhath Maiya. He has insulted Bihar and all the Purvanchalis. And I believe that in this election he will have to suffer a huge loss because of that. And secondly, this is not the first time Congress has stooped low to insult Modi ji — they’ve crossed limits many times, even trying to insult his mother. But every time they’ve done so, the lotus (BJP’s symbol) has bloomed even more beautifully from the mud they threw. I’m confident that in this Bihar election too, the people will respond strongly to both the insult of Chhath Maiya and the insult of Modi ji. On the day of Election, on 6th and 11th, the UPA will have to suffer a huge loss.

Rahul Joshi:

Now, as soon as Tejashwi ji was projected as the Chief Ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan, we saw action begin again in the Land-for-Jobs scam case.

Amit Shah:

Where is he going to be?

Rahul Joshi:

I mean he has already announced his candidacy.

Amit Shah:

He can make you a candidate also. They’re neither getting a majority nor he is going to be Chief Minister. They’re just daydreaming, brother.

Rahul Joshi:

So what he’s saying is that as soon as his name was announced, the proceedings in Delhi related to the LARA scam began. He’s calling it “witch hunting.” How do you see it?

Amit Shah:

Look, you should study that case a bit. That’s a very old FIR, and the proceedings didn’t just start now — they’ve been going on for a long time. In the criminal justice system, a stay order usually comes into effect when charges are framed. They had taken a stay against the framing of charges long ago, which is why the session court couldn’t proceed with it. Now that the stay has been lifted, the charges have been framed — it’s just a coincidence. And there are so many cases against him anyway. Even today, Lalu Ji is a convicted person who is out on bail. Where’s the surprise in that? There is a need to register cases — there are many cases.

Rahul Joshi:

The Waqf law is also being raised in this election atmosphere; Tejashwi ji and the Congress have all said that as soon as they come to power they will throw it into the dustbin, right?

Amit Shah:

Do they understand the Constitution? Do they understand the law? I don’t want to go into the details, but I do want to tell the people of Bihar and the country: as long as even one BJP MP is in Parliament, the reforms to the Waqf law will not be touched — that is the BJP’s promise.

Rahul Joshi:

Another issue the opposition repeatedly raises is inflation, unemployment, and migration. They say that so many graduates here in Bihar cannot find jobs, people have to move out of the state for employment, and unemployment is increasing. How do you see this?

Amit Shah:

Look, jobs alone are not the only issue. Earlier in Bihar’s villages, people didn’t even have access to clean drinking water or electricity in their homes. I’ve seen it myself — people used to bring small inverters and sit in shops just to charge them. Today, Bihar gets electricity 24 hours a day. Every household has water, every household has a toilet. After building infrastructure and power plants, a large amount of investment has come in. And now, on this foundation, a big structure is going to rise — and only Nitish ji and Modi ji can make that happen. Lalu ji had ruined the once-flourishing Bihar through his “jungle raj.”

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, how do you view the prohibition (liquor ban) in this election? It has also become an issue — opposition parties, including Tejashwi ji, have said that if they come to power, they will lift the ban on liquor. Some other parties have also said that if they come to power, they will lift the liquor ban within an hour. How do you see this?

Amit Shah:

Look, Nitish babu, with great intent, has given the mothers and sisters of Bihar the opportunity to live a respectful life through prohibition. It is the policy of the NDA government, and all partners of the NDA are united on this and fully support it.

Rahul Joshi:

Let’s talk a bit about election promises. Your alliance has also made some, and the opposition has made theirs. I’ll start with yours.

Amit Shah:

Our promises haven’t even come out yet. We’ve already delivered on our commitments — the promises are yet to come, brother!

Rahul Joshi:

You’ve given ₹10,000 each to around 1.41 crore women and created an entrepreneurial setup through cooperatives to empower women. You’ve also promised free electricity up to a certain limit.

Amit Shah:

That’s not a promise — that’s already done.

Rahul Joshi:

But won’t this have an impact on Bihar’s budget? Isn’t all this “freebies” culture?

Amit Shah:

Look, all of this has been calculated keeping Bihar’s expected GSDP growth and fiscal deficit in mind. These are sustainable welfare measures. And forgive me, but this is part of a continuous program to empower the poor — we gave them houses, electricity, gas, toilets, five kilos of grain, medical insurance worth up to ₹5 lakh — meaning free healthcare. Now, after all this, they need to work. But they have no capital. Earlier, whatever they earned was spent on wood, kerosene, medicines, and food. Now that they’re free from these burdens, the ₹10,000 we’re giving them is seed money — capital to start small businesses. And it won’t stop at ₹10,000 — this seed money will be used to help them access loans up to ₹2 lakh so that the poor in Bihar can start small enterprises and move toward self-reliance. This effort — giving ₹2 lakh loans to the poor for small businesses, and at the same time, building large infrastructure projects to generate employment — is a scientifically designed program. The opposition and the media should not pick one element in isolation to discredit it.

Rahul Joshi:

Tejashwi ji is saying that if his government comes to power, every household in Bihar will get a government job. Do you think that’s possible?

Amit Shah:

Do you really believe that?

Rahul Joshi:

No, I just want to look at the numbers. Right now, there are only about 25–26 lakh government jobs, and they’re promising jobs to nearly 3 crore families.

Amit Shah:

So many WhatsApp messages have come to me saying this — they claim to have already given 20 lakh jobs, and now they’re promising jobs to 2 crore 80 lakh families. If you calculate it — 2 crore 60 lakh jobs multiplied by an average salary of ₹40,000 — that amounts to ₹12 lakh crore, which is three times the total budget of Bihar. Now, they think that whatever they say, people will just believe it — but they’re underestimating the youth of Bihar. I’ve even received WhatsApp messages from people in Bihar asking, “Where will they get that kind of money?” But see, their approach is this: why be stingy with promises? They know they’re not going to come to power, so they’ll never have to fulfill these commitments. That’s why they’ve made such baseless declarations in their manifesto.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, we’ve discussed many questions about Bihar, but I want to ask you something more general. It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken. The issue of Naxalism has been one of India’s biggest internal security problems for decades. You had taken an aggressive target and timeline, stating that by March next year, it would be completely eradicated. A lot of Naxalites have surrendered, and much progress has been made. But in the remaining eleven districts where Naxalism still exists — are you still confident about your deadline?

Amit Shah:

Absolutely. I firmly believe that by 31st March 2026, the country will be completely free from Naxalism. Bihar itself has already become free of it — and that’s why, now in Bihar, voting will not stop at 3 p.m. anymore; it will continue until 5 p.m. across the state.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, I have a few follow-up questions. How many Naxals are left? By when will they be finished? What further action will be taken?

Amit Shah:

Rahul ji, you will get tired. Don’t bother counting them out loud, — that actually helps you. I want to tell the people of the country this much: for eleven years the Narendra Modi government has been working on this. After 2019 we put in detailed planning. More than six hundred and fifty camps have been set up. A large number of Naxals have surrendered, and from among them a police unit called the DRG was formed. Because Chhattisgarh had a Congress government earlier, our efforts were stalled. Now the people of Chhattisgarh have elected a BJP government, which is very favourable for us.

I firmly believe that by 31 March 2026 Naxalism will be eliminated from this country. Through your platform I want to say once again to the Naxals: the doors for surrender are open. Many people have already surrendered and laid down their arms — you should surrender too. But if you don’t surrender, we have an operational plan ready. Whether they surrender or not, this country will be freed of Naxalism by March 2026.

Rahul Joshi:

The Left parties say that these are extra-judicial killings — that we should talk to them. And then when these people are released from jail, what should we do?

Amit Shah:

Our government’s policy is very clear: we will never talk to anyone who holds a weapon in their hand. Do people talk with a gun held to their temple? And what is there to talk about anyway? Wherever areas have been freed from Naxal influence, every village there has received water, electricity, ration cards, food grains, medicines, schools, and mobile towers. Employment schemes have also reached those places. So this kind of talk is not possible. This only proves that the Congress party and the Left parties have been ideologically nurturing the Naxals — that’s why they’re issuing statements in their support. Hundreds of Adivasis have been killed; some lost their legs, some their arms. Hundreds of our soldiers have been martyred. Don’t they have human rights too?  What kind of conversation can you have — who would you talk to? If someone is sitting there with an AK-47 in their hand, you can’t talk to them. Those who surrender will be brought back into the mainstream; those who don’t surrender will have to face the police.

Rahul Joshi:

Let’s talk a little about GST. Your government cut income-tax rates in last year’s budget, which benefited the middle class a lot. Now that GST has been rationalized nationally, people also have a lot more money in their hands. Do you think an ordinary person has really benefited from this, and will it boost economic activity and investment?

Amit Shah:

Yes, people have benefited. 359 items that were taxed at 28% and 18% have been brought down to 5% or 0%, and most of those items are everyday consumer goods that our mothers and sisters buy. To ensure that the full benefit is passed on to consumers, the Finance Ministry set up a committee. It is being closely monitored and the benefits are being passed through. That is why this Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj season has seen record-breaking purchases, traders are very happy, and women are happy too.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, I’ve also heard that you have launched a major offensive against drugs and drug cartels — that you have a big plan to root them out of the country. Can you tell us what your targets are and how you’re approaching this?

Amit Shah:

This is a very serious problem — one that is hollowing out our coming generations. In the past five years, we have built the entire infrastructure needed to fight it. Over these five years — and especially in the last three — we have repeatedly broken our own records: in seizing drugs, in destroying them publicly, and in arresting a large number of criminals involved.

Now, all the police forces of India’s states and the central agencies are working together with a coordinated plan to go after the big fish in these drug cartels. I am confident that within the next two to three years, there will be a drastic reduction in drug activity across India, and our police forces will achieve major success. Everyone — all states, all agencies — will stand united in this war against the menace of drugs.

Rahul Joshi:

I also wanted to ask about the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has announced that it will conduct it across twelve states and union territories. But several states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have said they will not allow it under any circumstances. Do you think this exercise can still be carried out?

Amit Shah:

That’s for the Election Commission to decide — it has full authority over this. But as far as our party and the NDA are concerned, we fully support the Election Commission’s SIR initiative. And this isn’t happening for the first time — similar exercises were carried out multiple times between 1955 and 2004, even during Congress governments. Every year, so many people pass away, new voters become eligible, many change their addresses, and unfortunately, a large number of illegal infiltrators also enter. So it’s absolutely essential to purify the voter list. I don’t understand why the opposition is opposing it instead of cooperating. They seem to want a tainted voter list, one that allows them to hide the real mandate of the people. Otherwise, everyone should support this process.

The Election Commission has given every party the freedom to appoint its agents at each booth and ensured hearings at every level. The matter even went to the Supreme Court, which has approved it. So what’s the objection now? The only reason for opposing it, especially in Bengal, is to protect illegal infiltrators. That’s why the Chief Minister of West Bengal is opposing the SIR exercise. The Bharatiya Janata Party and NDA stands firmly with the Election Commission in support of both the SIR and the error-correction exercise across the country.

Rahul Joshi:

Since you mentioned Bengal — its election is also due next year. What will be the BJP’s strategy this time? In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, you secured 41 percent vote share and performed very well, but in the last state election, you couldn’t form the government, even though you won 77 seats. What will your strategy be this time, and do you believe you can form the government in West Bengal?

Amit Shah:

You can’t look at elections that simplistically — saying “you didn’t win the state election.” What actually happened in that election. The Bharatiya Janata Party had only four seats earlier — now we have 77. A party more than a hundred years old, the Congress Party, which ruled Bengal for half a century, has been reduced to zero seats. The Communists, who ruled for twenty-five years, also have zero seats in Bengal. So, the BJP has now established its foundation there — a strong base — and upon that foundation, a great structure will rise. This time, I am confident that in the upcoming Bengal election, the BJP will certainly form the government.

Rahul Joshi:

Will you fight the Bengal election with a chief ministerial face, or like before, under Modi ji’s leadership as the face of the campaign?

Amit Shah:

That decision will be taken by the Bengal unit of the party. Right now, everyone’s focus is on the Bihar elections. Once those are over, and when the Bengal election comes closer, we’ll sit together and decide.

Rahul Joshi:

I’d like to ask about Tamil Nadu — you currently have an alliance with the AIADMK, but there’s speculation that you’re also in touch with Vivek ji and perhaps others. Can you clarify what’s happening there?

Amit Shah:

Whatever decision we take will be made collectively by all the NDA allies sitting together. One thing is certain — we want to expand the NDA.

Rahul Joshi:

So you’re not denying that talks could be happening?

Amit Shah:

I didn’t say that talks are happening, but I also didn’t say that they aren’t. What I said is that any decision will be taken jointly by NDA partners.

Rahul Joshi:

There are also reports that Congress is trying to talk to them too.

Amit Shah:

They’re free to — everyone can talk to anyone. What’s the issue in that?

Rahul Joshi:

Let’s talk about Kerala. You said earlier that the BJP expects to win 25% of the seats in the local body elections there. There’s also a state election coming up — what are your expectations for that? Out of 140 assembly seats, how many do you think you can win?

Amit Shah:

In the upcoming panchayat, municipality, and municipal corporation elections, the BJP will secure around 25% of the vote share in Kerala, and we will also win a substantial number of seats.

Rahul Joshi:

Just one or two final questions. One I’ve asked before — when will the BJP announce its new national president?

Amit Shah:

That will happen after the Bihar elections — sometime later, but definitely after the elections.

Rahul Joshi:

Lastly, Amit ji, you’re known for always wearing khadi. I’ve read about this and spoken to you about it before, but could you tell us again — when did this begin, and what’s the story behind it?

Amit Shah:

My mother was the one who inspired me to start wearing khadi. At that time, I didn’t really understand its significance. But today, I realize that the idea of khadi is as relevant today as it was in 1920. If by wearing khadi, even one poor person — a weaver or a woman — gets a livelihood, then there is no cloth more sacred than this.

I urge every family in India: there are many things in every home — pillow covers, bedsheets, towels — that can easily be made of khadi. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission also offers a wide range of food products and household goods. Promote khadi — because it provides employment for the poor, strengthens both self-reliance and the spirit of swadeshi, and is deeply tied to India’s identity. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the turnover of khadi has multiplied hundreds of times, thanks to the policies of the BJP and the NDA government.

I’m glad you asked this question — it gives me a chance to appeal once again. Especially to the youth, I say: try wearing khadi once. You’ll feel a connection with the poor of this country — you’ll feel their pain in your heart.

Rahul Joshi:

Amit ji, thank you very much for joining us here in Bihar. News18 Bihar is one of the state’s most popular and widely viewed channels, with an 80% market share, and today through our national network, you’ve reached audiences across the country. Let’s give a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Amit Shah — thank you very much, and best wishes for the upcoming elections.

Amit Shah:

Thank you.