Opposition weakening democracy, people will hold them accountable: Amit Shah | Key takeaways from Network18 interview

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, in a candid conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, touched upon a wide range of issues—from democracy and governance to national security, foreign policy, GST reforms, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Opposition Weakening Democracy

Union Home Minister Amit Shah warned that the kind of language being used by the opposition was “weakening the very roots of democracy.” He stressed that “such individuals must be held accountable by the people.” He further said the public should punish those who have spoken disrespectfully about Prime Minister Modi’s late mother.

Parliamentary Discipline Is Paramount

The Home Minister asserted that Parliament cannot function in a “free-style, disorderly manner.” He emphasised the importance of discipline to uphold the dignity of democratic institutions.

Modi’s Global Ties Benefiting India

Highlighting foreign policy, Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Modi’s personal relationships with global leaders were “for India” and had led to “decisions that significantly benefitted the country.”

Historic Security Achievements

Reflecting on Modi’s 11 years in power, Amit Shah said, “The work done to secure the nation, contain terrorism, and strengthen the conviction that Kashmir is an integral part of India will be remembered for centuries.” He cited operations like Operation Sindoor and Mahadev as examples of the government’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

GST: A Game-Changer

On economic reforms, Amit Shah hailed GST as a historic step that unified 16 different taxes into a single framework, making the system more citizen-centric. “It increased national revenue. The new GST reforms will boost exports. There hasn’t been a tax cut of this scale previously. This will benefit everyone,” he said. He added that these reforms would energise markets and attract investment.

Battling COVID-19

Calling the successful fight against COVID-19 a “major achievement,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted that the Modi government’s management of the pandemic reflected decisive leadership and effective governance.

Modi’s Legacy on Poverty & Economy

Shah stressed that Prime Minister Modi did not just raise the slogan of eradicating poverty but implemented it on the ground. He highlighted strengthening of both national security and the economy as the government’s defining accomplishments.

No PM Has Achieved So Much

Amit Shah said, “No Prime Minister in a decade has achieved as much as Prime Minister Modi has,” underscoring the breadth of reforms and initiatives under his leadership.