Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that India is not neutral but firmly committed to peace. In a podcast interview with AI researcher and US-based podcaster Lex Fridman, Mr Modi emphasised that the world listens whenever India speaks of peace because it is the land of Gautam Budhha and Mahatma Gandhi. He said, Indians espouse harmony and stand for peace.
Replying to a question on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi termed Pakistan a global epicentre of turmoil. He said, Pakistan chose not to foster a harmonious coexistence after Partition and chose to wage a proxy war against India. He stressed that India has continuously urged Pakistan to abandon the path of state sponsored terrorism. Prime Minister Modi expressed hope that wisdom prevails upon Pakistan and it will choose the path of peace, noting that even its people desire stability.
Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Mr Modi stressed that resolution to the conflict will come only when both nations come to the negotiating table. He added that the current situation provides an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Russia and Ukraine.
On India-China relations, Mr Modi opined that strong relations between the two countries should continue in the future. He said the focus is to ensure that difference do not turn to disputes. He stressed that a stable and cooperative relationship can only be built if the focus is on dialogue and not discord.
On US President Donald Trump calling him a tough negotiator, Mr Modi said that he stands firm with India’s interest on top on all platforms, without intending any harm to others.
Prime Minister Modi said that he came to politics only to serve the people and he never bothered about power. In the podcast, Mr Modi elaborated that trust is the cornerstone of his governance model. He said his governance is rooted in the people and not the polls.
Mr Modi stated that there were 980 million registered voters for the 2024 General elections, which is twice the entire population of North America. He informed that there are 2500 political parties in India and more than 900 round the clock news channels. Mr Modi emphasised that all of these play a role in upholding democracy in their own way. He also added that India’s Election Commission has set a global benchmark for conducting free and fair elections.
