Responding strongly to attacks on him by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday implied that she wielded real power during the United Progressive Alliance rule as an "extra-constitutional" authority whereas his government was run only by constitutional means.
Dismissing the Congress president's accusation that the National Democratic Alliance government was showing "obstinate arrogance" in Parliament and that it was a government by "one person", Modi said, "Perhaps, she is referring to the fact that earlier extra-constitutional authorities were the ones really wielding power."
He went on to say that power was now "wielded only by constitutional means". If the charge is that "we are working through constitutional channels and not listening to any extra constitutional authorities, then I plead guilty to that charge."
The prime minister spoke about the attacks on him by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the land acquisition and GST bills, criticism of his foreign tours, "concentration" of power in the Prime Minister’s Office, reforms and a wide variety of other topics in an interview to PTI in New Delhi.
Hitting back at Rahul for his "suit-boot ki sarkar" jibe, Modi said that the Congress had not been able to "digest" its crushing defeat in Lok Sabha polls even after one year.
"The people have punished them for their sins of omission and commission. We thought they would learn from this, but it looks as though they are proving right the earlier saying that if con is the opposite of pro, then Congress is the opposite of progress," he said.
Countering the charge concentrating powers in PMO, Modi said that increased powers had been delegated to individual ministries with the result that many decisions that earlier needed to come to the PM and the Cabinet can now be taken by ministries themselves.
He said that the financial delegation for ministries had been trebled and devolution to the states had been increased.
“We have not made any changes in the business rules of the government and decisions are taken by those authorised to take them,” he maintained.
On land acquisition bill on which he has been charged by the opposition with favouring the corporates, Modi said that while he did not want to get into political mudslinging, the subject of land was not with the central government which did not require lands. All rights relating to lands are with the states.
“The 120-year-old l and acquisition act was amended by the previous government without even 120 minutes of discussion in Parliament. Thinking the bill was good for farmers, we also supported it at that time.
“Later, many complaints came from the states. One should not be so arrogant as to avoid correcting mistakes. So we brought the bill to rectify the errors, that too in response to the demands of the states. Anyone who looks at our proposed amendments without politically-tinted glasses will give us full marks,” he said.
Asked if the government was open to suggestions on the bill, the PM replied, “Gaon (village), garib (poor), kisan (farmer)-if the suggestions are favourable to these downtrodden groups and are in the interest of the nation, we will accept those suggestions.”
Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photograph: http://www.narendramodi.in
