Fear Is Good

‘MY INDIA STORY: WHAT LEADING A GREAT COUNTRY TAUGHT ME’

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

I’ve been asked what I learnt as the leader of this country, and I’d like to share my views. After the 2014 election, [when] I came to Delhi, I did not have full know­ ledge of many things—how does the central government run, what is the system—and this was a boon for me. If I was part of the old system, then after the election, I would have fit in as snugly as a well­used latch. But it didn’t happen like that. Before 2014, there used to be debate in your studio too: what does Modi know about what is hap­ pening in the world? He doesn’t understand anything. He is not experienced. What will happen to our foreign policy? Such ques­ tions were only natural, given a person who had only worked in one state. But in the past few days, you’d have seen the effect of India’s new foreign policy.

Today’s India is a new India, a changed India. For us, every single soldier’s blood is precious.

What used to happen earlier? However many people might get killed, however many soldiers martyred, I don’t think you could expect signifi­ cant retaliation. But, now, nobody can threaten India. Our government is com­ mitted to take every step for the interest of the country. Today’s new India is running on a new policy and the whole world has started understanding India. Today’s new India is bold, confident and decisive. Because today the country is moving forward with the courage of 1.25 crore Indians and their faith. This unity of Indians has created fear in the minds of unpatriotic people. And I’m talking about people both inside and outside the country.