INDI Alliance leaders working to serve dynasties, not India: Anurag Thakur

With the 17th Lok Sabha ending on Saturday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, in an interview with Aditi Tandon, on Sunday said the “Modi guarantees” would ensure the NDA’s return to power with 400 plus seats. Thakur, government’s chief spokesperson, also said the Opposition ‘INDI Alliance’ was crumbling under the weight of its own contradictions. Excerpts:

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We would have welcomed an Opposition that works. Sadly, we have an Opposition that is dysfunctional and politically fragile… INDI Alliance has very quickly crumbled under the weight of inherent contradictions and greed for power.

Contrary to the expectations, the Interim Budget was a no-sop exercise. Why so?

It is tempting to use the Interim Budget of an election year for freebies. The actual Budget that comes after the elections then takes away what was given before. An irresponsible government, one that knows it won’t win, would indulge in such desperate measures. The Congress-led UPA did this in 2014. We have prioritised economic discipline over short-term gains.

What are the government’s top achievements in 10 years and areas for improvement?

Among visible achievements are: One, taking the Indian economy out of the ‘fragile five’ to ‘top five’. Two, positioning India as more than just a regional power. The global embrace of India as a country whose voice matters in the post-pandemic world has catapulted us to a position unthinkable a decade ago. Three, securing India’s frontiers. India has dealt with challenges to its border security with a never-before-seen ability. Among invisible achievements, the most prominent is restoring people’s faith in the government which had eroded during the UPA years. Global studies have shown that faith in our government is among the highest in the world.

You have taken on some foreign media outfits over India-related coverage.

Upon taking over as I&B Minister, I had shared a straightforward message with the foreign media in Delhi: “You do your job, we’ll do ours”. Since then, our approach has been met with a more balanced response, with acknowledgment of India’s economic achievements, but also with the occasional fact-free content. Unless the content is detrimental to our security and integrity or calls for violence, we don’t interfere. But we are committed to a safe digital media space and have stepped up fact-checking efforts to counter malicious misinformation.

Has India’s projection in the global media changed?

Undoubtedly. During Covid, there was unbelievably lurid reporting seeking to create a fearsome picture of India and the government. Today, the world concedes that India handled the crisis far better than others. India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy has also led to a shift from skepticism to admiration.

Who’s BJP’s main challenger in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls?

I don’t see any challenger. We are confident of winning the election with a larger margin – Ab ki baar 400 paar. We would have welcomed an Opposition that works. Sadly, we have an Opposition that is dysfunctional and politically fragile.

INDIA bloc leaders say probe agencies are being misused to target and break them up. Your take.

The accusations are a desperate attempt to deflect the attention from their own internal disarray. The INDI Alliance, announced with great fanfare, has very quickly crumbled under the weight of inherent contradictions and greed for power. Instead of collectively working for the nation, each one of them is dedicated to working for their presiding dynasties and protecting the interests of their first families.

Will the SAD, Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena and AIADMK return to the NDA?

I can’t predict the future decisions of other parties, but the NDA has always been an alliance based on the shared goal of serving national interests. The dynamics of political alliances are ever-evolving and decisions are made in the best interests of the people.

Some global agencies have lowered India’s press and democracy rankings.

Downgrading India’s press freedom or democracy on the basis of spurious assessments and bogus claims is of no consequence. Had these reports carried any conviction, world democracies wouldn’t have embraced the Modi government or shown extraordinary eagerness to do business with it.

Are we ready for the 2036 Olympic bid?

The IOA and the government are developing a comprehensive bid document outlining India’s plans for hosting the Games. We are leaving no stone unturned. We are also investing heavily in new infrastructure. The prospects of hosting the Summer Olympics will be the realisation of an age-old dream for Bharat.

What about friction in HP BJP? Veterans Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal are lying low.

The BJP is the world’s largest political party. It functions through collective leadership. We will contest the Lok Sabha elections as a united force.

Can you describe PM Modi as a person and leader?

PM Modi and citizen Modi are a single persona — compassionate and committed, a believer in the innate abilities of India and its people, dedicated to his life mission of transforming India into Vishwa Guru.