April 18, 2014 New Delhi: In an attempt to reach out to the electorate, Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial pick and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that if the BJP-led government is formed at the Centre, its economic policy will be pro-people and in favour of India's business interest. "I am committed to the poor and their upliftment," he said in an exclusive interview to Network18.
The BJP leader also put a huge emphasis on protecting the manufacturing sector. "We have to protect the manufacturing sector of India. If we are unable to protect manufacturing sector and small scaleindustries then our youth's future will be destroyed," Modi added.
Speaking on FDI, Modi said that not just retail logic, but manufacturing logic must also be kept in mind. "We have to protect small scale industries and have a holistic approach towards FDI," he said.
While giving a perspective on his economic agenda if he becomes the Prime Minister, Modi said, "PSUs should be allowed to recover from their debts. They should not be branded as loss-making entities. Centre has to take states on board in the matter of generalsales tax or GST."
"We have always been on the side of the goods and services tax. But its success lies on a proper information technology network across the country. Unless a proper IT network is laid, implementing this tax is impossible," he added.
The BJP leader also stressed that centralised form ofgovernment is bad for the country. "If PM and CMs work together the country can progress. Centre and state should work like a family," Modi said.
However, he maintained that a government cannot show signs of improvement just in a few days and appealed for a full term for a BJP-led government. "There is no 100-day model of governance, take stock of our economic policies after 5 years," he said.
Talking about the industrial sector, Modi assured that India's manufacturing sector will be given sops to encourage growth. "We will not reduce subsidies and no crony capitalism will be tolerated," he said adding that he maintained an honest relationship with thecorporate sector.
On foreign policy, Modi said that trade, commerce and technology would be the driving factors in Indo-USdiplomatic relations if the BJP came to power at the centre.
"It is in India's interest to promote trade, commerceand technology. We will do whatever is necessary to that effect," he said adding that the parameters of diplomacy have changed drastically in the post-globalization era.
Claiming that India has been ruled by pseudo secularism for way too long, Modi yet again said that he would never indulge in divisive politics. "The country is fed-up with Hindu-Muslim terminology. I cannot accept a divide between brothers of the country in the name of secularism. In the name of secularism, the nation has been divided," the BJP leader further said.
"I will never commit the sin of appealing to one community. I will not say anything to Hindus or Muslims. I will only appeal to my fellow Indians. They will then decide. But I will never engage in divisive politics even if it means that I lose the elections. We are all fellow citizens and that is my firm belief. I have succeeded in Gujarat and I will succeed in India," he exuded confidence.
Modi, however, put his weight behind the RSS saying it is an important cultural organisation and it has never forced anything on anyone.
The BJP leader also reiterated that if the BJP came to power it will send a list of tainted MPs to the Supreme Court.
"It is important that there is speedy judicial process. If the charges against an MP are found correct, he would have to resign," Modi said.