Speaking of his priorities if and when he comes to power Modi said, "What should be the priority after forming a government is clear in my head. I have a commitment. Our priority is the poor, the youth, women, farmers and jawans. Lal Bahadur Shastri had said 'Jai jawan jai kisan'. The way farmers are committing suicide and jawans being beheaded it seems like Congress' slogan is 'mar jawan mar kisan.
"Our priority is to change things for these people. We want to create skill development for the youth. I want to run a government to empower the people. That is our target," he said. Modi was of the opinion that farmers need to be given the right skills and equipment to increase their produce. "Today if we have to make our farmers self sufficient we have to think of increasing production since we cant increase land. Farmers are not aware of scientific ways to increase production. We can also connect big rivers with small rivers to improve irrigation. If we also look at farming trees then the country wouldn't have to import timber.
he said. Modi said he also plans to improve tourism. "If we concentrate on tourism even the poorest of people will earn money. People starting from chaiwallas to handicraft workers. Terrorism divides. Tourism unites," he said.
Modi, in details, outlined his ideas on improving the health sector. "We are stuck on health insurance. But health assurance is needed. We think of diseases but not of health. We should change our focus. Preventive health care should be our priority," he said. "If people get clean water diseases will reduce. Children should be taught little things like cleanliness. Gandhiji has emphasised on cleanliness all his life. We should also concentrate on that. We should also have medical colleges in every district, students from there can become doctors in villages," he said.
While Modi has been extremely critical of UPA's economy, he said that improvement can be brought about by using technology and giving more autonomy to states. "We need to simplify laws and shortcut the process. We should use technology to reduce files and connecting different departments. Centre's policy should be such that each state is allowed to function according to its own needs. Today there is no environment for the state and Centre to work together," he said.
Modi, who has in the past raked up the issue of Pakistani army beheading India soldier over and over again during his rallies, also said that the UPA government had failed even in the defence department. "All departments of the Indian government have miserably failed. Aviation and foreign policy have failed. There is tension between the army and the defence ministry. Our army should be modernised. There should be coordination between the government and defence." "UPA has no vision or commitment. Protecting the country is not their priority. We import defence equipment worth billions. Can Indian youth not make their own equipment? We should have a dream to export defence equipment," said Modi.
Modi also spoke about women's empowerment and discrimination, something that India has been struggling with for quite a while. "Women empowerment should be thought about. Discrimination between men and women should be worked on. Women should have the right to decide about their own lives. They should be able to decide when they want to get married, what they want to study, how they want their careers to grow," he said. Modi has often been termed dictator by his critics. It has also been reported that he takes all the decisions by himself, in a short reply to a question on the subject, Modi said, "Can a huge state like Gujarat be successful if I was the only one taking decisions? I take advice from everyone. Only then I take a decision.
" Modi became an RSS pracharak at a young age and credits the organisation for his convictions. "It is the RSS that showed me how to work for people," he said. "In a democracy people are god, they will decide my future. As far as I am concerned everyone knows where I was born and how I grew up," he said about his hopes on becoming the prime minister. On his dreams and ambitions Modi said, "No one should dream of becoming anything. I have never dreamed of anything. People should dream of working and give up their lives to do that work. I left my home, my family only with the purpose of doing good for the people. For me politics is not my ambition, but a mission.
" Speaking of his inspirations, Modi said he was inspired by Swami Vivekananda's revolutionary ideas as a child. "I have been impressed by Swami Vivekananda. He was a sanyasi, he believed in serving the country. He said that serving the poor is like serving god. He said don't always study but play football, that appealed to me as a child," Modi said.
Modi said he has many interests including music. "I like listening to music. Instrumental music is my favourite," he said. Modi said that despite being an avid reader during his youth, he doesn't read much any more. "I used to read a lot in the library in my village when I was young. I used to read whatever little was available in the library. But now the habit has faded," he said.
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