Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Congress’ charges of him favoring few wealthy people and said that he is ready to face punishment if he has been dishonest.
In an interview with India Today TV, PM Modi addressed the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's charge that his government favors some select industrialists.
"If I have done dishonesty, then I should be hanged. If I have (benefitted anyone) in the wrong way, then I should be hanged. But I will respect the wealth creators in my country," Modi said.
While defending his support for wealth creators of the country, Modi said he will respect them but if any wrongdoing is proven on his part, he is ready to face the consequences.
"I include sportspersons and achievers in the guest list of August 15 event. If the country doesn’t worship and value its achievers, then how will we get people who will become scientists and do PhDs? Achievers from all walks of life should be respected," he said.
Modi also recalled Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was also called similar names like ‘Birla-Tata ki sarkar’.
"(Jawaharlal) Nehru ji used to face abuses in Parliament like Birla-Tata ki sarkar. Now this family's (Gandhi's) problem is that they want me to face the same abuses,” he added.
PM Modi said he worries equally about wealth creators and labourers. "For me, it should be the money of the capitalists, the brains of management people, and the sweat of hard workers which is needed for development," he said.
The PM also shed light on his decision not to hold press conferences, saying, there has been shifts in the role of the media and the emergence of diverse communication channels for articulating his viewpoints.
He clarified that he hasn't declined interviews, but he has chosen to avoid conventional press conferences due to concerns over media practices.
