'Okay if they are verbally abusing me,' foundation of abuse must be the truth: PM Modi on taking criticism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan 10 said that he has no qualms if someone including his political opponents abuse him verbally but added that the foundation of the abuse must be truth and there should be no evil in their hearts.

Modi said that mistakes happen and he too is susceptible to making them as he is a human and not god.

"Mistakes happen, and I too can make some. I am also a human, not god," Modi said during his maiden podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath.

He shared his perspective on the changing landscape of politics and the abuses faced in public life.

On facing abuses in the political arena, Modi said, “I am okay if they are verbally abusing me but the foundation of the abuse must be truth and there should be no evil in heart.”

He emphasized the need for sensitivity in public life.

"In every aspect of life, friction exists. However, in politics, you must approach challenges with a sense of service. Without sensitivity, one cannot help people effectively."

Modi shared several anecdotes, including aspects of his childhood, education, entering politics, setbacks, handling stress, and policy management, among others during the two-hour podcast.

"I used to wash the clothes of all my family members. Because of that, I was allowed to go to the pond," Modi said.

The podcast trailer was shared by PM Modi himself on X. "I hope you all enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for you!" Modi wrote.

Modi has been at the receiving end of constant barbs from the opposition parties, throughout various state elections as well as Lok Sabha polls.

Most of the criticism comes from the Congress party, which has often accused Modi of undermining democratic values and the Constitution and has referred to him as “non-biological.”

During the podcast, Modi also shared his vision for a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047, where basic needs like toilets, water, and electricity are available to all, and government schemes are delivered without hindrance.

He highlighted that AI (Aspirational India) would be the driving force behind this vision. Commenting on India’s growing global influence, Modi recalled predicting in 2005 that the world would one day stand in line for an Indian visa, a vision he believes is now coming true.

During the conversation with Kamath, Modi acknowledged his new experience, saying, "This is my first podcast. This world is completely new to me."

Reflecting on his tenure as Gujarat's chief minister, Modi said, "When I became CM, I shared three commitments: I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts, I will not do anything for myself, and I am human may make mistakes, but I will not make mistakes with bad intentions."

He added that these principles became his life's mantra.

‘Strategic attempt at damage control’

Meanwhile, Congress took a jibe at Modi for his recent admission of human fallibility, calling it a strategic attempt at “damage control.”

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh seized the opportunity, contrasting it with Modi's earlier remark about being "sent by God" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ramesh accused Modi of adopting sudden humility to manage public perception.

"In a podcast, Modi now claims he is human and makes mistakes. But just months ago, he proclaimed himself as someone sent by God. This sudden humility is clearly an attempt at damage control," said Ramesh.

Ramesh was referring to a speech Modi gave in 2024, where he declared, "Until my mother was alive, I thought I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. That's why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I'm nothing but an instrument that God has sent."