In a podcast of American Scientist Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about his journey, his life, international relations, role of international organisations, among other issues. Following are some of the excerpts from the Podcast.
Drawing lessons from COVID
PM Modi drew lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the vulnerabilities of every nation. He said, “Covid-19 has exposed the limitations of all of us. No matter how much we consider ourselves a great nation, very progressive, very scientifically advanced, whatever it may be, everyone in their own way, but in the times of Covid-19, we all came down to earth, every country of the world. And then it seemed that the world would learn something from it, and we would move towards a new world order. But unfortunately, the situation was such that instead of moving towards peace, the world disintegrated, a period of uncertainty came, and the war put it in more trouble.”
International Organisations
The Prime Minister slammed UN and other international organisations saying, they have become almost irrelevant in the current global order. He said, “The international organisations that were created have become almost irrelevant, there is no reform in them. Institutions like the UN cannot play their role. People in the world who do not care about laws and rules are doing everything, no one is able to stop them.”
He further added, “As I said earlier, the world is interdependent, interconnected…Everyone needs everyone, no one can do anything alone. And I see that in all the different forums I have to go to, everyone is worried about conflict. We hope to get relief from it very soon.”
Conflict with China
Speaking on conflict with China PM said, “Of course, differences are natural. When two neighboring countries exist, occasional disagreements are bound to happen. Even within a family, not everything is always perfect. But our focus is to ensure that these differences don’t turn into disputes. That’s what we actively work toward. Instead of discord, we emphasise dialogue, because only through dialogue can we build a stable cooperative relationship that serves the best interests of both nations”.
Relations with Pakistan
PM Modi reflected on India’s painful partition in 1947, and spoke about the tragic bloodshed and displacement that followed. He expressed disappointment that, despite India’s efforts for peaceful coexistence, Pakistan has repeatedly chosen hostility, engaging in proxy wars and fostering terrorism. Citing examples like Osama bin Laden’s refuge in Pakistan, he described the country as a global epicenter of terrorism.
“When I became Prime Minister, I specially invited Pakistan to my swearing-in ceremony so we could turn over a new leaf. Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal. We sincerely hope that wisdom prevails upon them and they choose the path of peace. I believe even the people of Pakistan long for peace because even they must be weary of living in strife and unrest, they must have grown weary of relentless terror where even innocent children are killed and countless lives are destroyed,” Modi said.
US President Donald Trump
PM Modi spoke about US President Donald Trump, who had called him a tough negotiator and described it as Trump’s generosity. He emphasised that just as Trump prioritises America, he prioritises India, always placing the nation’s interests first without seeking harm to others.
“I have observed President Trump both during his first term and now in his second run. This time, he seems far more prepared than before…He has a clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals,” PM Modi said.
