Exclusive: I don't waste time thinking about elections, says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about his government's development schemes, employment generation, and his view of life

One question that everyone wanted me to ask you is about employment. The latest figures released by the government are optimistic, there have been greater opportunities for the people, but not many trust these figures. For instance, in 2013 you promised that you would generate one crore jobs when you come to power. I have figures from the Labour Ministry. We have been able to generate 4.5 to 5 lakh jobs every year, but to achieve the 1 crore target, we will have to create 20 lakh jobs every year.

In our country, there are two sectors, formal and informal. It is accepted that 10 per cent of the jobs are in formal sector, and 90 per cent are in informal sector. A neutral agency has given a report that in the formal sector, 70 lakh EPF accounts have been opened in one year. These accounts have all personal details, alongside the money that is deposited. The reality is different from what some people are claiming. No one can deny the fact that road construction has doubled in the country, railway tracks are being laid and developed at double the speed. This is a labour intensive job. Now, twice the number of people are required to do these jobs, since the speed has doubled. But this is part of the informal sector, which does not reflect in the reports. In Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, 10 crore people have got Rs 4 lakh crore in form of loans without security. Out of the 10 crore, three crore people have never been sanctioned any loan by any bank. So, it means, that they are first time entrepreneurs. They'll open small businesses like grocery shops, selling newspaper, tea shops... aren't they part of employment generation? If someone opened a small shop outside ZEE studios, and they earn Rs 200 at the end of the day, isn't that part of employment generation? These small businesses are not part of the data, but there is growth in the number of such businesses.

There is an issue which is close to you too: 'jai jawan, jai kisan'. But neither the farmer, nor the soldier were given their due ever. I have figures with me. If you look at the youth too, only 4.5 per cent of our workforce is skilled. There is a backlog from the past. Do you feel that there is a need for a revolution in the field of agriculture? Almost 50 per cent of the population is involved in this sector, but their contribution to the GDP is just 17 per cent. How do we increase this?

We are moving in the right direction. We keep the youth of our country in our hearts and minds when we work. And not just that, we push for skill development. We are working on developing skills which the global workforce needs. We understand the meaning of demographic dividend, and for that, we require skill development. For entrepreneurship, we need the right ecosystem, funds and market. We have ensured that entrepreneurs get the market for their products, and ZEE News must do a show on it.

You would have seen that politics around caste has grown, it is being used as a plank almost everywhere. We have seen slogans like 'we will seize freedom', issues like cow slaughter, freedom of expression, insensitivity, slogans like 'disintegrate Bharat' and the last one being 'democracy is under threat'. Do you feel that it is some kind of propaganda, or are there conditions around us like these?

It is the misfortune of the nation that the use of caste in mainstream politics has been a long-standing practice. Our effort is only to work on the issue of development. There should be politics of performance, politics of integrity, and politics around the future of the nation, and there can be such people in all parties. It is not restricted to any particular political party. There must be people within the media fraternity too, who hold such views. We must keep trying to eliminate such thoughts. We have launched the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Abhiyaan' keeping this in mind. It is to sensitize the future generations to rid them of such thoughts and to think about bigger goals and work to achieve them. It is our responsibility to make it happen.

Do you feel hurt when you hear things like people saying that they should not be forced to sing the national anthem?

There can be debate around the issue if it should be forced or not. We must introspect and think where we faltered in our education system that those principles that the freedom fighters laid their lives for are not being emulated by some people.

Are you thinking about 2019? You must have started thinking about it because many of your schemes which will not be able to give results in five years' time, and they would need another term. Do you feel that you will come back to power in 2019?

I do not waste time thinking about elections. I have reached here because of the faith of 125 crore people of the nation. I have complete faith in them. They will do what they feel like. I am here to fulfil the mandate that I have been chosen for.

Are you thinking about it? Is it at the back of your mind?

Where do I have the time for all of this? The future of 125 crore citizens is my mantra.

You live an ascetic's life. You also have a family of over 125 crore people. You never take off. I have heard that when you are on an overseas visit, you travel in the night, you don't make a stop anywhere in the night and spend it in the plane instead. How are you so energetic even at this age?

I feel that it is my responsibility all the time that has been given to me by God. I would like to put it to optimal use for the benefit of the citizens. We have been hearing of this from our childhood that all our time and energy must be spent for the betterment of the nation. These are lessons that we have learnt in our childhood, the habits that we have acquired. It is true that the way I work is not the best. Some doctor friends of mine tell me not to do so. A few close friends of mine too tell me to keep some time aside for thinking. It is my duty and I will continue to work. I would like to tell the people to continue blessing me to work with greater energy, enthusiasm and dedication.

I just wanted to know if you think about your trajectory of life, the path that you have traversed. You are counted among the top three leaders of the world. You have a tremendous following on social media. Do you get such thoughts?

I feel I am a very detached person. I don't think of superficial things in life. I don't feel any difference between my childhood and my present. I am not a Prime Minister in my head and I don't want it either though I am the PM according to institutions and I fulfil my responsibility. But I feel like a common person.

I remember when I met you first after you became PM, I thought to myself how could you stay alone in such a big house?

I don't even see the entire house. I keep myself to a single room of my own.

Watch the full interview tonight at 8 pm and a repeat telecast at 9 pm on Sunday only on Zee News