PM Modi democratic leader, patient listener: Amit Shah
New Delhi, Oct 10: Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "democratic leader", Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said even his critics will agree that the Union Cabinet has never functioned in such a democratic manner as it is functioning in the Modi government.
Rejecting allegations that Modi is an autocratic leader, Shah said that he has not seen a "patient listener" like the prime minister, who gives importance to all worthy suggestions given by anyone irrespective of their designation or position in the hierarchy.
In an interview to SANSAD TV, the Union minister said Modi does not hesitate in taking political risks for decisions that are in national interest, and at times has taken bitter decisions for the welfare of the nation.
Responding to a question that opposition and critics term Modi an autocratic leader who takes all decisions on his own, Shah described the prime minister as a "democratic leader".
He is a very patient listener and gives importance to all worthy suggestions irrespective of the person's designation, Shah said.
"...I have closely seen both Modi and his style of working. I have never seen a patient listener like him. Whatever may be the issue, he patiently listens to everyone and speaks least, and then takes a proper decision. He takes decisions patiently after considering suggestions given by all including a small-time official or worker," the home minister said.
Underlining that Modi does not impose his decisions, Shah, a former BJP president, said, "Those who have worked with him or at times there are critics also among those who worked with you, they all would agree that the Union Cabinet never functioned in such a democratic way as it is being run in a democratic manner with Modi ji being the prime minister."
Shah said that Modi insists on discipline and therefore, details of some meetings, which are required to be confidential as they are premature, do not come out in public.
The home minister stressed that decisions in every meeting are taken after collective consultation.
Shah said that Modi has always maintained that he is in power to change the country for the better and not merely to run the government.
Therefore, he does not hesitate in taking harsh and risky decisions which may be against the party's supporters but are in the interest of the nation and the people, the minister said.
Noting that one has to take harsh and tough decisions in national interest, Shah said, "When you crack down on black money, bring economic reforms, seal all loopholes of tax evasion, then some people suffer, those who voted for us for years may also suffer."
"It happens, but they also understand that Modi is not going to get anything out of this, eventually it will benefit the country. So, finally every one associates with Modiji," he said.
Shah listed out various achievements of Modi during his 20-year-long public life, especially of his leadership both as Gujarat chief minister and as prime minister at various critical junctures.
Taking on the opposition, Shah said that some opposition parties assume it is the birth right of their leadership to be in power. But Modi changed this by focusing on people-centric and nation first politics, he said.
Shah said he would request friends from these opposition parties, who criticise the government's policies, that if there is corruption in the present government expose it.
"Expose our failures to the people. But don't lower the political standard by resorting to personal attacks," Shah said.
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Sheikh Hasina's plan to travel to UK hits roadblock, may stay in India for now
New Delhi, Aug 6: Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's plan to travel to London has hit a roadblock over some "uncertainties" and she is unlikely to move out of India for the next couple of days, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
Hasina, who landed at the Hindon airbase on Monday in a C-130J military transport aircraft hours after resigning as the prime minister, has been shifted to an unspecified location under tight security, they said.
The former Bangladesh prime minister, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana, planned to leave for London from India to take temporary refuge but the option is not being pursued now. This is after the UK government indicated that she may not get legal protection against any possible probe into the massive violent protests in her country, they said.
The Awami League leader planned to travel to London through India and her aides informed Indian authorities about it before she landed in Hindon, the people cited above said.
Hasina decided to travel to London as Rehana's daughter Tulip Siddiq is a member of the British Parliament. Tulip is economic secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate.
In a statement, British foreign secretary David Lammy said in London on Monday that Bangladesh has seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life in the last two weeks and people of the country "deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events".
An expert familiar with the British government's policy on providing refuge said the "the UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it".
"However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge," he said.
"Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach ' that is the fastest route to safety," he said.
The people in the know said Hasina has apprised New Delhi about her possible future steps. It is also learnt that Hasina has family members in Finland as well and that is why she also contemplated leaving for the northern European country.
While saying that Hasina's travel plans have hit certain issues and she may stay in the country for the next couple of days, the people also described the situation as dynamic with no definitive path or clarity on the matter.
The 76-year-old who ruled the South Asian country with an iron fist for 15 years, resigned as the prime minister following the massive protests that initially began as an agitation against a job quota scheme but weeks later morphed into a mass movement demanding her ouster from power.
The controversial quota system provided for 30 per cent reservations in civil services jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.
Hasina's Awami League retained power in the parliamentary election in January that was boycotted by the opposition parties.
The former Bangladesh prime minister left her official residence Ganabhavan in a military chopper to an airbase, the sources said. From the airbase, she flew into Hindon in a C-130 military transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force, they said.
