New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most democratic leaders he knows and that he had not seen a "patient listener" like him. "I have had the opportunity to work with Modi ji both in the Opposition as well as in the government. 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," Shah said rejecting allegations that Modi is an autocratic leader.
"He is a patient listener. Whatever may be the issue, he patiently listens to everyone and speaks least, and then takes a proper decision. He takes decisions after considering suggestions given by all including a small-time official or worker, " Shah said in an interview with Sansad TV on the occasion of PM Modi completing 20 years in public office.
"Modi ji's public life can be divided into three phases. During the first phase, he was given the responsibility of revamping the party organisation. The second phase was when he served as the chief minister of Gujarat. And the third, when he took over as the Prime Minister," Shah said.
"All three phases were extremely challenging. Modi ji successfully carried out the responsibility of revamping the party organisation. On becoming the chief minister, he understood the nuances of administration with great patience and was successful in taking the plans of the government to the people," he said.
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"The tribals were neglected by successive governments in Gujarat. Congress used them as a vote bank but development never reached them. For the first time, in 2003 budget, Modi ji introduced schemes for the welfare of tribals and gave them rights according to the constitution," Shah said listing out various achievements of Modi during his leadership as Gujarat chief minister.
Hailing PM Modi's style of governance, Shah said, "....under the UPA government, the country witnessed decelerating growth in all major areas. There was no respect for the country among the community of nations. Policy decisions used to get entangled due to the internal strife in the government for months. It was in such a situation Modi ji took over as the Prime Minister," he said.
"Modi ji does not hesitate in taking political risks for decisions that are in the national interest, and at times has taken bitter decisions for the welfare of the nation. No one dared to implement the law on triple talaq, One Rank One Pension, remove Article 370. All were silent on surgical and airstrikes. Only a Prime Minister with strong willpower can do all these. Modi Ji solved many problems faced by the country by breaking away from traditional thinking. Our aim is to take Bharat, the world’s largest democracy, with a population of 130 crores, to a respectable place in the world," Shah said.
