New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal and hoped that wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In a podcast with Lex Fridman released on Sunday, Modi recalled that he had specially invited his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony in 2014 with the hope that the two countries could turn 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,” the prime minister said in his over three-hour interaction.
Modi said he believed that even the people of Pakistan long for peace because they also must be tired of living in strife, unrest and relentless terror where even innocent children are killed and countless lives are destroyed.
The prime minister said his first attempt at improving bilateral relations was a gesture of goodwill.
“It was a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades. The very people who once questioned my approach to foreign policy were taken aback when they learned I had invited all SAARC heads of state and our then President Pranab Mukherjee beautifully captured that historic gesture in his memoir,” Modi said.
“This was a testament to how clear and confident India’s foreign policy had become. This sent a clear message to the world about India’s commitment to peace and harmony, but we didn’t get the desired outcome,” he said. (Agencies)
In the podcast, the prime minister spoke over a range of issues including his early life, his journey in the Himalayas, the influence of the RSS and Hindu nationalism.
Modi said he welcomes genuine criticism while terming it as the soul of democracy.
“I have a strong belief that criticism is the soul of democracy. If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it,” he said.
“Always keep your critics close. Critics should be your nearest companions because through genuine criticism, you can improve quickly and work democratically with better insights,” he added.
Talking about his early childhood, Modi said, “My childhood was spent in extreme poverty, I collected used chalk in school to polish my white canvas shoes”.
“Now, when people talk about poverty, it’s natural to discuss it in the context of public life, and by those standards, my early life was spent in extreme poverty, but we never really felt the burden of poverty,” said the prime minister.
Noble Attempts For Peace With Pakistan Met With Hostility, Betrayal: PM Modi
