Next Budget may not be populist, hints PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday indicated that the upcoming Budget would not be a populist one and it's a myth that the common man expects "freebies and sops" from the government.

In an interview with Times Now television broadcast on Sunday, he also pledged that his government will stay on the course of the reforms agenda that has pulled out India from being among the 'fragile five' economies of the world to being a 'bright spot'.

Modi stoutly defended his economic policies, saying demonetisation was "a huge success story" and that he was open to changes in the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) to plug loopholes and make it a more efficient 'one-nation-one- tax' system.

He rejected criticism of providing a jobless growth, saying "lies" were being spread about employment generation and his government's policies were oriented towards creating jobs.

Acknowledging farm distress, he said it was the responsibility of the Centre and the state governments to identify and address farmers' issues.

Times Now provided a transcript of the interview ahead of its broadcast on Sunday.

Asked if his government will turn populist in its last full-year Budget before the general elections in 2019, Modi said the issue falls under the ambit of the finance minister, and he does not want to interfere in it.

"But those who have seen me as the chief minister (of Gujarat) and also as the prime minister (would know) common man does not want all these things. It is a myth," he said, according to the transcript.

The common man, he said, expects honest governance. "He doesn't demand sops and freebies. It is our myth."

Modi said his government was taking decisions to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the common man.

About being the first prime minister to be addressing plenary at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, he said this had been made possible because India has progressed.

"India has shown its economic strength to the world, and so it is but obvious that the world wants to know India, it wants to know India directly (from the top leader) (and) understand it," Modi said.

"India has become a land of great opportunity now," he said. "India has become an attractive investment destination."

The prime minister said institutions like the IMF and World Bank and rating agencies like Moody's are all complimenting steps taken by India.

Attacking critics of demonetisation, Modi said people attempted to "ignite a fire, incite riots and knocked at doors of the Supreme Court.

They tried everything possible just to save those who were hoarding black money, to save the corrupt, to save the

dishonest." with PTI inputs