'My critics made me famous,' says PM Modi

'Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign: PM Modi addresses nation from Talkatora Stadium

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/balakot-air-strike-never-thought-about-my-political-future-says-pm-modi-206991">Balakot air strike: Never thought about my political future, says PM Modi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the Balakot air strikes because he had faith in the country defence forces. Modi was speaking at Delhi's Talkatora stadium at a "Main Bhi Chowkidar" event.&nbsp;

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-of-major-leetul-gogoi-completed-may-face-reduction-of-seniority-206943">Major Leetul Gogoi's </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-of-major-leetul-gogoi-completed-may-face-reduction-of-seniority-206943">court martial</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-of-major-leetul-gogoi-completed-may-face-reduction-of-seniority-206943"> complete, he may face </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-of-major-leetul-gogoi-completed-may-face-reduction-of-seniority-206943">reduction</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-martial-of-major-leetul-gogoi-completed-may-face-reduction-of-seniority-206943"> of seniority: Officials</a>

Court martial proceedings against Major Leetul Gogoi, who was at the centre of the 2017 'human shield' controversy, have been completed and he may face a reduction in seniority as a punishment for "fraternising" with a local woman in Srinagar last year, officials said.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/over-14-lakh-suspicious-transactions-generated-after-demonetisation-says-fiu-report-206964">Over 14 lakh suspicious transactions generated after demonetisation: Financial Intelligence Unit</a>

The 2016 demonetisation of two high-value currency notes led to the all-time-high generation of over 14 lakh suspicious transaction reports (STRs), a record 1,400% jump over the past, by banks and other financial institutions in the country, a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) report has found.

The country's elite financial snooping unit has compiled comprehensive data of such instances, including fake currency deposits, for the year 2017-18.

This is the highest-ever figure of STRs since the FIU was set up over a decade ago.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wound-of-migration-cannot-be-solved-by-physical-barriers-pope-francis-206960">'Wound' of migration cannot be solved by physical barriers: Pope Francis</a>

Pope Francis said on Saturday the plight of migrants was "a wound that cries out to heaven" and could never be healed by physical barriers.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-open-kidambi-srikanth-loses-to-viktor-axelsen-in-finals-206968">India Open: Kidambi Srikanth loses final to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen</a>

Viktor Axelsen defeated India's Kidambi Srikanth 21-7, 22-20 on Sunday to take home the India Open 2019 men's singles title.

After a one-sided first game, Srikanth pulled back in the second game to give the Dane a tough fight. But Axelsen held on to win in straight games. &nbsp;

Srikanth had earlier displayed tremendous grit in the semi-final, bouncing back back from a game down to beat China's Huang Yuxiang 16-21, 21-14, 21-19.

 
&nbsp;

Balakot air strike: Never thought about my political future, says PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the Balakot air strikes because he had faith in the country defence forces.

Balakot air strike: Never thought about my political future, says PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the Balakot air strikes because he had faith in the country defence forces. Modi was speaking at Delhi's Talkatora stadium at a "Main Bhi Chowkidar" event. Major Leetul Gogoi's court martial complete, he may face reduction of seniority: Officials Court martial proceedings against Major Leetul Gogoi, who was at the centre of the 2017 'human shield' controversy, have been completed and he may face a reduction in seniority as a punishment for "fraternising" with a local woman in Srinagar last year, officials said. Over 14 lakh suspicious transactions generated after demonetisation: Financial Intelligence Unit The 2016 demonetisation of two high-value currency notes led to the all-time-high generation of over 14 lakh suspicious transaction reports (STRs), a record 1,400% jump over the past, by banks and other financial institutions in the country, a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) report has found. The country's elite financial snooping unit has compiled comprehensive data of such instances, including fake currency deposits, for the year 2017-18. This is the highest-ever figure of STRs since the FIU was set up over a decade ago. 'Wound' of migration cannot be solved by physical barriers: Pope Francis Pope Francis said on Saturday the plight of migrants was "a wound that cries out to heaven" and could never be healed by physical barriers. India Open: Kidambi Srikanth loses final to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen Viktor Axelsen defeated India's Kidambi Srikanth 21-7, 22-20 on Sunday to take home the India Open 2019 men's singles title. After a one-sided first game, Srikanth pulled back in the second game to give the Dane a tough fight. But Axelsen held on to win in straight games. Srikanth had earlier displayed tremendous grit in the semi-final, bouncing back back from a game down to beat China's Huang Yuxiang 16-21, 21-14, 21-19.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/with-balakot-airstrike-narendra-modi-government-has-evolved-new-security-doctrine-204805">Balakot air strikes</a> because he had faith in the country defence forces.&nbsp;Modi was speaking at Delhi's Talkatora stadium at a "Main Bhi Chowkidar" event.&nbsp;

After his opening speech, Modi took questions from his audience in Delhi and around the country (via video link).&nbsp;

The second question asked of Modi had been about Balakot.

His questioner asked him how he had been able to take the decision to carry out an air strike on enemy territory and, while reaching that decision, had he ever thought about his political future? What if something had gone wrong?&nbsp;

Modi answered that he was able to take the decision because he had faith in the country's defence forces. And that he knew they would never do anything to shame the country.&nbsp;

"I had faith in their discipline," Modi said.&nbsp;

He added that the country's security forces fight terrorists every day. "Switch on the TV, and you will see," Modi said.&nbsp;

"Where do the terrorists come from?" Modi asked. "Everybody knows.&nbsp;

"They came to Mumbai, they came to Uri...&nbsp;

"Where is the remote control? Everybody knows."&nbsp;

But Modi said, he asked himself "How long will this go on for?"&nbsp;

And that that was when he decided that "this game" would be played where the remote control is, not on Indian territory. &nbsp;

Modi added that the air strike had been carried out by country's&nbsp;jawans, not by him, and that he saluted them.&nbsp;

As for his political future, Modi said that if he had thought about that — "there would never have been a Modi".

The next question asked of Modi had been about corruption.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> PM Narendra Modi at Main Bhi Chowkidar program in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/gn41UGabjL">https://t.co/gn41UGabjL</a>
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"The people who have looted the&nbsp;country, will have to return every paisa," Modi said.&nbsp;

"I promise you, I will do this job," he added.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the Balakot air strikes because he had faith in the country defence forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he was able to take the decision to order the Balakot air strikes because he had faith in the country defence forces. Modi was speaking at Delhi's Talkatora stadium at a "Main Bhi Chowkidar" event. After his opening speech, Modi took questions from his audience in Delhi and around the country (via video link). The second question asked of Modi had been about Balakot. His questioner asked him how he had been able to take the decision to carry out an air strike on enemy territory and, while reaching that decision, had he ever thought about his political future? What if something had gone wrong? Modi answered that he was able to take the decision because he had faith in the country's defence forces. And that he knew they would never do anything to shame the country. "I had faith in their discipline," Modi said. He added that the country's security forces fight terrorists every day. "Switch on the TV, and you will see," Modi said. "Where do the terrorists come from?" Modi asked. "Everybody knows. "They came to Mumbai, they came to Uri... "Where is the remote control? Everybody knows." But Modi said, he asked himself "How long will this go on for?" And that that was when he decided that "this game" would be played where the remote control is, not on Indian territory. Modi added that the air strike had been carried out by country's jawans, not by him, and that he saluted them. As for his political future, Modi said that if he had thought about that — "there would never have been a Modi". The next question asked of Modi had been about corruption. #WATCH PM Narendra Modi at Main Bhi Chowkidar program in Delhi https://t.co/gn41UGabjL — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2019 × "The people who have looted the country, will have to return every paisa," Modi said. "I promise you, I will do this job," he added.

Balakot air strike: Never thought about my political future, says PM Modi

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, whose ties with the party appear to be all but severed, Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Main bhi Chowkidar" campaign as hollow rhetoric that lacked punch.

Sinha, who is expected to join the Mahagathbandhan comprising the Congress and the RJD besides several smaller parties, came out with a series of tweets decrying the campaign that is meant to be a riposte to AICC president Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidar hi chor hai" barb at Modi.

"Happy Holi to you, Sirji. Once again I will remind you politely but firmly do not get into the sting of the operations of #Chowkidar. The more you are defensive of Chowkidar, the more the nation will be reminded of unanswered questions about the Rafale deal which the people have been desperate to know," Sinha's tweeted.

The tweet came in his trademark style refraining from mentioning the prime minister by name but dropping ample hints to suggest whom he was referring to.

"By the way, Sir, in a very sudden, unprepared and defiant mood you addressed the Chowkidars of the nation (so-called 25 lakh.. Don't know the basis of this figure, why not 21 or 2.5). May not have gone down well with the people and the chowkidars, whose conditions are not desirable. Most of them live below poverty line," the actor-turned-politician said in another tweet.

"However, Sir, it is not important that you address them in lakhs or hundreds, your rhetoric was quite hollow and lacking punch/content. What was important was to address their plight, enhance their lifestyle, encourage them to live with dignity, better and regular pay scale," Sinha remarked.

"Since you still are our Hon'ble PM of the Nation, I am still with you... However, wishing you lots of love, luck, best wishes and of course a very colourful Holi," he said in his final tweet.

Sinha is likely to be fielded by the Mahagathbandhan from Patna Sahib, the seat he is representing for the second consecutive term.

The BJP has not announced its candidates for Bihar, though there have been unconfirmed reports that its nominee for Patna Sahib could be Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad or Rajya Sabha member R K Singh.&nbsp;

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, whose ties with the party appear to be all but severed, Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Main bhi Chowkidar" campaign as hollow rhetoric that lacked punch.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, whose ties with the party appear to be all but severed, Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Main bhi Chowkidar" campaign as hollow rhetoric that lacked punch. Sinha, who is expected to join the Mahagathbandhan comprising the Congress and the RJD besides several smaller parties, came out with a series of tweets decrying the campaign that is meant to be a riposte to AICC president Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidar hi chor hai" barb at Modi. "Happy Holi to you, Sirji. Once again I will remind you politely but firmly do not get into the sting of the operations of #Chowkidar. The more you are defensive of Chowkidar, the more the nation will be reminded of unanswered questions about the Rafale deal which the people have been desperate to know," Sinha's tweeted. The tweet came in his trademark style refraining from mentioning the prime minister by name but dropping ample hints to suggest whom he was referring to. "By the way, Sir, in a very sudden, unprepared and defiant mood you addressed the Chowkidars of the nation (so-called 25 lakh.. Don't know the basis of this figure, why not 21 or 2.5). May not have gone down well with the people and the chowkidars, whose conditions are not desirable. Most of them live below poverty line," the actor-turned-politician said in another tweet. "However, Sir, it is not important that you address them in lakhs or hundreds, your rhetoric was quite hollow and lacking punch/content. What was important was to address their plight, enhance their lifestyle, encourage them to live with dignity, better and regular pay scale," Sinha remarked. "Since you still are our Hon'ble PM of the Nation, I am still with you... However, wishing you lots of love, luck, best wishes and of course a very colourful Holi," he said in his final tweet. Sinha is likely to be fielded by the Mahagathbandhan from Patna Sahib, the seat he is representing for the second consecutive term. The BJP has not announced its candidates for Bihar, though there have been unconfirmed reports that its nominee for Patna Sahib could be Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad or Rajya Sabha member R K Singh.

Modi's 'main bhi chowkidar' campaign hollow rhetoric: Shatrughan Sinha