Could Have Brought White Paper In 2014 But Chose 'Rashtraneeti' Over 'Rajneeti': PM Modi

PM Modi revealed that although his government could have presented the white paper in 2014, shortly after coming to power, he refrained from doing so to avoid unsettling the country's confidence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that his government could have released a white paper on the economy when it first took office in 2014, but he chose 'rashtraneeti' over 'rajneeti' to avoid shaking the country's confidence. The document was introduced during the last Parliament session before the general elections.

The white paper, released during the last Parliament session before the general elections, criticised the Congress-led UPA rule, accusing it of steering the Indian economy toward non-performance through indiscriminate revenue expenditure, off-budget borrowings, and a mounting pile of bad debts in banks. 

During the Times Groups' ET NOW Global Business Summit, Modi acknowledged the policies in the decade before 2014 were leading the country towards bankruptcy. "On this, we have tabled a white paper on the economy in Parliament," he said, according to PTI.

While addressing the audience, PM Modi said, "The discussion on it is ongoing. Since there is such a big audience, I would like to state my 'Mann ki Baat' also that the white paper that I have brought now, I could have brought in 2014. If my aim had been to derive political gain, then I would have kept those figures before the people 10 years ago". 

Explaining the delay, Modi noted the critical state of the economy when he assumed office in 2014, marked by scams and policy paralysis, which caused widespread pessimism among global investors. "If I would have brought these things to light, if a wrong signal would have gone, probably the country would have lost its confidence...," he said, according to PTI. 

Modi admitted that from a political standpoint, presenting the white paper in 2014 would have suited him, but he prioritized 'rashtraneeti' over 'rajneeti.' He further added, "And when the situation has become strong in 10 years and we can sustain any assault, then I thought I should tell the truth to the people, and that is why I released the white paper in Parliament."

He assured the public that the white paper would provide insight into India's economic journey, highlighting the progress made. "Now you are seeing the new height of development," Modi said further.