An illiterate person is a burden on the nation as he is unaware of duties and responsibilities: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has described uneducated people as a “burden on the country”, while speaking to newly-launched and government-run Sansad TV. Shah said “illiterate people could never become a good citizen of India”.

Explaining his remarks, the ruling BJP leader said an illiterate person is a burden as he or she is not aware of the rights given to him/her by the Constitution. Similarly, the person is also unaware of his duties or responsibilities.

“How can such a person become a good citizen?” he asked.

The interview took place on the occasion of Narendra Modi completing 20 years as the head of a government. Modi had served as the chief minister of Gujarat before becoming the prime minister.

Shah pointed out that under PM Modi, the government has worked towards increasing enrolment in schools.

“At that time (when Narendra Modi became CM of Gujarat), the biggest problem was the dropout rate. He started an enrolment process as if it was a festival and took it to 100%. He formed a committee of parents. If a child did not come to school, it was pondered upon. Responsibility of teachers was fixed. The result was that the dropout rate dropped from 37% to less than 1 per cent,” Shah, a trusted aide of Modi, pointed out, as per The Indian Express.

Shah also lauded PM Modi for being a “democratic leader” under whom the Union Cabinet has functioned in the most democratic manner unlike the past regimes. Even his critics would agree on this, Shah added.

“I have closely seen both Modi and his style of working. I have never seen a patient listener like him. Whatever may be the issue, he listens to everyone and speaks least, and then takes a proper decision,” Shah said, rejecting claims that Modi functions like an autocratic leader.

The Home Minister said PM Modi has assumed power to bring in change and not to merely run the government.

“Therefore, he does not hesitate taking harsh and risky decisions which may be against the party’s supporters but are in the interest of the nation and the people. When you crack down on black money, bring economic reforms, seal all loopholes of tax evasion, then some people suffer, including those who have voted for us for years. However, they understand that Modi is not going to get anything out of this and the move will eventually benefit the country,” he stated.