Modi’s Translator In Singapore Hints That His Interview Was Scripted (Watch Video)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest interview at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University may have been scripted, a video reveals.

Modi was attending the ‘Transforming Asia Through Innovation’ session on Saturday in Singapore. The NTU president Subra Suresh was asking him questions.

Suresh asked Modi about the challenges faced by Asia and what it needed to do address them.

Modi said, “Suresh asked me about the challenges faced by Asia in its ambition to have a bright future.”

He added: “One fact is clear that the entire world is now convinced about the 21st century belonging to Asia. The biggest challenge is whether we the people of Asia feel this fact or not.”

“Is it that we are only feeling good about hearing or it’s actually motivating us to make the 21st century the century of Asia. This is a big challenge. Even today, we are still influenced by other parts of the world since this is how we’ve lived our life. That’s why even we find it hard to believe that this is our turn, we are capable of doing something and we will do it,” he said.

What came next by the translator was something else. The translator added several lines to Modi’s answer and the prime minister didn’t even interrupt her.

Janta Ka Reporter gave the translation as follows:

The translator said, “The question that was posed to me by Suresh was Asia’s main challenges and how can we resolve them. First of all, I think the biggest challenge before us is that the 21st century belongs to Asia, and do we really feel this ourselves, do we have this sentiment? I think that is the biggest challenge because, in this part of the world, we have been so much impressed by the rest of the World that we do not feel that now it is our turn. Asia has seen the maximum rise in prosperity, opportunity and freedom in the World. Japan led the process, Asian tigers followed, China has become a major economy and it is India’s turn to progress now. Yet, Asia has many challenges, South Asia, South-East Asia in particular, have similar strengths and opportunities, weaknesses and challenges. There are the following challenges that are common: Skills for the digital age, Creating adequate jobs in the age of digital reception, Agriculture, Productivity, Water, Pollution, Rapid and mass urbanization, Sustainable habitats and affordable housing, Climate change, Protection of biodiversity, Building Sustainable infrastructure, Affordable healthcare, Protecting our ocean and blue economy These challenges require collaboration among governments, universities and laboratories. Policy interventions are important. A lot of finance would be needed but given the scale and magnitude. We need innovation and technology to address these challenges. These should be the priorities of our governments.”

Watch Video: Modi’s NTU Interview:

At exactly 3 mins and 49 secs, notice that the translator starts translating what Modi had said. But at 4 mins and 18 secs, the translator is seemingly caught reading out of a script adding many lines.

Maybe Modi didn’t say all the things which were a part of the original plan. What the translator said, therefore, must have been a PR document handed out to her.