How does it feel to be the chosen one?
I am conscious of the burden and responsibility the prime minister's office brings. I approach it with a great deal of humility and pray that my countrymen help me in discharging this responsibility. It is the 50th year of our independence and people like me had the privilege of participating in India's freedom struggle. To paraphrase Pandit Nehru, it's a tryst with destiny and all of us can together meet it.
How long will the coalition last?
It's like asking how long you will live.
Already there is dissonance in the coalition. The TMC is peeved and G.K. Moopanar is angry.
I am trying to persuade them to come around. They are old Mends and colleagues and if there is some feeling of hurt, I will soothe it. I met Mr Moopanar last night and will meet him again and again and again till he concedes to my request. I can't afford the departure of Mr Chidambaram from the cabinet. He is an old friend and colleague and I am trying to persuade him to help out at this crucial juncture and this applies to all colleagues of the TMC.
Can the Congress be trusted?
This is a hypothetical thing and I don't discuss hypothetical things. Politics and life is always built on confidence and trust. I have learnt all through my life that the highest quality of Indians is this--of responding to trust and confidence.
What would be your first task as prime minister?
All tasks are the same. There are no first, second or third tasks. The tasks are of nation-building, national consolidation and national unity. This is the foundation which the nation can stand and play a role in the world, particularly in this 50th year of independence. We must all work together to discharge the responsibility that the builders of nation bequeathed to us.
One last question on foreign policy, Is India now going to withdraw from the Chemical Weapons Convention?
Why do you want me to talk about policy matters now?
