If choice is between Narendra Modi & Rahul Gandhi, I have no doubt people will opt for Modi: Swaminathan Aiyar
Swaminathan Aiyar, Consulting Editor, ET Now, says “BJP may have many jewels, but Mr Modi is Koh-i-Noor. The biggest thing the BJP has going for it is Mr Modi. And at the end of it all, you can have 25 different analyses of different issues. But if the stark choice is, do you want Mr Narendra Modi or do you want Mr Rahul Gandhi? I have no doubt that people will opt for Mr Modi, whatever their other reservations are. Whether he gets an increased majority or a reduced majority is another matter. But even if the BJP loses 100 seats, they will get more parties with them and so surely Mr Modi will be back.”
On inflation the prime minister has cited the Korean War during the Nehru regime and he has spoken about how inflation was the highest during Indira Gandhi's time. Up front, what do you make of this historical context that the prime minister is referencing on inflation and the impact of the war in Ukraine, which he says affects food, fertiliser and fuel prices directly?
Swaminathan Aiyar: He recalls inflation back in the early 50s. It is a fact that the Korean War resulted in a shortage of all kinds of commodities, which were being used for the war effort on both sides. Because of that very steep rise in all commodity prices, there was an increase in price in India too. While it is true that there were a certain number of restrictions on imports, actually imports were pretty free in the early 50s. Therefore, there was an impact.
In the case of Ukraine, initially there was an impact. If you remember the price of oil
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