'Impressed with Narendra Modi's Economic Policies': Bill Clinton to NDTV

As India prepares for PM Narendra Modi's first meeting with Barack Obama, endorsements today came in from the man who is still voted the most popular and admired living President in the United States. Speaking exclusively to NDTV in Jaipur, where Bill Clinton is promoting the initiatives of the Clinton Foundation, the former President said he had followed PM Modi's career since Mr Modi was chief minister of Gujarat and was very impressed with his economic policies.

Saying that the visa controversy and the debate around the 2002 riots now belonged to the past after the vote of the Indian people, Mr Clinton added that Mr Modi's decision to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony may have also been a signal to Muslims in India as well that he wants to govern for all. Mr Clinton also spoke of what he called his "most ferocious encounter in politics - bar none" with Nawaz Sharif during the Kargil war, and whether he wants Hillary Clinton to run for President of the United States.


Here are the highlights of the interview:

On Narendra Modi:

• 'I was impressed with Modi's economic policies'
• 'Leave Gujarat sectarian violence in the past'
• 'Everybody thinks Modi has potential to make a difference'
• 'Nawaz at Modi's inauguration may be signal to Muslims'
• 'Modi may be sending the message that he wants to governfor everybody'
• 'India has been able to preserve a more inclusive democracy even in poorer places'
• 'US' no engagement with Modi policy is over'
• 'Have followed Modi's career since he was a Chief Minister'

On Mideast crisis:

• 'Hamas has strategy to force Israel to kill their own civilians'
• 'Israel PM should make comprehensive peace pact with Palestine'
• 'Serious peace-talks needed to de-escalate Mideast crisis'
• 'Israel partly responsible for not moving fast on Mid-east peace'
  

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