New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a few tips on anger management in an interaction with actor Akshay Kumar that was broadcast on Wednesday, a day after voting for the third phase of national elections.
“I may be angry, but I stop myself from expressing it,” the PM told the actor, saying the emotion “leads to negativity”.
“If someone says that I do not get angry, then many people would be surprised. Emotions like anger are part of human nature. They are a part of every person,” the Prime Minister said, adding that his “training during 18-20 years of his life” – in an oblique reference to his stint with the RSS, the ruling BJP’s ideological mentor – helped him focus on the positive aspects of life.
“I was chief minister for a long time… I can say that from a peon to the principal secretary, I never had to get angry at anyone,” he said.
But the Prime Minister was quick to draw a distinction when the actor referred to his “image of a strict administrator”.
“Being strict is different. I am strict, disciplined but I don’t humiliate others. I encourage people. I lend them a helping hand,” he said.
“If something unpleasant happens, then I write about it on a piece of paper and then tear that paper. I repeat the process again till the time I calm down. By doing this I feel that I have vent out my anger, in the end I tear that away,” the PM said.
The nearly hour-long interview at the PM’s official residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg spanned subjects from his family to work and his relationship with opposition leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.