Historically, Kerala has been performing well on the social sector. Public health, education, and awareness have always been our core areas on which we built up our social infrastructure.

I should say unity and commitment are pivotal to the Kerala model.

Kerala has a history of being resilient... in a short span we had several crises - floods, Nipah, Ockhi, etc.

Kerala's inalienable strength is our excellent social infrastructure, built over a period of time.

The U.A.E. cannot be considered as any other nation as their rulers have underlined. Indians, especially Keralites, have contributed immensely in their nation building.

We know that police alone can't prevent violence. Support of political parties is imperative to maintain peace.

I must say the geographically small State of Kerala has been traditionally influencing the discourse of the country with progressive ideas and innovative programs. Its voice really transcends the physical boundaries of the State.

Those who are talking about withdrawing funds and grants to the states should understand that the Centre gets revenue from the states. They should realize that states like Kerala, get only a fraction in return, for every rupee that it pays to the Centre.

With transparency in renewables, the prices of renewables are coming down drastically.

As India becomes more tax-compliant, government revenues will improve, and we will be able to serve the poor better. We can have better roads, healthcare, education, and improve the life of farmers.

The Gujarat government knows what's in the interest of consumers. When they plan, they ensure they can save every single rupee or earn every single rupee for the state government and bring power at lowest cost to the consumer. They are tightfisted in their approach.

We can learn from all around the world. Germany, particularly, has been successful with rooftop solar generation. Other countries like Norway and Sweden have done work on it. Some of them have done offshore wind projects. So we're looking at learning from the best from all across the world. My approach is to get the best out of each one.

When a product is market driven, it should be able to pay for all its raw materials at market prices.

For me, as the Government of India, the interest of the poorest of the poorest is paramount.

The Modi government believes that the industrialist, the capitalist, has to pay for the assets of the government which belong to the people of India.

My father studied under a street light in a small town in Haryana.

I am a person always with an open mind.

24/7 power is going to happen; it is not a question of possible or impossible.

When you give a good offer, people take it.

Prime Minister Modi keeps challenging the system to keep performing better and better. He sets aggressive targets, and the whole system has to act.

People have seen the Modi government's track record, and now they believe that if we say something, it will happen.

I am a tough minister.

It's equal opportunity for all, and we don't play favourites.

Energy is not a political issue for the Modi government. It is our commitment to provide electricity to every household of the country.

I believe if we simplify the process of tariff-fixing with lesser tariff slabs and rationalise the process, it will reduce corruption, and simultaneously, it will enable supply of adequate and cheap power to the poor as well as to farmers.

Power for all includes people who are interested in getting a connection. It cannot be for people who don't want the connection. Having said that, I am confident everybody will apply for power once they are sure that they will not be short-charged.

Foreign and domestic investors will come only when they know that you have enough power.

I am a happier person living in a country which has surplus of everything rather than shortages.

We need to draw up a regime where government can be an enabler for manufacturing to compete at good quality and prices.

I am still fairly confident we will come out better than the West in terms of our overall development versus damage.

I'm not crying over surplus capacity... Surplus capacity is good for India. Surplus capacity means we can get more investors, can get more households and promise them 24/7 power.

I have told many times I am always a student willing to learn new things.

I have very often held a view - and I am public about it - that if you run your operations inefficiently, you can't expect your consumer to pay for your inefficiencies.

As more and more money is coming into the formal economy, one can look at more attractive tax rates and lower tax slabs. Even if half the people who were in the informal sector move in to the formal economy and more taxes get collected, more money can be spent on the welfare.

Centrally, I cannot interfere in states.

I like to set aggressive targets; without them, you will get ordinary performances.

Indians have become very demanding. Gone are the days where you could get away with power outages.

UDAY is meant for financial and operational turnaround of discoms.

I can't tell the people of India that we'll burden you with high costs because the West has polluted the world, now India will pay for it. Not acceptable to us.

I want to reignite the interest in hydro-electric investments.

Western countries can cut down coal and replace it by renewables; I will need to have more coal.

My solar energy programme alone will generate about a million jobs.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are looking to make India self-reliant in terms of power requirement, along with providing carbon-free sources of power, thus improving India's position globally.

Wind developers have realised the importance of transparent method of price discovery, which was demonstrated in the solar sector. They realise that bidding brings in efficiency, and tariff is right-sized.

You have to decide that you will be the best.

The speed of decision making is the essence of good governance.

Electricity can transform people's lives, not just economically but also socially.

You can fool the people once, twice, but you can't fool them all the time. You should tell them honestly what you can do for them.

Even a poor man doesn't ask alms unless he sees you have the ability to give.

I don't get carried away by any praise; I know I have miles to go.