I never had desire to join politics: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he had never desired to join politics but having done so is trying to give his best to serve the people.

"I never had the desire to enter politics, but now that I am a part of it I give my best on how to work for the people," Modi said during an interactive session with a group of National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets as part of his monthly radio broadcast programme "Mann ki Baat" aired this morning.

Modi also said that as an NCC cadet in his school days, he never got punished.

Modi admitted that "due to Google", his reading habits have suffered as there is a shortcut available to find references, our New Delhi correspondent reports.

When one of the cadets asked him "had you not been a politician, what would you have been," Modi described it as a "difficult question".

"Now this is a very difficult question because every child goes through multiple phases in life. Sometimes one wants to become this, sometimes one wants to become that, but it is true that I never had the desire to enter politics, nor I ever thought about it," he said.

He said that now that he is a politician, "I keep thinking how I can work for the welfare of the country."

Modi said the thought that had he not joined politics, what would he be doing never crosses his mind.

"Now, wherever I am, I should live life to the fullest and I should wholeheartedly work for my country ... I have now dedicated myself for this purpose only," he said.

Responding to a question on whether he gets time to watch television and read books, the Prime Minister said he was always fond of reading. He had little interest in watching films and he watches very little TV.

"I used to read books. But these days I am unable to read and due to Google, the habit of reading has deteriorated because if you want to seek a reference, then you immediately find a shortcut. As is the case with everyone, certain habits of mine have also been spoilt," Modi said.