NEW DELHI: In an exclusive and wide-ranging conversation with The New Indian, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri offered rare insight into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership style, describing it as deeply spiritual, trust-driven, and profoundly impactful on India’s governance structure.
Speaking exclusively to The New Indian Executive Editor Rohan Dua, Puri reflected on Modi’s distinct ability to lead not through loud directives but through a calm presence that commands both respect and performance.
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“Modiji is much more than a leader. He has several qualities which I can only describe as spiritual,” Puri remarked. “He’s a very good teacher. He has a very calming effect. Unlike political leaders who do a lot of talking, he does a lot of listening—and he inspires trust.”
#WATCH: “PM Modi gets upset if any minister mistreats a civil servant.”
Union Minister @HardeepSPuri reveals how the PM inspires trust, listens more than he speaks, and governs with calm authority.@OfficeofHSP @DrSJaishankar @rohanduaT02 @PetroleumMin #Modi #Leadership #IAS… pic.twitter.com/LpTFCpAug1
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) June 18, 2025
“Government That Operates on Sign Language” – The Unspoken Cues of Modi’s Governance
Puri recounted a conversation with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who once described the Modi-led government as one that communicates through non-verbal cues.
“Jaishankar ji once told me—years ago, even before I became a minister—that we are a government that operates on sign language. When you are with the Prime Minister, he doesn’t need to spell things out. He’ll say something that you decipher. That shows a very evolved and positive human being,” Puri recalled.
Rohan Dua probed further, referring to how Modi has inducted capable technocrats and bureaucrats into strategic roles in the government—such as Jaishankar, Ajay Kumar, and E.K. Sharma. Puri agreed, emphasizing that Modi has a keen eye for talent and an unmatched ability to channel their energies.
“Modi’s trust among bureaucrats is unmistakable. His ability to tap into their energy and purpose is extraordinary,” Puri stated.
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“He Gets Very Upset If You Mistreat Civil Servants”
The Minister also underlined the Prime Minister’s deep respect for bureaucrats and his insistence on ministers treating them with dignity.
“He gets very upset if, as a minister, you treat a civil servant roughly. That tells you a lot about his core values,” Puri noted, adding that Modi’s leadership is anchored in emotional intelligence and mutual respect.
Describing Modi’s governance as “trust-driven,” Puri noted that explicit instructions are often unnecessary when the vision is clearly communicated through presence and intent.
“He doesn’t need to give explicit instructions. His body language, the way he says things—it’s enough. That’s the hallmark of a leader who inspires, not instructs.”
