Narendra Modi's inaction on certain issues conveys that his achievements in Gujarat were more media-construct than the truth. He’s no different from leaders he replaced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have been attempting to leverage India's soft power apart from boosting his own image, as some have uncharitably suggested, when he first mooted his proposal for the United Nations to declare a World Yoga Day. While he may have certainly expected it to be a great success, which it undoubtedly was, given its universal appeal, he could never have envisaged, even in his wildest dreams, the enthusiasm, adeptness or skill with which, his own party would showcase it.
I am not talking about the exhibitions we witnessed, led by Mr Modi himself at ‘Yogpath’, nor the one at the Times Square in New York or the events held at a myriad other places — all very impressive in their own way, but completely tame in front of the yogic exhibition on display by the BJP on TV channels. The contortion and intricate asanas that the BJP spokespersons and some of their heavyweight leaders demonstrated at the International Yoga Day, should put most of our yoga gurus to shame. Truth be told, after seeing their efforts, even this writer has been motivated to attempt a few, bulging midriff and all.
Despite the World Yoga Day and all, the past couple of weeks has certainly not been good for Mr Modi and the BJP's wise men. They have undoubtedly been hit by a train that suddenly came out of nowhere. What must be even more galling, they suddenly find themselves and the party along with its Hindutva brigade completely exposed, as this writer’s favourite band put it decades ago, “So you ride yourself over the fields and make your animal deals…… and your sand castle virtues are all swept away, in the tidal destruction the moral melee….”. In all, Mr Modi's silence speaks volumes, much more certainly than his rather trite Mann ki Baat.
Funny enough, one got a preview of this, with his unexpected flip-flop on the one-rank-one-pension scheme, which till, Mr Modi decided to speak, appeared to be well on course towards implementation. By succumbing to the machinations of the bureaucrats’ lobby and reneging on his promise, made not only to veterans at Rewari and to serving soldiers at Siachen but also in Parliament, he showed himself to be less than principled. Even worse, his vaunted decision-making abilities, clarity of thought and singularity of purpose, all essential traits required to get this country out of the morass in which the UPA had left it, suddenly appears to be illusory and media-spun.
Then, to expect Mr Modi or his party to react any differently than they have at present on the issue of ‘lalit-Modigate’, Ms Smriti Irani's allegedly incorrect affidavits and the numerous other allegations hounding them from Maharashtra to Rajasthan and Goa to Madhya Pradesh, is wishful thinking. Especially since most of these cases appear to involve issues of moral turpitude rather than that of criminality. Sadly, as we all well know, no political party or politician, including the recently formed Aam Aadmi Party, loses sleep over issues of morality, let alone initiate action against those who display their complete lack of it.
It is indeed ironic that Mr Modi, who earlier understood the power of the new media and used it to the optimum to come to power, has so badly miscalculated the impact of his inactions on social media. From being seen as an awe-inspiring rag-to-riches figure, he is slowly but steadily diminishing into a caricature worthy of ridicule, much like his predecessor in whose footsteps he seems to be following — remote control and all. The only difference being, he has achieved in just a few weeks what it took Mr Manmohan Singh the better part of his second tenure. It isnot a contest he would want to win.
Mr Modi came to power because we all wanted a change from business as usual that is the stock in trade of all parties and politicians, something he promised and appeared to have delivered as the Gujarat Chief Minister. Unfortunately for us, his inaction only conveys that his achievements in Gujarat were more media-construct than the truth and he is no different from the so-called leaders he replaced. That, sadly, does little to relieve the stress of poor governance, despite yoga abhya and all.
(The writer is a military veteran and consultant with the Observer Research Foundation)
