As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the Independence
Day echoed from the ramparts of Red Fort to the nook and corner of the country,
it evoked a sense of an India that’s progressing, ascending from the restrained
past, worth betting a promise on. It was a speech loaded with positivity about
the country, aspirations and a promise for all Indians. That’s exactly what
brought BJP to power in 2014 with an unprecedented majority and Modi as Prime
Minister. The nation listened with rapt attention at what Prime Minister was
offering this time, the last speech of the first round, a few months ahead of general
election. Clearly the Prime Minister too had it all over him.
Modi brought to best use his charisma, his earthly
connect and his 2014 slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. His style that marks
him apart along with his eloquence translates into a kind confidence which by
far any Indian would like to see in its leader. An 80 plus minute long speech surprisingly
missed his ‘1.25 crore Deshwasi’ for the first time since he delivered his
first Independence Day speech in 2014. With
his body language expressive of his charged confidence and personal appeal, he
spoke in his resilient, assured manner braving the hot humid August 15. He was
giving a vision map which like his earlier speeches were pregnant with hope for
future…a future, according to him, that only he can give.
BIG DREAM
Crooning over the achievements of his government with election
2019 as the target, like Arjun’s eye in the epic Mahabharat, Modi did not leave
any stone unturned in wooing the voters of India. The speech of PM Modi was a
report card of his government where he gave himself full marks on toilets
construction, power, LPG, highway construction, building homes. As the PM, Modi was out this time selling his ''new'
India vision aggressively. A dream merchant selling Man Mission in Space as
next big dream. Gifting a aspiration to people, asking them to feel proud of
being Indian, Modi said that the power of the Indian passport has increased and
that India’s standing has improved in the world today. He came across as a man
who wants to carve out a destiny. This time he knew that he had to give a
speech which ensures that he gives the next 5 more.
There’s no denying that Modi’s speeches are rhetoric
fireworks, they are a roller coaster and people enjoy listening to him. The accompanying
theatrics makes him come across larger than life yet real, the demagogy that he
envelops, the currency, the brand that he is, the confidence, positive energy,
readiness that characterizes him is what is his USP that catapults him into the
likes of Indira Gandhi. On this Independence day too he came across as the man
of the moment with his oratorial luxuries.
As he said, we can take tough decisions because
nation’s interest is first for us, not the party’s, he set the electoral
narrative. Knowing that he now doesn’t have anything concrete to offer in terms
of economy, Modi harped upon populist schemes. He pressed all right buttons in
his speech- poor, farmers, youth, middle class, soldiers, tax payers,
corruption, middleman, power brokers. On women who are his key vote bank he
struck a chord when he patted his back on women making it as Supreme Court
Judges, women in the cabinet, women winning medals in sports and on women’s
victory on triple talak. From scaling Mt Everest by tribal children to
expedition to South Pole by Indian women.
Modi presented himself as Santa Claus with
announcements of ’Ayushman Bharat’’, the National Health Mission also popularly
called as Modicare, the largest government funded healthcare programme which will
be rolled out on September 5, 2018, removal of AFSPA from North East. He issued
a warning to spiraling atrocities on women and children saying rapes should be
widely reported and rapists should be sent to gallows for their crimes to
enforce the rule of law.
Modi did not spare the opposition for UPA’s red tapism, power brokering, policy paralysis, no action on GST and India’s low
global image.
MODI’S ACHILLES’
HEAL
An analysis of his 4 years have seen his priorities
change. This time around he was setting a tone for elections in MP, Chattisgarh,
Rajasthan to convey that he is a PM who believes in performance. Since 2014 this
is the first time that the narrative is against him whether its economy or
social milieu of the country, be it lynching, sliding growth or jobs. So this
time he made sure that he pushed hard of the positive narrative.
However Modi emphasizes the benefits that GST and Demonetization
would bring for the country’s future and interests they were the biggest fiascos
at the end of the common man. He did not talk of increasing oil prices, falling
rupee, upward inflation, low exports, bank crisis, lynching. There was no
mention of Pakistan and cross border terrorism, NRC and farmers suicides which
are the underlying problems in the country presently. He avoided contentious
& controversial issues, it was all about the ‘feel good’.
Modi came in 2014 with a promise of making India a
manufacturing hub which hasn’t shown tangible results. Niti Ayog which was
replaced by Planning Commission which much of a hoopla hasn’t done much in
terms of structural reforms. The export scene is pretty unsatisfactory too.
CHALLENGES
AHEAD
Close to 2019 General Elections, Prime Minister is up
against challenges which will decide who the next PM will be more than which
government comes to power. The prime challenge and what is important is that he
faces the grand alliance, the Mahagathbandhan, stitched up lately. And so this
time he aimed at reaching out not to alliance partners but newer constituencies
of dalits, OBC's, minorities and others. Major opposition parties have come
together with the prime aim of ‘Modi Mukt Bharat’’. Congress has sharpened its
attacks and is in the final process of chalking out lethal and unmissable
strategy to corner Modi and his policies. AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot
says Congress is ready for the elections if they are preponed as Modi pushes
for ‘One Nation, One Poll’. Congress too has devised its slogan against BJP.
Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala says BJP is following the policy of 'Divide,
Deceive and Distort'. The party attacks Modi of strangulating the voice of
media too after overlooking judiciary.
Rahul Gandhi has not just trained himself to be
aggressively vocal in attacking Modi personally as well as on his style of
functioning, like the dishing out ‘jumlas’ and acronyms like ‘reform, perform
& transform,’ the Congress President has taken on the mother organization
RSS with blistering attacks at its very nature on outside soil. Rafale scam is being
positioned as its nemesis. Recently Kerala floods have pitched centre against
the state over humanitarian assistance for the flood ravaged people. Rajasthan
Congress is claiming of bogus voter list numbering into thousands. TMC, TDP, BSP,
SP, CPI, RJD and other satraps have closed ranks to present a united coalition.
Crime like rapes and girl child abuse have figures breaking all records
particularly in the northern belt. Cow vigilante and moral policing are on a
free run. Lumpen elements are bereft of fear of law. Eating and dressing as a
matter of personal choice is at all time risk. PM's J&K thrust and policy
on Kashmir having hit the rock Modi appeared on the backfoot as he exhorted
Vajpai’s, ‘Insaaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat.’ Finally the Prime Minister
will have to answer for this.
Economy is the biggest challenge that Modi might face
a backlash on. Inflation is high, oil prices are going steeper by the day, job
situation is tense and getting worse. If oil prices continue to rise, it will affect
the rupee which will affect inflation. At the end Prime Minister Modi can only
win election on the state of the economy. Challenges are clear-growth is
sliding, rupee is in problem, banks are in serious trouble. Add to this the
Nirav Modi and Mehul Chauksi scam of debt and defaulting that has taken a toll
on the much publicized clean image of the system under Modi.
Farmer agitation and the disenchantment in the farmer
communities is only simmering. Prime Minister’s promise of 50% increase in MSP
is not really on ground and there is not much that his rhetoric will be able to
do now.
On the international stage US sanctions on Iran will
affect India. Trump leashed tariff war between US & China will hurt India
badly too.
CLARION CALL
Words apart, how much have the promises made in the
last 4 years translated on ground is a contentious matter. The Prime Minister’s
speech was designed to address anti-incumbency, to be back to being the change
agent.
Modi’s speech was a clarion call. A call that said he
is restless, he is impatient, he is anxious to move forward, were pointers of
his ambition to be there asking for another chance to carry his work forward.
His speeches all along have been about his hard work, his life, his vision for
the country which he uses as influencers. It was a far more politically significant
oratorial performance as some would call it. A mix of political and personal. Undoubtedly
Modi is a master or symbols and oratory.
The template of his speech was clearly Lok Sabha
elections 2019 which by all guesses may be just about 4 months away.
Will the people buy what the master orator is saying?
His task is more challenging this time. But he seems
convinced that he’s going to come back in power.
Ending his speech with poetry was a first too. Was
Prime Minister Modi trying to reposition himself as a softer, more inclusive
leader? Starting with placing himself as futuristic he said that his goal
(manzil) was to finish what he had promised.
KEYWORDS: #Prime Minister Modi, #India's 72nd Independence Day, #India Independence Day 2018 Modi's speech, #India's General Election 2019, #Modi's 4th speech, #Priti Prakash, #Blogspot, #Blogger Priti Prakash
KEYWORDS: #Prime Minister Modi, #India's 72nd Independence Day, #India Independence Day 2018 Modi's speech, #India's General Election 2019, #Modi's 4th speech, #Priti Prakash, #Blogspot, #Blogger Priti Prakash
