If I were Narendra Modi! A
Weird idea?
Well this blog is being
written with a peculiar intent. Hence the entire work is imaginative and also
sarcastic. Hence it may be out of tune with modern times. This piece may be
even called communal, anti-reservation etc. But finally the blog-piece has
evolved in the manner it has because of the weight of the material. Some of
these materials have to do with the emergence of ‘Moditva phenomenon’ in Indian
politics, partly my admiration for a man – who apparently is not a
run-of-the-mill variety. Modi is not being sentimental just crying out –
playing the game safely as even Atal Behari Vajpayee did trying to fit into
Nehruvian legacy.
As noted writer Orhan Pamuk,
a Nobel laureate, once spoke about himself, Narendra Modi too does not seem to
cry that the streets of his childhood has been destroyed. He probably wants to
identify with the new comers. But will Indian politics allow this?
Hence the imaginative
‘musings’ on behalf of the Indian Prime Minister, Namo! If I were Narendra Modi
……read on:
“As I sit in my office in
South Block in Delhi and ponder about this country, as a practical politician I
also realize that my government is all set to complete two years in office.
People of India had voted me and my party with an overwhelming mandate and with
a bag full of hopes. They want us to deliver and deliver fast. With almost two
years over, I have hardly three years left as the last year, 2018-19 would be generally
turned more political and poll-centric. By 2019 – we will face an election.
Last two years of Indian
politics has shown that all others in the game are too keen to shun all their
differences and fight us. I take this as a compliment and tribute to our
party’s growth.
A party that takes
inspiration from Hindutva ideology. Why should we be apologetic about our own
roots?
In running this government,
I tried a few things new. Generally there have been abhorrence of these new
methods – but mostly for political reasons. And certain things which went down
well with the common people did not get highlighted in the media. The mainstream media has
been covering me and council of ministers but always there’s a tendency to
suggest that BJP can do nothing right.
Many of my party colleagues
and ministers have complained about the same. I changed my Information Minister
and brought in an expert in handling “Delhi affairs and Delhi elites and media”
– Shri Arun Jaitley. That Arunji is a Finance Minister did not stop me from
putting him as in-charge of my propaganda bhopu (or machine).
Criticism helps in politics. I have shared this theory with
Shri S C Jamir, now Odisha Governor, and who had also been my Governor for a
while in Gujarat. Veteran Naga leader Jamirji has worked with the likes of Pt
Jawaharlal Nehru and Naga doyen A Zapu Phizo. Once he told me public leaders
“should not be afraid” of public opinion, a trait I have tried to live with.
Since 2002, actually my indifferent to meaningless criticism has allowed to
survive in Indian politics.
Rajnath Singhji once said these have
actually “gone” in my favour! But politics is never an easy game. Politics is also quite
personal at times and we cannot do away with it. Within minutes Smriti Irani was made Minister for Human
Resource Development on May 26, 2014; she has been subjected to all kinds of
criticism. I wanted a senior leader like Su-shri Sushma Swarajji to be HRD
Minister – but she declined. The Congress and the system sustained over the
years have made only 4 ministers vital – Defence, Home, Foreign Affairs and
Finance. Sushmaji wanted to be in one of them. I required a trusted lieutenant
in the HRD ministry and hence trusted Smriti Irani.
 |
| Smriti : Woman for Amethi ? |
Moreover, politically
my calculation is if she can perform well and change the left-and-western
mindset from our academics, Smriti Irani can be our candidate in Amethi even in
2019. Shri Rahul Gandhi is reportedly looking for an alternative seat already
in Rajasthan or southern India. On another plane see what’s going on in
universities and educational institutions. I leave it to my countrymen to
ponder whether any ceremony to glorify the likes of Afzal Guru is justified.
Terrorism knows no
religion. It’s a global menace and my friend Barack Obama also agreed!
My challenge at this juncture is to bring out the economy out
of a mess even as in 2014 and 2015 – Indian economy has shown resilience power.
We were able to do well in many sectors. Our TV studios and columnists are
working overtime to discredit my government for everything we do. Nevertheless,
we recorded 7.3% growth rate in 2014-15 and likely to touch 7.6 in 2015-16, a
five year high. At a time when the world is desperate about ‘emerging markets’,
India has turned a favourite destination for foreign investment.
Our country
has second largest mobile users (900 million) and is third largest internet
user – as a result India is ripe for major leap. But what’s being dished out in Indian media and discussed in
intellectual and political circle? It’s either confrontation with Arvind
Kejriwal or beef debate. The tolerance debate sparked with political motives
has only embarrassed my country and your country. Should I list incidents of
intolerance of high order in non-BJP and non-NDA states like West Bengal,
Karnataka and elsewhere?
When media was unable
to find cases of corruption in defence deals, they are trying to attack why
film stars are joining armed forces in certain ceremonies.
I have read about Greek
philosopher Plato and his thesis about the cycle of Aristocracy, Timocracy,
Oligarchy, Democracy and Tyranny. I feel ‘Distorted Democracy’ is also
mobocracy and we need to gaze in our own hearts on which stage are we in. And
more importantly, how long and what course we may take next. Our country has
been reduced to a country of quotas, perks and special beneficiaries. As if
merits have no place. Should we not stay back for a correction?
Left to me – alone – I
do often wonder whether my slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is being
misconstrued. A debate was let loose that I want to do away with reservation
for SC-STs and OBCs. It also aimed to derail my government from working on
development agenda and a government of all. Those select groups
who have exploited Muslims, OBCs and SC-STs over the years – in the pretext and
lip service of their cause – are disturbed today because we are trying to bring
in qualitative changes in the common people’s life. Then these ‘select few’
would have their self-seeking shops closed!
There’s a sustain campaign of hatred against me. But it’s others who are
crying foul play.
 |
| Blogger, Daughter Tanvi and Modi to Moditva |
This is an enigma we all are in; perhaps
my straightforwardness with which I try to deal with certain things is
responsible for this.
Often I believe – a section of people and leaders
particularly from – Left, socialists background and even Congress
(notwithstanding its dynastic glorification and corruption) are not in favour
of promoting merits and hard work. People in my country often cannot bear when
deep-rooted old customs are suddenly attacked. I understand this is a long
pending issue. But some of my critics pass judgement against our government with
hostility. They are putting me into problems at times, but in the process they
are actually on the road to deceive themselves.
Thus you common people need to be doubly cautious. The army of gazette officers
is not happy with me – I suppose – for doing away with the system of attestation
to certificates by common people. But this was a legacy of colonial rule and
one day my officers brothers will appreciate my stand.
The Marxists in India have overlooked the problems of casteism. Parties
like CPI-M promoted mainly people from upper castes Hindus and yet they lecture
the rest of India. Congress leaders are images of faultlines in everything but
populism is their trump card. They believe this will again help them revive
their party. They are experts in failure who chose to sell volumes on wisdom of
success!
(This
piece is written out of imagination by Nirendra Dev and has nothing to do with
Narendra Modi…..There’s nothing official about it.)
Blogger Nirendra adds:
In THE FINAL QUESTION (Shesh Prashna by Sarat Chandra
Chattopadhyay) published in 1931.........female protagonist Kamal had tendency
to ask uncomfortable questions. She even questions whether Taj Mahal was really
a monument of love or just an emperor's display of power: "Mumtaj was only
the accidental cause for building Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan could have built such
an edifice around any other occasion".
This illustration is applicable to army of Modi bashers! Who says,
Modi-bashing is not an art of the sickular?
No comments:
Post a Comment