Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 April spoke on ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sab Ke Saath’ at the Central Hall Westminster in London. The talk can be seen more as the launch of a full-scale election campaign. While he was the chief minister of Gujarat in 2012, he had broadcast a message about the 2014 elections via Google Hangouts. Madison Square was the next big opportunity. In this opportunity in London, the PM sounded the poll bugle.
A Defensive Government
The government has always been defensive about issues like poverty, unemployment and protection of women. After watching this show, I feel that the videos that are supposed to be circulated over Whatsapp have been pre-planned and the questions were briefed accordingly.
I don’t want to be immortalised by history. Serving my country is my aim. I construct roads with the stones that people pelt at me and move ahead.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Talk Focused More on 2022 Than on 2019
If you listen to the talk carefully, it can be deduced that he wants to create an impression in the minds of the voters that he has good intentions and is working hard. He also implies that it takes time for a change to be brought after the old garbage is cleaned. He mentions 2022 multiple times so that the focus moves away from 2019.
Whether or not our government is performing well can be analysed by comparing the performance of these five years to that of the previous governments. I can assure you that we left no stone unturned for the betterment of the country.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Kathua and Unnao Rape Cases
Most of his speech focused on women’s issues and the girl child. The PM had addressed the Unnao and Kathua rape cases in the past. As far as the lies and hatred being spread about the cases through social media are concerned, the PM should take stern action against the ones giving it a communal colour.
Little girls are being raped. It is painful, but will you say that there were less rapes happening in my government than yours? That would be inappropriate. Rape is rape. Victimisation of our daughters can’t be tolerated.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
PM Appreciates Criticism, Not Accusations
The PM stressed the point that he appreciates criticism, but not accusations. So he should also clarify whether the unemployment numbers are criticism or accusation. He should also clarify whether the facts – the Ganga is still unclean, Digital India is struggling, GST is a mess, black money wasn’t eradicated by demonetisation – are criticism or accusations.
A democracy is nurtured by criticism and creates awareness among the people and the government. Unfortunately, criticism needs a lot of research and hard work and due to lack of that, it has taken the form of an accusation.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
One specialty of the PM’s speeches is that he self analyses them and also addresses any possible criticism. This gets difficult for us. For example: “People might say that this show premeditated.”
We would not like to say that. But at an event of this scale, the PM has clearly chosen his stage, his message and his segment. And there’s nothing wrong with it.
If there are lakhs of problems, there are crores of solutions too. It’s been four years since I was chosen the ‘Pradhan Sevak’ (Prime servant). I will do nothing with foul intentions and that’s a promise.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
The PM stressed on his simplicity, his childhood of limited needs, his poverty and his saint-like nature. But during the talk, Modi addressing himself as third person confused many.
A former British Prime Minister, once asked about his greatest fear, had said, “Events, my dear boy, events.”
After PM Modi’s talk, the quote might be changed to: “Event management, my dear, event management.”
(The copy was first published on Quint Hindi and has been translated by Eshwar Gole.)
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