Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 12th address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day celebrations spelt out measures to deal with global and festering political challenges within the country.
The Prime Minister sought to usurp the pivot of nationalism amid looming global challenges triggered by disruptions of US President Donald Trump in trades and geopolitics. Modi also suggested his readiness to admit internal pain within the country due to erroneous GST, unemployment, and red-tapism.
Extending Olive Branch to the RSS
While celebrating unity, the Prime Minister in the same breath sought to warm up relations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Modi gave a first mention to the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort. His claims of the RSS being the world’s largest NGO “dedicated to duty of nation building” will likely be music to the ears of Nagpur.
The Prime Minister’s announcement of a task force with a time-bound mandate for a “conspiracies to change demography in border areas” will also lift spirits in the Nagpur headquarters of the RSS. His assertions against “ghuspaithiya (illegal immigrants)” accord acceptance to the current focus of the RSS.
That the Prime Minister lauded the RSS in glowing terms, while committing to the current focus of the saffron ideological mentor, signals his bid to buy peace with the Nagpur-headquartered organisation, which will kick-off centenary celebrations from upcoming Dussehra this year. The festering tension between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS over a host of issues, including the appointment of the new chief of the party, has widely been commented.
Rallying Nationalism to Counter Trump-led Disruptions
“Against ahitkari neeti (harmful policy) for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, Modi stands as a wall, who will not make any compromises,” said the Prime Minister in a clear reiteration of the Indian stand in trade negotiations with the US. He also sent out a clear message that the red line in trade talks will hold with the US.
Clearly sensing a political opportunity to fashion his appeal as a bulwark against Trump’s threats, the Prime Minister gave a “Swadeshi (self-reliance)” call to the people. He went a step ahead from past utterances by exhorting traders to boast ‘Swadeshi only’ tagline in names of their shops. This should be a signal to the US that India will assert the “leverage” of its large market against any bully tactics of Washington.
Admission of Deepening Internal Discords
The issue of unemployment has evidently been haunting the Central government led by Modi, as well as the BJP. The saffron outfit is seemingly facing scorching heat in the poll-bound Bihar on the issue of unemployment. Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman had spotlighted the job concern in her last Budget by unveiling schemes for internships in private sector. But the response has been found to have been tepid.
This explains the Prime Minister’s announcement of ‘Pradhanmantri Rozgar Yojna’ with financial support of ₹15000 for each job offered by the private sector with aim to target 3.5 crore employment creation. The government will hope that the private sector will take the bet and add jobs at a time when layoffs hog headlines in the media.
The announcement of unveiling “Next Generation GST” by Diwali this year also should be seen as an admission that the taxation regime riled up not just the middle class, but also small traders, which constitute a major chunk of the BJP’s vote base. Modi’s statement that “there will be no tax on goods of most important use of the people” should lift the spirits of the BJP’s core constituency.
The announcement to constitute a task force for the ‘Next Generation Reform’ should also be seen from the lens of criticism within the saffron family that the government has largely become status quoist and bureaucratic. The Prime Minister’s exhortation to the young entrepreneurs to tell him of “laws, rules, and procedures that need to be removed” should be seen as a belated admission of red-tapism.
Amplifying Operation Sindoor and Defence Shield Plan
Sporting saffron, resembling the colour of Sindoor, vermilion worn by married women, the Prime Minister made it clear that India’s military actions against Pakistan-based terror outfits should be known as his top legacy. Modi’s assertions that “the armed forces struck deep inside Pakistan, which had not been done for decades,” underlines his thrust that he has grip over the muscular nationalism plank.
By unveiling plan for aerial shield for not just security installations, but also the people and non-military targets from potential military targets, the Prime Minister adds to the narrative of the Operation Sindoor, centred around India neutralising Pakistan’s military capabilities.
Also, Modi by exhorting scientists and engineers to lend their support in India building own engines for Made in India fighter jets is seeking to build nationalistic fervour among the people, while also sending out a veiled message to the Indian diaspora to accept the national challenge in the face of Trump-led disruptions in gaining access to technologies.
Bashing Pakistan on Nuclear Blackmail
By detailing why India will not reconsider decision to put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance by stating that “water and blood cannot flow together”, Modi has sent out a clear message to Pakistan, as well as the US, that there is now window for a rethink. The Prime Minister by stating that “India rejects the nuclear blackmail” is a message for both Asim Munir in Pakistan and Trump in the US. His assertions were backed with a reiteration that India will develop own military arsenal, which will be free from any kind of controls from the outside. Modi gave a fulsome package on Operation Sindoor for audiences abroad and within the country.
In nutshell, the 12th address of Modi on the Independence Day celebrations from the ramparts of the Red Fort came under the shadow of dark external and internal political clouds, and the Prime Minister sought to show that he has cards to deal with them.
(Manish Anand is a senior Delhi-based journalist with over two decades of covering parliament and politics. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)