An opinion on an opinion piece

While flipping through the paper the other day, I happened to chance upon this on piece, and while I was reading it, several thoughts came to my mind. As I had nobody around to share those thoughts with, I just decided to write them down. Here is that humble opinion, written in red.

The link to the original article is here: https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIM%2F2019%2F08%2F23&entity=Ar01600&sk=4D27F37A&mode=text

A Strong Willed PM

It’s the quality that separates Modi from other Indian prime ministers

Amit Shah

Since independence India has seen 17 Lok Sabha elections, 22 governments and 15 PMs.

No doubt, each of these regimes have contributed to nation building, but had a very limited

impact on long term destiny of our country. 

The author in the very first sentence has demeaned all of the previous governments, without

stating what makes them superior. This could be a way of ‘Magic Bulleting’ the idea that the

previous governments were not up-to-the-mark while this government is the best, into the

minds of the readers. 

Congress, which has ruled for 55 years in all, has had eight opportunities to serve India with

full majority governments, but not even ten measures stand out that would be remembered

for ushering in transformational change. The Vajpayee government took serious initiatives to

jolt the status quo only to see its policy interventions thwarted because of lack of numbers in

Parliament.

The previous government bashing continues.

In many ways, 2014 marks a point of inflection in India’s governance and policy paradigm. 

In a way, saying, We The Best!

For the first time a non-Congress government won a full majority in the Lok Sabha. The

Narendra Modi-led government has since rewritten the grammar of change. In the last

63 months, dozens of signature policy initiatives have not only brought about significant

qualitative improvement in people’s lives, but also pitchforked India as a global growth

engine, cementing its status of eminence among the world’s leading nations.

He is complimenting his own party and governance period. So, we go from ‘how bad

Congress is’ to ‘how amazing we are’, but without a single concrete mention of their policy

initiative.

The hallmark of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been his strong willed approach. The

nullification of Article 370 and abolition of Article 35A, despite the opposition’s inexplicable

resistance, as also the lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha, exemplify this determination. 

This was his address to the public/reader, and instead of explaining the nitty-gritties of the

situation and the party ideology. He is just basing it on the PM’s ‘strong will’. Because that's

the only thing required to take concrete history-making decisions - consulting experts,

speaking to people who would be affected or taking a well thought out decision is just passe. 

I am sure, after reading this, many would say that maybe they did take a well thought-out

decision. My only question is, why not talk about that then? Why only focus on the

strong-willed aspect. 

Article 370 in its original form and Article 35A were not compatible with India’s development

aspirations, as these severely restricted the state’s progress and, also, promoted separatism.

Terrorism has killed more than 41,000 people in the state, while a few families merrily

pocketed the bulk of central government aid, pushing an entire generation into poverty.

The peculiar brand of appeasement politics, coupled with lack of political will, ensured that no

leader dared to change the “special status” of J&K perpetuated through Articles 370

and 35A. The Modi government’s decision on Article 370 and Article 35A, and the passage

of the relevant Bills in both houses of Parliament illustrate Modi’s resolve and political

statesmanship to actualise the “one nation-one Constitution” principle, and lead

Jammu and Kashmir into a new era of development.

Likewise, moves such as demonetisation, GST, abolition of the evil practice of triple talaq,

air strike and surgical strike on terror launch pads across the border, one rank one pension,

direct benefit transfer (DBT), institutionalisation of chief of defence staff (CDS), UAPA

amendment bill and constitutional status to OBC Commission, which were hitherto seen as

difficult asks, were executed by the Modi government. These moves certainly make him the

most strong willed prime minister India has ever seen.

Demonetisation and Make in India was a fail, the surgical strike is questioned upon, there is

no update on the Smart Cities project (if I remember right, it was not even on their manifesto,

this time around, correct me if I am wrong please) - they are completely ignored here.

Successive governments since independence have implemented a policy matrix through a

binary prism: rich-poor, industry-agriculture, and cities-villages. This approach presented a

set of selfimposed contradictions. For instance, there evolved a perplexing strand of thought

that the poor can develop only if the interest of rich is compromised and vice versa. Modi has

demolished this baffling attitude by making a clarion call: “There are only two classes: the

poor and those who want to eradicate poverty.”

Which basically establishes the same thing as the binary prism he is talking about - creating

a divide between the two. Just naming it something cool and inspiring doesn't make it any

better, the essence of it is still the same. 

Ensuring ease of living has been the primary pillar of the Modi government’s governance

doctrine. Jan Dhan, Mudra, DBT, house for all, electricity for all, LPG for all, crop insurance

scheme, increased MSP for farmers, pension schemes for small entrepreneurs and working

class, and Kisan Samman Nidhi: all epitomise this approach. In addition specific policy

initiatives have been taken for the development of historically marginalised social segments

such as SC, ST, OBC and women.

Modi has always believed that a country cannot advance if the business community does not
lead this progress. His emphasis on the role of wealth creators in a nation’s growth underlines
the importance this government attaches to the business community. 

We, as a country, which is made up of at least 70 per cent rural population were of the belief
that the country will progress when the farmer progress. Now, that narrative has completely
changed and we are now believing that serving the business community is of utmost
importance. No wonder, we hear about farmer suicide every other day and protest marches
every few months.  

From overhauling a creaky banking system (which most of the well known economists as well
as RBI data has proven to be a major fail),  clamping down on corruption (only when it is
revolves around the opposition, because clearly the news website  which unearthed
Jay Shah’s questionable turnover got a 100 crore defamation case) , enhancing investments
in infrastructure (which still let to flooding almost across the country this monsoon), to GST
and procedural simplification – all have turned India into a much easier place to do business.
India remains the world’s fastest growing major economy and is cantering towards the
$5 trillion GDP mark (We are in an economic slowdown, ignoring this fact isn’t going to better
the situation).

Under Modi’s stewardship India’s status on the world stage has grown by leaps and bounds.
When India carried out surgical strikes and air strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan, the
world’s leading nations stood by us, while our neighbour was, and continues to remain,
isolated. 

You honestly could have stopped at, leading nations stood by us, there is absolutely no
need to stress that our neighbour stood alone.

Recognition of Yoga International Day, UN’s Champion of Earth Award to Modi, leading role
in International Solar Alliance initiative, successful launch of Chandrayaan and highest
number of simultaneous satellite launches from India are some examples of India’s growing
international stature.

National security remains nonnegotiable for this government. The decision to appoint a CDS,
modernisaton of the armed forces as well as successful launch of anti-satellite missile
demonstrates the government’s steadfast focus to protect India on all fronts: land, sky, sea
and space. The decision to implement the long-standing demand for OROP also mirrors the
government’s firmness to keep the morale of India’s soldiers high.

The contrast between previous administrations and the Modi government is clear. While
earlier governments’ decisions were primarily guided by the sole objective of retaining power,
the Modi government is focused on pushing changes of long-term significance, no matter if
they don’t seem popular in the near run. This has resulted in courageous policy and
legislative moves even in the face of widely perceived political risks. PM’s popularity shows
that when tough measures are taken with popular welfare as the sole consideration, people
reward you with wholesome support. The overwhelming mandate in 2019 that bettered even
the 2014 record is a testimony to this.

Why is it that, every time he needs to compliment their government or the PM, he has to put
someone else down?