Is it sensible to judge patriotism by 4 words

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in support of the BJP candidate at Raha in Nagaon district of Assam. (Photo: PTI)

After BJP’s resounding victory in the 2014 parliamentary elections, veteran party leader L.K. Advani was reported to have quipped sarcastically that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had worked assiduously to ensure that the BJP was voted to power. At present, Narendra Modi continues to be the undisputed, uncrowned king of the BJP and the NDA government. Though hamstrung in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP retains its unassailable Lok Sabha majority. In spite of humiliating electoral losses in Delhi and Bihar, virtual evaporation of the initial euphoria and a discernible erosion in his popularity, most opinion polls suggest that the majority of Indians, including those who didn’t vote for him, still believe that, at this juncture, he remains the best person to lead the country.

Firstly, in a country where scams tumble out of politicians’ cupboards almost daily, he is seen as personally incorruptible. He exudes inexhaustible energy, unshakeable confidence and unchallenged authority.

He is always brimming with ideas; he dreams big, thinks big and hopes to make a big difference in the lives of Indian people and India’s global stature. A whole book can be written about the series of grand initiatives announced by him, like Make in India, Digital India, Start Up India, Stand Up India, wi-fi-connected smart cities, bullet trains, industrial corridors, Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, etc.

If implemented in letter and spirit, these have the potential to transform India beyond recognition. Modi’s high-profile visits abroad, carnival-like receptions organised by Indians in cities like New York, San Diego, Melbourne, London and Dubai, his bonhomie with world leaders like Obama, Shinzo Abe, David Cameron, Xi Jinping, his sharply-cut stylish attire, his uncanny understanding of photo ops and the electronic media, and flair for coming up with catchy quotable quotes are manufacturing a legend called Narendra Modi. He is the first PM of India born after Independence who functions like a 24x7 CEO.

Celestial constellations also seem to favour Modi: at the time of prevailing gloom in the global economy, India has been performing remarkably well and has emerged as the biggest FDI destination. Thanks to continuing low prices of crude oil and gas, finance minister Arun Jaitley can breathe easy in addressing the current account deficit. India’s short-term economic prospects look bright.

But everything is not hunky-dory. His detractors flaunt a long list of his failures: no progress in bringing back black money, continuing decline in exports, job creation far below tall promises, tardy domestic investment under Make in India, crushing rise in prices of daily consumption pulses in spite of a low inflation rate, reeking infrastructure and agrarian distress.

Bundelkhand and Maharashtra are reeling under severe drought. Poor children have nothing to eat but a chapati and a pinch of salt to stay alive.

Bharat Mata will not be pleased to see her children in this condition. However, these issues are not insurmountable; Modi can and must address them holistically and urgently.

But what he seems unable, or unwilling, to do is rein in his die-hard supporters, who grab media attention by their belligerent utterances and threats and shift the focus from the developmental agenda on which he was elected to avoidable issues which generate social tension, disharmony and divisiveness.

And they can’t be dismissed as loose cannons as some are senior political leaders, academics, RSS ideologues, retired civil servants, Bollywood artistes and media personnel, who are expected to conduct themselves with restraint and dignity lest their objective is to derail Modi’s development agenda and dismantle the Modi edifice brick by brick.

If Modi has friends like them, he doesn’t need enemies. Unless checked in time, they might do what Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh cannot: bring down Modi.

If some writers, artists and actors chose to return their awards, so what Ignore them. Still better, engage them and ascertain what was bothering them.

To brand all of them as Congress agents and trash them as anti-India or anti-national isn’t cool, it’s absurd. Those who expressed concern about intolerance included people like Narayana Murthy and Raghuram Rajan. What axe have they to grind against the government

“Award Wapsi” was an unwarranted and overblown controversy. Who gives these self-appointed vigilantes the right to ask every Indian Muslim who draws attention to any inconvenient issue to go to Pakistan Like other citizens, they have every right to ask legitimate questions of their government. Criticising the government of the day, or even the PM, can’t be taken as anti-India. Our democracy and cultural roots are strong enough to provide space to dissent and contrarian views. Those who try to silence them are doing Mr Modi grave political harm.

The PM never misses an opportunity to stress the crucial role of the youth for India’s progress.

His public condolence to Rohith Vemula’s mother was gracious. But to let university campuses simmer and boil can prove very dangerous. Students and faculty who are found guilty of acting against the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India must be punished severely, as prescribed by law.

But, in the process, we can’t divide the entire student community on we-versus-they lines. Political parties must stop fishing in troubled university campuses. Mature, experienced and forward-looking minds should be roped in to handle student affairs with care, sensitiveness and understanding. Denouncing JNU as a den of Naxals is crazy.

In London’s Wembley stadium, Modi had hailed India’s bewildering diversity. At the Sufi Summit in Delhi he extolled the contribution of Sufi saints. He also says that Indian citizens don’t have to produce a certificate of their patriotism every day. But some overzealous BJP leaders threaten with bodily harm those who won’t chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

Last week, the Maharashtra CM thundered that all such persons should leave India. Earlier, the Haryana CM had openly said that beef-eaters would have to leave India. Yoga teacher Ramdev’s shocking outburst in front of that cameras that but for the Constitution, he might have behead hundreds who refuse to say “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” left one wondering whether yoga and meditation have helped him.

Is it sensible to judge an Indian citizen’s patriotism by four words Till 2013, all PMs ended their Independence Day address from the Red Fort with two words: Jai Hind. All Presidents have done the same. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose greeted INA soldiers with “Jai Hind”. If these leaders remained great patriots without chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, why shouldn’t it be true for ordinary Indians

The writer is a former ambassador