Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Ten Reasons Why Modi is Disliked

Ten Reasons Why Modi is Disliked

Major General Mrinal Suman

Modi became Prime Minister in May 2014. During his 18 months in office, he has earned the displeasure of many segments of the society. Here are ten reasons why he is disliked.

1.   Modi is a ‘usurper of power’. He is trying to replicate the reign of the Slave Dynasty of the thirteenth century by seizing Delhi Sultanate, an inheritance of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty. How dare a petty tea-vendor have the audacity to gatecrash into the hallowed portals of Lutyens’ Delhi? Howsoever ill-equipped, inept and unqualified the dynasty may be, Delhi throne is its family heritage. In any case, no competence is required to plunder India. As in the past, the country can be easily ruled through a network of sycophants, stooges and dummies. It is just a question of fine-tuning the remote controls.

2.       Modi is a ‘sadist’. How dare he discard the long practiced tenet of ‘khao aur khane do’? His mantra of ‘naa khaunga, naa khane dunga’ is symptomatic of his aversion for the well-being of the ruling elite. It smacks of jealousy for the privileged.  Remember how smoothly the previous coalitions functioned. Different ministries were dished out to the partners as fiefdoms. It was left to their ingenuity to garner funds. No one interfered in Raja’s spectrum loot or in Praful Patel’s aircraft purchases. Modi must not forget that leaders and bureaucrats have families. They have to amass enough to secure the future of their progeny.

3.     Modi is a ‘workaholic’. Worse, he expects others to work equally hard. Introduction of biometric system to mark presence in government offices has been terribly painful. Earlier employees could walk in leisurely at any time and leave whenever they felt homesick. Many did private side-business during office hours.  Movement of files was never monitored. Offices were meant for rest and recreation. Long gossip sessions with colleagues in the canteen were intellectually stimulating. Group cohesion was developed during long hours spent under winter sun in the office lawns and sharing pea-nuts. All the charm of government service has disappeared. One is expected to work now. Even senior bureaucrats have been deprived of their life-style of yore golf in the morning, relaxed hours in the office and evenings in the Gymkhana. Modi has ruined happiness of all government employees.

4.    Modi is ‘anti-media’. Eighteen months in power and not a single scandal or scam. Just not done. Media cannot be starved. Editors have no issues to embellish their headlines with. TV anchors have no hot topics for conducting high-decibel debates. They have to convert innocuous statements by some fringe elements into national controversies. No wonder media is unhappy with the present dispensation and is nostalgic about those good old days of scam-a-day. It did not have to look for topics for breaking news and evening debates. Media’s discomfort can be gauged from the fact that it has to stoop down to faulting Modi for not issuing statement on every single occurrence in the country. By depriving media of sensationalism, Modi is deliberately asphyxiating it.

5.    Modi is ‘anti-employment’. All his promises of generating jobs through economic growth are phony. In fact, he has been busy shutting down existence business. Look what he has done to the patronage industry. It had taken India decades to evolve such a fool-proof and credible patronage regime: far more reliable than the much-hyped match-fixing in cricket. Every appointment, license and contract was available for a price. Every appointment was for sale and had its MRP: it could be governorship of a state or directorship of a government bank/company or even chairmanship of the Railway Board. One could obtain a chit from PMO office and get a coal block. Full satisfaction was granted to all applicants, bureaucrats and ministers. Most unfairly, Modi has put an end to such a thriving business, thus rendering numerous people jobless.

6. Modi is a ‘pseudo-secularist’. Although he had been demonised by the self-proclaimed secularists as a communal menace for decades, Modi remains unscathed. Most worrisomely, even negative campaigns like phoney anti-Christian allegations during Delhi elections and spiteful intolerance crusade during Bihar elections have not provoked him. He is letting all the doomsday-prophets down with his inclusive policies which are well received by all sections of the society. He has said or done nothing to favour any community. If Modi is allowed to establish his credentials as a secular leader, it will be difficult to dislodge him. That cannot be permitted. Therefore, renewed attacks through cooked-up issues must be launched to dent his image. Secularism is the sole prerogative of the opposition leaders.

7.       Modi is highly ‘pretentious’. He has made a mess of India’s foreign policy. Instead of following the established diplomatic protocol, he has started establishing personal rapport with the world leaders. More shockingly, he has adopted yoga and hugs as instruments of his foreign policy. With his spontaneously warm embraces, he has befriended all world leaders. They admire him for his sincerity of purpose, clear vision and inexhaustible energy. Obama surprised all by agreeing to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had a selfie with Modi. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended prayers at Varanasi. By trying to practice diplomacy through hugs and yoga, he is deliberately trashing the very foundation of India’s foreign policy of laid-back indifference.

8.       Modi is ‘intolerant’. How can a Prime Minister talk of cleanliness and toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort? Who is Modi to deprive the public of the pleasure of defecating in an open and green environment? Height of intolerance to old Indian practices. If India could live with filth for so long, who is Modi to question? It is rightly said that ‘filth is in the eyes of the beholder’ and the dynasty never saw any. Similarly, it is for the parents to decide the future of their daughters. Why is Modi forcing them to educate girls? Intolerance once again. Modi has been elected to govern the country and not to don the mantle of a social reformist. He should not exceed his brief.

9.    Modi is ‘misusing his oratory skills’. Not only has he been able to inspire the Indian Diaspora, but has also infused euphoric enthusiasm in India’s psyche. Pessimism and negativity have been replaced by optimism and positivity. He is deliberately resorting to erudite talks in Hindi and English to show Pappu and other caste leaders in poor light. It is most unsportsmanlike. While Modi impresses the people with his vision of a developed and prosperous India; Pappu can only talk of ‘suit-boot sarkar’ or target RSS. Worse, in comparison to Modi, Pappu looks like a cry-baby who had been deprived of his favourite toy. Modi must stop displaying wisdom and vision. He is giving an inferiority complex to the opposition leaders.

10.   Modi is an ‘economic maverick’. Through his missionary zeal for economic growth, Modi has been upsetting many who were benefitting from India’s poverty. Modi’s success in attracting investment in the infra-structure and industrial growth through ‘Make in India’ campaign will improve the lot of the impoverished. That is also the main worry of the caste-leaders. Economic betterment brings awareness. An aware voter is a discerning voter. He sees through the facade of secularism to fool the people. He does not get carried away by rhetoric of caste loyalties. He demands results. No wonder that all opposition leaders view economic reforms as a threat to their political relevance. Modi appears to be hell-bent on upsetting the applecart.

Finally, a footnote of caution: Modi may not be perfect, nobody is. But he is the best bet for India. Should Modi fail to deliver or is prevented from fulfilling his promises by the anti-national elements that are stalling growth, India’s future will be bleak. We will have Pappu, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav or Kejriwal at the helm of affairs. Does it not send shivers down our spine?



32 comments:

  1. A very good article stating facts in the guise of ironical statements.

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  2. Really deserves kudos for the writer to collect data and present the arguments cohesively!!!

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  3. A very accurate analysis of the topic, cogently presented. The tragedy is that the leaders who looted the country during the last more than six decades have very deep pockets. They are totally unscrupulous when it comes to spreading canards and they can be ruthlessly selfish, even anti-national, when it comes to their own interests versus the nation's development. And, to top it all, our electorate are, by and large, still immature. How else can you explain the voting patterns of the well-educated and economically well-off voters of Delhi and that of the semi-literate and starving masses of Bihar.

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    1. It was not the well-educated and economically well-off voters of Delhi that were responsible for BJP's defeat but the same semi-literate and starving masses of Bihar and UP that migrated and settled in Delhi that were responsible. Yes, a few elitists residents of Delhi were completely fooled by Kejriwal gang with false promises. That is now changing fast.

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  4. Does it not send shivers down our spike? Apparently it doesn't.. Didn't we just give the highest no. of seats in Bihar to a party led by a leader who has been convicted of corruption and has absolutely no track record of doing anything good for the state? I mean, is there anyone who really thinks he is good for governance?

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  5. Problem is not with the leadership of people like Narendra Modi, but the problem is with Indian masses who have learnt the art of sycophancy and loot and distribute loot-wealth amongst themselves. Nice article. Keep doing like this.

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  6. People like Sivakumar are the real reasons for PM's problems. They see Hindu Muslim issue in everything.Was JJ act made for muslims only?It's a technical issue which needs to be resolved by legislature.That such people idolize PM Modi is his biggest drawback...pathetic and disgusting statement by Sivakumar.Such people do not like their country to be peaceful but have share the ideology of Terrorist ISIS though for different religion....

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    1. So, YOU mean that country was peaceful so far with no Hindu-Muslim issues, Nirbhaya cases etc. It's the people like YOU who have no courage to protest the ills of the society or even comment by own name instead of being 'Anonymous'. Disgusting. Come one and show courage to openly criticize Modi, the writer of this article Major General Mrinal Suman or even the previous looting regimes, if YOU are not one of them yourself.

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  7. Very accurate analysis of the political scene in the country and aptly written article. Kudos to Major General Mrinal Suman.

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  8. Modi will go down as one of great PMs if RSS and right wingers stop idolizing him for wrong reasons and he strongly controls vitriolic elements who think that with Mr Modi the PM they have got licence to unleash violence. His silence emboldens them. This drawback overshadows his achievements and gives ammunition to his opponents. If he leaves his such bhakts he will be difficult to remove...believe me

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  9. A very negative writing style. Sarcasm in general is not polite, and an overload of sarcasm, definitely not welcome. I did not read the full content due to repelling style of writing.

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    1. Well aren't you obviously very 'tolerant' then?

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    2. Don't call it sarcasm, it is wit.

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  10. Very cleverly worded facts. I hope the Indian masses can see through the negative media hype and accept Modi for the good he brings to the nation. He seems to be a one man army, a sole crusader and saviour of our nation.

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  11. Brilliant portrayal of ground reality. Your last para is bang on. Modi is India's best bet.

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  12. Brilliant portrayal of ground reality. Your last para is bang on. Modi is India's best bet.

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  13. Aptly analysed, clearly presented and above all convincingly argued that best bet we have in ages is now. His clear speech at Kabul and stopover at Pakistan unannounced must give impetus to you Sir to put forward another piece soon in future.

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  14. Very apt content with very good writing style. Looking forward to reading more such articles.

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  15. Very apt content with very good writing style. Looking forward to reading more such articles.

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  16. Very apt content with very good writing style. Looking forward to reading more such articles.

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  17. A good analysis. And it certainly send shivers down my spine. Unfortunately since early days the population of this country is used to being ruled by looters and it has got into their DNA. They cannot discern between good and evil.

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  18. All is good till individual doesn't become a frenkestien.
    India saw Sanjay Gandhi and Indira in half measure.

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  19. General Sahab,If nothing else atleast to justify the title(SWORD AND SHIELD), you should have written a line or two as to why THE VETERNS ARE AT JANTAR MANTAR or shall we presume that NATIONAL SECURITY is not an issue.No wonder we have been ruled by out siders,but I ask has any thing really changed except the colour of the skin of the RULERS?

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  20. Welldone Genaral, major national issues requiring immediate correction/changes have been well documented & conveyed in a soldierly manner withuot any hidden agenda.If some comentator views the language to be sarcastic & of poor style,let that be so by one.We & our predecessors have been apolitical throughout for decades abiding by professional/social ethos as geentlemen . Perhaps that is one reason for our humiliatio & downgradation in many spheres. We have been taken for granted. Let that petiod be over now on wards so that atleast our successors don't suffer & serve our nation with pride,dignity & high morale. Carry on with more of it Gen MS,AVSM,VSM

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  21. Welldone Genaral, major national issues requiring immediate correction/changes have been well documented & conveyed in a soldierly manner withuot any hidden agenda.If some comentator views the language to be sarcastic & of poor style,let that be so by one.We & our predecessors have been apolitical throughout for decades abiding by professional/social ethos as geentlemen . Perhaps that is one reason for our humiliatio & downgradation in many spheres. We have been taken for granted. Let that petiod be over now on wards so that atleast our successors don't suffer & serve our nation with pride,dignity & high morale. Carry on with more of it Gen MS,AVSM,VSM

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  22. Welldone Genaral, major national issues requiring immediate correction/changes have been well documented & conveyed in a soldierly manner withuot any hidden agenda.If some comentator views the language to be sarcastic & of poor style,let that be so by one.We & our predecessors have been apolitical throughout for decades abiding by professional/social ethos as geentlemen . Perhaps that is one reason for our humiliatio & downgradation in many spheres. We have been taken for granted. Let that petiod be over now on wards so that atleast our successors don't suffer & serve our nation with pride,dignity & high morale. Carry on with more of it Gen MS,AVSM,VSM

    ReplyDelete
  23. Welldone Genaral, major national issues requiring immediate correction/changes have been well documented & conveyed in a soldierly manner withuot any hidden agenda.If some comentator views the language to be sarcastic & of poor style,let that be so by one.We & our predecessors have been apolitical throughout for decades abiding by professional/social ethos as geentlemen . Perhaps that is one reason for our humiliatio & downgradation in many spheres. We have been taken for granted. Let that petiod be over now on wards so that atleast our successors don't suffer & serve our nation with pride,dignity & high morale. Carry on with more of it Gen MS,AVSM,VSM

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  24. A well worded tongue-in-cheek encomium for Narendra Modi.

    If Modi comes out unscathed from all the adulation of sycophants, the corruptive influence of power, the trap of arrogance that stems from fame, the web of nepotism and communal preferences compelled by his 'alma mater': the RSS, he would, indeed, be the leader that India is ready for with the more deserving and meritorious members of the cabinet and administration than ones he has either hand-picked or have been currently thrust upon him. I do not for a moment think that the critical intelligentsia wishes him any harm -- in fact, rather success, in spite of its vigilant gaze, which should not be lifted for a moment, because of his antecedents and associations -- the reason for all the suspicions about the fairness of his qualities and motives.

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