Prime Minister Narendra Modi always keeps his countrymen, especially the youth and party cadre engaged with some programme of national importance or the other. His latest move to commemorate India’s 75 years of Independence and urging for public participation, is one such huge effort. It spans for 75 weeks culminating on 15 August, 2023. The PM stated the celebrations must reflect the country’s freedom movement and showcase its achievements to the world. This way, he wanted to rekindle patriotic fervour among people. After all, we the people are representatives of this country, India i.e., Bharat, in the world.
As said, the Prime Minister launched the celebrations: Azad Ka Amrut Mahotsav on 12 Mar. i.e., the day Mahatma Gandhi launched the Dandi March from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Ashram in 1930. The PM paying tributes to Gandhi ji and starting the celebrations was a good gesture. The celebrations could be divided into five sub heads viz. freedom struggle, ideas at 75, achievements at 75, actions at 75, and resolve at 75. And the Prime Minister wanted this festival to have the spirit of what it had been soon after Independence, meaning to say with the same spirit. The PM says “In this, there is also a tribute to martyrs of the country and the resolve to make India of their dreams.” The P.M also emphasized in taking the stories of lesser-known freedom fighters to people. He also wanted the contribution of every section of society to the fore.
“There are people who are performing some great work for the country for generations, their contribution, thinking and ideas need to be integrated with national efforts,” he said. The Prime Minister added that when India celebrates the 75th year of its Independence, it will take bold steps” to achieve targets that seemed impossible at some point. All this shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership qualities. He always gives positive stimulus to his cadres to work on. From time to time, he connects with the cadres, and also with youth, women, farmers, artisans, and all types of common people, big and small, through his Mann Ke Bhaat.
From the beginning, P.M Modi takes whatever the opposition throws at him to his stride and makes campaigning points. In this manner, he makes people understand his message. For instance, before 2014 election on Chaiwallah jibe by Mani Shankar Aiyar to Chai pe charcha discussion. Next, in 2019 election, Chowkidar Chor hai ranting on Rafale issue by Rahul Gandhi’s to #Chowkidar Narendra Modi on his Twitter handle. The leaders in his party emulated the same. In turn, people of India accepted his versions more than the opposition. Whatever the opposition says has been going on into thin air. Why is it so? Why are they unable to make a dent, though they raised in their own wisdom: campaigns against Article-370, the CAA, NRC, Migrant labour Issue during the Covid-19 time, Farmers Issues, earlier: demonetisation and multi-layered GST issues?
On Covid-19 front, on economic-growth front and on China, he was attacked relentlessly. Covid-19 was managed effectively and free-vaccination drive and supplying vaccine to other nations as humanitarian drive brought laurels to the PM Modi internationally. The World Health Organisation (WTO) Chief Tedros Adhanom appreciated our PM for standing up for the cause of humanity, when the other developed nation kept it (the vaccine) as their preserve exhibiting narrow vaccine nationalism. On Economy Front, Chief Economist of IMF Gita Gopinath appreciated India’s economic growth revival cure after the pandemic to be impressive compared to other nations.
Yet, the opposition is unrelenting in its pursuit to blame Modi. The recent U.S. think-tank Freedom-House- report saying India partly-free is lapped up by Rahul Gandhi. At the most, Freedom House, the Washington based democracy watchdog, is ‘just’ a think tank (like any other think tank). This type of think tanks would not be heard, unless they publish some eye-catching reports. So, they create sensation. Other than that, nothing else. So, latching on to them would not give any dividends to any opposition leader. It is India that has to decide whether its freedom is compromised or not.
Within the Congress party there is so much of turmoil. Neither Rahul Gandhi nor his sister Priyanka are full-time politicians. Their own party is waiting in bated breath as to what the result of the 5-states (West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry) that are going to polls would be. In the similar way, the G-23 leaders (group of 23 leaders who had written letter to Sonia Gandhi last August demanding overhaul of the Congress party at organisational level) are in anticipation of their defeat, so that the dynasty-rule of the Congress would not be in succession perennially. So, May-2 counting and results of 5-state elections would be an interesting phenomenon in the present Indian politics. As of now, there is no parallel to P.M. Narendra Modi in leadership qualities in India. His position is unassailable. The PM’s outreach to people is tremendous. The opposition has yet to learn.
