Modi's I-day Speech Contained As Many Hits as Misses

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“Bahut din baad laga ki desh mein koi Pradhan Mantri hai (After many years, one got the feeling that the country has a Prime Minister).” This is how a keen observer beautifully summed up the popular impression after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech. Modi’s sartorial elegance, extempore delivery and doing away with the bullet-proof cover were truly impressive. The Jodhpuri turban gave him a regal appearance; his oratorical excellence bowled over the audience; and his dispensing with the protective shield showed his boldness and confidence in the security architecture created for him.
The speech struck a chord with the people. No high-sounding plans, simple day-to-day matters which affect the lives of people were taken up. Three of these nevertheless deserve special mention.

Modi declared that a ‘Clean India’ campaign would be launched from October 2 this year when we celebrate Mahatma’s 150th birth anniversary. He deprecated the filth and garbage in the towns and villages, and wanted these to be cleared within the next four years. In this context, he laid stress on separate toilets for girls in all the schools of the country. The Members of Parliament were asked to use funds allotted to them under the MPLAD scheme for the purpose. Corporate sector was also exhorted to use funds under CSR for constructing washrooms in schools.A slew of measures were announced for the poor, the unemployed and the aspiring entrepreneurs. There are millions of people, as Modi said, who have mobile phones but no bank accounts. The Pradhan Mantri Jana Dhan Yojna would extend the facility of bank account to the poor, who would be given debit cards guaranteeing an insurance of `1 lakh for each family. He also talked of a skill development mission to equip the youth with wide-ranging skills so that they are able to earn a living. Modi laid great stress on manufacturing and said it was necessary to give it a boost to strike a balance between imports and exports. He called upon entrepreneurs from all over to “Come, Make in India”, ensuring that there was no compromise on quality and no adverse impact on the environment.
The issues concerning women and girl child were specially highlighted. Modi deprecated the skewed sex ratio in the country and called upon the parents not to sacrifice daughters in the hope of a son. He also chided people for imposing restraints on the movements of girls while not bothering, let alone monitoring, the activities of male children who actually committed the crimes against girls and women.
Without detracting from the brilliance of Modi’s speech, it is necessary to point out that on an important issue—violence in society due to casteism, communalism and regionalism—he was not convincing. The Prime Minister called for a 10-year moratorium on all such activities. Noble sentiment! But unlikely to evoke any response. It needs to be recognised that these feelings have been exacerbated essentially by political parties with a view to enlarge their vote bank. Unless the parties eschew parochial politics and rise above narrow regional and sectarian considerations, there will be no end to these evils. Politics is unfortunately getting murkier and unprincipled with every election. Electoral reforms could minimise the gravity of these problems.
Modi’s appeal to the Maoists to renounce violence and join the mainstream was on target. He gave the example of Nepal where the erstwhile Maoists are today engaged in drafting the Constitution, and called upon the youth to abandon shastra (weapon) and adopt shaastra (scripture) instead. Here also, however, he would have to remember that unless successful counter-insurgency operations are undertaken and the Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army is de-fanged, not many cadres would come over ground to surrender. Government must craft a comprehensive policy to deal with the Maoist problem.
Any speech or presentation cannot cover the entire range of issues. And yet, two important areas were unfortunately left out. Corruption is a huge problem in the country. People would have been happy to hear from the Prime Minister his plan to contain this menace. Besides, the Northeast found no mention. A few minutes from the Prime Minister would have gone a long way in reducing their sense of alienation.