To make PM Modi’s plans accessible to the public, the responsibility lies with the workers, supporters and social organizations more than the administration.
NEW DELHI: Power, prosperity, pinnacle-success is very important—the ability to struggle and the firmness of life values. That’s why rather than analyzing the Prime Ministership of Narendra Bhai Modi and the achievements of nine years, I find it preferable to discuss his journey of struggle and victory at every stage. His continuity is more important than creating power and relationships. Despite tireless work and achievements at national and international level, 2023-2024 has been very challenging for not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but also his party BJP and democracy. To make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans accessible to the public, the responsibility lies with the workers, supporters and social organizations more than the administration.
There would probably be very few such journalists in the capital at this time, who had worked in Gujarat during 1972 to 1976. That’s why I want to start my conversation from there. As a correspondent of Hindustan News (news agency), I attended a Congress session during 1973-76, then Gujarat student movement against Chiman Bhai Patel and in 1975 I got an opportunity to work full time in Ahmedabad during 8 months of emergency. During Emergency, Narendra Modi was playing the hidden point of contact between Sangh-Jan Sangh and opposition leaders and was doing the courageous work of conveying the contents of his thoughts confidentially.
In the initial phase, the pressure of Emergency was not visible there. In those days Vishnu, the editor of ‘Sadhana’ Pandyaji also got opportunities to go to his office and discuss politics and literature. Later editor, apart from litterateur, Vishnu Pandya, Narendra Modi also wrote a book on Emergency in Gujarati. Therefore, I am entitled to say that a secure prison (and some minimum facility for big leaders). The activities of the struggle against the emergency and the government by secretly changing the costumes than the companions. Narendra Modi played an important role in running it. Socialist George Fernandes also, before arrest, had reached Gujarat in disguise and had taken help from Narendra Bhai. This period of struggle probably taught Narendra Modi to move forward on the thorny and stony stairs of national politics.
The biggest proof of this determination is that the BJP has some success in coming to power for the second time with an absolute majority. Within months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, with due approval from Parliament, has written a new chapter of democratic history by demolishing the wall of Article 370. People have a general misconception that Modi ji got this idea because of immediate political-economic conditions. Journalists like us remember that from 1995-96 he was focused to activate the organization in J&K with Haryana, Punjab, Himachal. Jammu and Kashmir as General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party with all his might. Even during the discussion with us it used to happen because the BJP had to prepare political ground there. Despite living in the Union, he used to travel to Kashmir. But terrorism was at its peak in the nineties. During US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India, terrorists brutally killed 36 Sikhs in Chhattisingpura, Kashmir. Being the state in-charge, Narendra Modi immediately left for Kashmir. without any security. With the help of the police, Narendra Modi reached the affected area by road. At that time, Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. When he came to know, he called Mr. Modi and wanted to know how he reached there. There are reports of terrorists planting gunpowder here and there on the roads. The CM further warned him that if he took more risk, the CM himself will be in trouble. Not only this, he spoke to party chief LK Advani ji and complained, ‘This colleague of yours is roaming around any point of time without security and without information. This is wrong.’ Advani ji also called. Even then Narendra Bhai politely replied that the he would only come back after the funeral of the dead. In fact, his answer to everyone used to be, ‘To do my duty, I don’t care about life-death’. Due to his fearless visits in remote areas and villages of Jammu and Kashmir, he understood the problems of Jammu and Kashmir and had taken a resolution to make India a happy and prosperous country. The valleys of the Himalayas had always been in his mind since youth. In Leh-Ladakh, where people get distracted due to lack of oxygen, Narendra Modi did not have any problem. In those days, apart from Ladakh, he was also involved in Tibet, Mansarovar and visited Mount Kailash too before 2001. That’s why he also dreamt that sometime in future in Leh, thousands of Indians will be able to go to Kailash Mansarovar on the way. This would be the easiest way. The visible changes in the region in the last few months lead to the belief that Ladakh and Kashmir will become Switzerland in the years to come. It will become more accessible, attractive along with abundant facilities.
Lakhs of farmers will get farming after completion of construction of Narmada Sarkar Sarovar Dam which has been pending for fifty years and drinking water is also reaching the villages. I don’t agree with the notion that keeping in mind the industrial development and prosperity in Gujarat, he first encouraged the industrialists and on being accused of “suit-boot ki sarkar”, gave importance and changed the agenda and focused on the villages. There is no doubt that the basis of Narendra Modi’s philosophy is the power of knowledge, power of people, water power, energy, economic power and defense power. It seems that his attention remains on this side day and night. That’s why from the Gram Panchayats of India to the overseas Indians sitting in faraway countries, it is convenient for them to connect with Yoga and Campaigns like Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat-Healthy India, Educated India. This can make India powerful and prosperous in true sense.
The world community is accepting India’s lowest death rate in proportion to the largest population. Besides, the number of people who get cured after being affected by Corona is maximum. The constructive way to combat terrorism along with elimination of terrorists is also socio-economic development. That’s why with the efforts of Narendra Modi, the world is standing with India and Islamic countries have also turned away from Pakistan.
Like Kashmir, Modi has given more and more importance to the North Eastern states during the last nine years. According to the 2011 census, the population of Hindus in the Northeast is 54 percent, but it is the largest Hindu community in Assam. This is due to the population, which accounts for about 70% of the total population of the Northeast, compared to other states in the region. The state is much more populous than about 80% of the Hindus of the region live here. in Assam. Muslims are also more than one-third of the population, in which many districts are Muslim majority. The Muslim population in Manipur and Tripura is less than 10% percent. Prime Minister Modi is giving special importance to the Northeast. By keeping MLAs and party leaders active in these states, BJP’s influence is increasing. The main reason for the success of the BJP is its ability to get support from across the Northeast region. Under the umbrella of the Democratic Alliance, the party is part of coalition governments in all the eight states of the Northeast. Its benefit will be found in 2024 elections and thereafter in connecting the allies at the Centre.
The Congress and Opposition parties are trying to capture Muslim votes by making serious allegations of communal discrimination and hatred. Congress got success in Karnataka by playing backward caste and Muslim card. But its second big reason was the inaction and corruption of the local leaders. BJP leaders believe that it is necessary that the welfare schemes of the Modi government reach all the poor and needy and they get the benefits of the schemes equally. BJP believes that during the nine-year tenure of the Modi government, falsehood and fear created by the Opposition parties among the Muslims has subsided to a great extent and they are slowly starting to connect. For this, the example of BJP’s victory in Azamgarh and Rampur with Muslim majority seats is being given. After making a place in Dalit vote bank and tribals against Opposition parties, if the BJP wins Pasmanda Muslims with 80% Muslim population and if it succeeds in connecting, BJP’s win in 2024 can be huge.
The writer is editorial director of ITV Network—India News and Dainik Aaj Samaj.