NEW DELHI: The question is what new vision he will present for the next five years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prediction is about to come true. On 15 August last year, he announced that he would return to hoist the flag again in 2024, and now he is set to fulfil that promise. Modi is poised to become the first non-Congress Prime Minister to set the record of hoisting the flag at the Red Fort for the 11th consecutive time. Prior to this, only Jawaharlal Nehru from the Congress had the honour of such a long streak.
Last year, Prime Minister Modi highlighted his achievements over the past decade and assured the nation that he would return with a road map for the future. Now, all eyes are on what new vision he will present for the next five years. Although his long-term goal is to make India a developed country by 2047, the changing political landscape may have brought new challenges.
In his third term, Prime Minister Modi has made it clear that his approach to governance will remain unchanged. In fact, there is no indication that he is operating under pressure from his allies. However, the Opposition’s stance has become increasingly negative, with efforts to drive a wedge between NDA allies. Despite this, it seems unlikely that the allies will fall into the Opposition’s trap. The level of political discourse from the opposition has notably declined. Whether it’s the case of the coup in Bangladesh or the controversy surrounding Vinesh Phogat in the Olympics, the statements and actions of Opposition leaders have been disappointing.
In particular, the Opposition’s conduct, both inside and outside Parliament, regarding Phogat has been indefensible, as it is clearly motivated by electoral gains in Haryana. As for Bangladesh, leaders like Uddhav Thackeray made unjustifiable remarks, and figures such as Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Salman Khurshid, and Mani Shankar Aiyar issued warnings to India, drawing comparisons with Bangladesh. It remains to be seen if Prime Minister Modi addresses such statements in his upcoming address to the nation.
In the general elections, PM Modi promised that the achievements of the past ten years were just a preview and that the real work was yet to come. However, his decade in office includes several significant accomplishments. Among these, the most notable is the removal of Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir, which resolved a long-standing controversy.
The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the installation of Lord Ram’s idol were completed smoothly. Other key achievements include addressing issues like triple talaq, introducing 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, building expressways, expanding the railway network, and launching initiatives like Ujjwala Yojana, providing toilets, concrete houses, tap water in every home, Ayushman Yojana, and free food grains. Additionally, curbing terrorism through surgical and strikes on Pakistan has altered global perceptions of India. The government has also made strides in foreign relations and economic matters.
However, the way China’s interference has increased in the neighboring countries is a big challenge for India. Whatever will be said about the neighboring countries in the speech of Prime Minister Modi on August 15, will tell a lot about what will be India’s stand in the future. The most important aspect to watch will be the announcements Prime Minister Modi makes for the general public in his speech, particularly regarding his plans for the youth and farmers.
In fact, Prime Minister Modi is expected to deliver strong messages to both the Opposition and his allies. Until now, Modi has primarily criticized Congress for its handling of the Emergency period. From the Red Fort, he may also address the Congress and opposition on the topic of reservations. During the general elections, the opposition misled voters about the Constitution and reservations, which negatively impacted the BJP.
The government has stated that reservations for SCs and STs will continue as per the Constitution and has indicated that it’s now their turn to address this issue. It will be interesting to see what surprising announcements PM Modi makes in this
context.