Wednesday, February 8, 2017

BATH IN THE RAINCOAT

Prime Minister Narender Modi is past master in the art of political oneupmanship. In a dexterous move he very skilfully deflected the oppostion's attack on demonetization, and changed the script of the political discourse of the day.
In Rajya Sabha when Modi rose to reply to motion of thanks the Congress expected some rivetting verbal fireworks and dribble of caustic comments. Little did they anticipitate a frontal attack on their icon of propriety, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The 'bath with raincoat on' comment which Modi made not only painted Congress and its rule with tar, it also laid the onus of misrule, to an extent, on the erstwhile prime minister.
Known to be the leading light of the economic reforms of 1991, Singh steered the country from a period of 2004 to 2014. He has impeccable credentials as a leading economist of international standing. Along with PV Narasimha Rao he snapped the mesh of  License Raj and ushered economic liberalization.

Economic laissez faire had been the crown of pride of Congress government. The latest buzz word of Modi - minimum government - is a new age term for the same. As with many other concepts, Modi has succeeded in recoining and then cashing on political philosophies of Congress.

It is a war that he has waged against the old order, and against order of things, which are entrenched with a Congress world-view and proprietorship. In an effort to cast the institutions in a new mould Modi has sharply stepped on the toes of die hard votaries of yesteryear glories of the Congress Raj.
It is a clash of political ecosystems, of worldviews. Seen in this light, Congress is again and again bought into the limelight with its policy paralysis malady.

Demonetization had been proposed to Mrs Gandhi who shirked to implement it. The quote was taken out of a memoir and flashed with impunity across the face of Congress. Holding back no punches Modi moved in swiftly and struck  humiliating at Congress.

Much is at stake for Modi. He is under attack for his demonetization move. The present elections are being fought on demonetization agenda, among others. BJP's loss in elections will be seen as a verdict against Mod's demonetization. Hence the need to strike vulnerably at Congress.An attack which would change the pace and mood of political parrying, atleast for some time as necessary. 

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