If not corruption, Narendra Modi has certainly been cornered on the issue of crony capitalism.
Make no mistake, Rafale is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bofors moment. A lot will still depend on how the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi take the fight forward to turn the issue into a vote-garnering political fireball in the 2019 elections. But Modi is certainly on the back foot now.
Personally, he is as guilty or guilt-free of corruption in the mega deal as Rahul’s father Rajiv Gandhi was more than 30 years ago. But Modi must know that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost the high moral ground now.
Get ready to hear Anil Ambani’s name being mentioned repeatedly in the run-up to the elections now. But, this isn’t about Rahul, Bofors or even Ambani. It is about Modi.
Nobody in the contemporary Indian political scene understands the importance of the perception factor in winning an election more than Modi. Whether it is hubris or over-confidence, the master strategist seems to have decided not to correct the perception that his government helped Ambani become the offset partner for Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale jets.
Also read: There’s a humongous scam in the Rafale deal. It is called stupidity
If not corruption, Modi has certainly been cornered on the issue of crony capitalism. This brings us to the important question, which must also be weighing on the minds of several BJP leaders and right-wing supporters: Why is the Prime Minister silent?
Modi is among the best political orators we have today. He has a way of connecting with the masses, something that few leaders – yes, I am being charitable here – in the Congress can. Why then was he busy attending inane events, even if those are shown live on most channels, when his party was clearly on the back foot a day after former French president Francois Hollande claimed that the Indian government proposed the Indian partner for the Rafale deal?
Modi is his party’s biggest mascot as well as its most effective salesman. In leaving crucial issues to be defended by ‘the unelected’ – a coinage by Arun Jaitley in another context – he is only queering the pitch for himself.
An effective communicator
To say that Modi is an effective communicator would be stating the obvious. But nobody, not even his vast army of supporters, can be faulted for wondering aloud why he is leaving all the defending to others, especially when most of his defenders have little connect with the masses.
Also read: The Modi government is the most faceless, nameless & talent-averse India has seen
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is clearly not cut-out for the post that she is currently holding, has played a crucial role in making things difficult for her government and the party. Sniping at journalists and other politicians isn’t the way to tide over choppy waters.
Ditto for the party spokespersons whose studied response to every question, including those not connected to the Rafale, seems to be two counter-questions: Has the Congress forgotten its own scams? Why is it trying to break India?
Sorry, but nobody is buying this anymore. True, many Modi voters in 2014 still strongly believe that the UPA era Congress was corrupt. But then, they also have started asking why Modi hasn’t taken any action against them. Is Robert Vadra in jail? Has any action been taken against Jayanthi Natarajan – remember the “Jayanthi tax” jibe by Modi during the 2014 campaign – except a raid in search of some papers? What about the 2G case, which was allegedly mishandled by the central investigating agency and finally led to the special court acquitting every accused?
Modi speaks a lot but the public is getting disenchanted with and disinterested in his speeches. It was looking for quick action against all those that Modi called corrupt. For some reason that hasn’t happened. And, if the CBI, ED, Income Tax department do go after Vadra and others, it will be seen as a last-ditch attempt by a vindictive government, trying to deflect attention from its own shortcomings in the run up to the crucial national elections next year.
Also read: Hollande’s truth on Rafale can’t have two versions, says Arun Jaitley
Nobody knows and understands all this better than Modi himself. But, he is silent.
Since taking over as the Prime Minister, Modi has not held a single press conference and has preferred what appear to be scripted interviews.
Rafale may be the issue that could finally force him to take questions from the media. Unless, he still thinks he can afford to keep quiet in the hope that the dust will soon settle. But the canny politician that he is, he knows fully well that the opposition has finally landed a sharp blow on his carefully groomed persona. And, that only he can douse this fire. But, he needs to do it fast.
Because this issue isn’t going to simply fade away, especially since Rahul and his Congress have invested so much political capital in it.
The way things are proceeding, Manmohan Singh, it seems, may actually return the taunt that was heaped on him by referring to the PM as ‘Maun’ Modi (silent Modi). Remember the ‘Maun’mohan Singh jibe? If he doesn’t break his silence, it may well be goodbye 2019.
Rahul Gandhi is under a misconceived notion that if a company gets an export order of Rs.30,000 crore that company is benefited by that much amount. Firstly, the entire offset amount will not go to any one company. The offset orders, i.e. export of components and parts to Dassault, France are likely to be divided amongst various Indian companies, including HAL. Furthermore, none of these components and parts are likely to be used in the 36 planes being delivered to India as export under offset arrangement is a subsequent event. The offset details are still awaited and Dassualt has time upto 2019 to decide which Indian company will get how much order. This will off course be subject ot approval by India government. The current status is simply that a JV between Dassault and Ambani is formed in the ratio of 49:51. Thus whatever profits may accrue from an export order will accrue to the JV and not to Ambani alone and Dassault itself has 49% share in this JV. Rahul Gandhi is deliberately twisting the facts to suit his political convenience. Again Rahul Gandhi is claiming that HAL being the public sector company should have monopoly rights of getting all the export orders worth Rs.30,000 crore. This is fallacious philosophy inherited from the Indira Gandhi era.
In an open economy, the government should render support to both public sector and private sector companies. Export proceeds and employment gains would still be available even if private sector gets a share in these export orders. If France can go to the extent of signing a deal with India so that it’s private sector entity Dassault gets an export order for supply of planes, does it mean that French government has indulged in corruption? Corruption can only be established if there is an evidence of quid-pro-quo between Anil Ambani and Narendra Modi. Where is the quid-pro-quo Mr.Rahul Gandhi?
Look at the vulgar display of wealth by ambanis, is crony capitalism justified?
Raga and his stupid gang is making chao beating chest at roof top to cover up national Jerold curuption case.
He is doing what he can. Giving speeches.
Anil Ambani is adding to the communication challenge. There was no propriety in sending Cease and Desist legal notices to so many media entities. This is not a trade marks or a property dispute. This is a matter of public interest, and of interest to the public. His own business empire is falling apart. Reliance Telecom has lost 98% of market cap from its peak. Metro projects have been abandoned, promised power plants are not coming up, foreign bond holders have accepted haircuts, difficult to see the group paying off its 45,000 crore debt. As an offset partner for such a prestigious project, the group needs to communicate much better. I think it is not a coincidence that elder brother Mukesh is doing so much better.
No, next one year two Ambani’s name would be taken often one is Anil and other is Isha. This weekend I was frustrated over three kind of her engagement had been covered and all in photos taken by stars. Next one year we will hear this only, oh Isha visited her in-laws, oh sure choose Manish Malhotra Lagenga, whether she greeted her in laws by bowing or not. ????
Media will never support the Congress even for a just cause. Look at the way they write and the way they ask questions. All BJP Scams are not being discussed. In this case, at least, they are reporting what the Congress is saying. The broad-chested man may or may not be corrupt, but his closeness to selected businessmen is not unknown. The same businessmen have praised his policies in public even when they know the policies are an absolute disaster – DeMon and earlier letting INR appreciate so that the cronies can borrow cheap money in international markets even when the cheap Chinese imports were killing the economy. A vast majority of these crony businesses buy politicians in some for or the other. Why are they funding BJP to the extent they are funding, if it was not for supporting Modi policies. Whose sakes has the government brought bearer electoral bonds? Why does the BJP not offer itself to RTI – voluntarily – even others are not agreeing? They tell us they are honest and do things that are meant to hide dishonesty. These are bunch of self-serving people who think that an average Indian does not understand their tricks.
All depends on if Rahul and Congress can create the perception that money was taken by BJP. So far it has failed. also, media is not accusing BJP except publishing what Congress says. If the media supports Congress accusations, the tide can turn against BJP.