The Covid-19 epidemic has come just in time to save the first year of Narendra Modi’s second term. The year had begun in a strong economic headwind; growth of the non-government part of the economy had been reduced to just over 3 per cent in two quarters till December. Politically, Modi had walked into a cul-de-sac with his amended citizenship law, which sparked extended protest sit-ins by citizens, provoked firm push-backs from state governments and state assemblies, and risked the decennial Census. How the narrative has changed in a few weeks!
The protestors against the citizenship law have dispersed, state governments are queuing up for desperately-needed financial support, and all economic problems can be laid safely at the door of Covid-19. The prime minister, not seen in Parliament during some key debates, is now on national television every few days with avuncular homilies while imposing a lockdown without notice, demonetisation style. He is on the world stage too, getting public thanks from the US and Brazilian presidents for emergency supply of pharmaceuticals.
The opposition is stumped. It has to show itself as part of the national effort to deal with a crisis, though criticise it must. Meanwhile, Modi is too smart a politician to miss the opportunity in a crisis, and is using it to bolster his own image (PM-CARES, for instance). This is not very different from how effectively Donald Trump has used Covid to push his challenger, Joe Biden, off TV screens.
Also read: Will Modi cut a New Deal? Covid-infected economy can produce an Indian Roosevelt
Mistakes are being made, of course, but it is easy to ride out criticism when the nation is rallying round the leader. Trump has brushed aside criticism of his delayed and bungled response to Covid by lashing out at China, the World Health Organization, and anyone else in sight. Modi’s response to the graphically reported migrants’ crisis was different; he apologised while saying that he knew the people would forgive him. Countries like Bangladesh and Singapore gave people enough notice before a lockdown, but Modi believes in surgical strikes.
War-time leaders invariably gain in popularity, especially if they are great orators. Churchill bungled his way through World War II (and dreamt up a disastrous military expedition in World War I as well), but he made great speeches. The US economy emerged from the Great Depression (1929-33) only with the launch of the war production effort a decade later, but Roosevelt’s New Deal that came in between has got the credit. George W. Bush won re-election on the back of the “war on terror”. It has ended badly, but Bush is safely back on his farm. Our own Lal Bahadur Shastri emerged a hero because he fought Pakistan to a draw and did not get thrashed, as Nehru had been by the Chinese.
Modi itches to present himself as a war-time prime minister. The Balakot air attack was used brilliantly to swing the election narrative his way last year, despite the loss of an aircraft, which showed up defence deficiencies (out-dated aircraft, out-ranged missile) against a much weaker neighbour. Before that, the Uri terrorist attack in 2016 was countered with a “surgical strike”, so questions about the security failures there too fell away. Now Modi has been offered a more real but different kind of war, which he has likened to the Mahabharat.
If you want to anticipate his next move, recall his comment at a media event back in 2007, on how Gandhi had been able to convert the freedom struggle into a “Jan Andolan” (people’s movement). He said he hoped to do the same for development tasks. That would explain initiatives like the “give it up” campaign on subsidised cooking gas. It is the same Jan Andolan goal that Modi now seeks to emulate with his “Janata curfew”, banging of utensils, and lighting of candles. These fall somewhat short of the Dandi march, but Modi isn’t done yet and Covid still has legs. The difference with Gandhi is that today’s initiatives have an implicitly coercive element — don’t go along and you might get beaten up. Meanwhile, the further marginalising of Muslims has also developed into a Jan Andolan.
By Special Arrangement with Business Standard
Also read: Modi must not extend lockdown. Economy won’t survive on ventilator for long
Harsh facts are always unpalatable. The writer has done a good job .
Troll army is and fake comments do not make the story wrong. Anti CAA-NPR-NRC are the protests to save millions of Indians from the fascists agenda of Shah-Modi-RSS. As always, they claim that only Muslims will suffer. The fact is that everyone will suffer and Muslims will still be there because they need Muslims to blame, they cannot survive their politics without an enemy.
Another classic case of hatred towards Modinmaking people lose even common sense!!!
I’m tickled to see the butthurt Bhakts in the comment section.
How dare you criticise their Dear Leader!
Citizens were not protesting against CAA only illegal migrants and their sycophant masters. This article is as shit as the Print. You wanted lockdown with notice, ask for notice from China when you contract Corona.
The entire world faces a pandemic but here we have ‘The Print’ with toppled words compressing every emergency step to a mere political decision and an attempt to snub a trifle of anti caa protestors.
Shame on you!
Criticise yourself, you dumb heads!!
Left-liberals want millions of Indians to die, so that they can blame all on Modi. Unfortunately, that is not happening. So this burning sensation in their stomachs is overflowing as too many articles from the left-liberal cabal.
He has a gift none of his eight predecessors, from Manmohan Singh to Rajiv Gandhi, had: Being able to speak directly and convincingly to a large enough section of Indians who will take his word for gospel, and his order like a papal bull. Shekhar Gupta
This is an unbelievably ridiculous article. It smells of anti Modi stink. It’s shocking to observe how ignorant and unthankful the author is. How can you even breathe with so much hatred and negativity in your pitiful brain which obviously is lacking in oxygen? Get yourself checked. Hopefully, there is some vaccine for this anti Modi disease you are suffering from.
Such a low level of thinking in this situation.
Is Print is promoting conversion to Christian! For every article in print their main advertiser is praising Jesus and Christianity. How much money Print is geeting promote Christianity?
And this post proves that you don’t have any credible information, so you propogate for hits. Shameful
To,
The Writer,
Get a Life!!!
Ditto Mr Saurabh !
The print is Leftist propoganda people shouldn’t take this seriously fake commies
Like everything in this country is attributed to Modi from this article it looks like he invited the corona virus to save his govt. !!!! And by the way the anti CAA protests were orchestrated by political parties inciting the sentiments of the minority when it is clear that no Indian stands to lose. And when did Modiji ask you to bang utensils . That was the malayali version of taali bajao. Can understand with limited knowledge of Hindi. And that was for the frontline workers not for himself . Wgen Spain and Italy does it, it jams appreciated. Only this unholy Modi hatred is palpable in this article. At such a trying time let better sense prevail
Utter rubbish.
This is the press we are scared of.
I dont understand Mr Ninan saying Modi should have give sufficient notice for lockdown. It would have caused more infections. One more inaccurate point. SG is not on lockdown. It also did not give sufficient notice.
Why do keep writing articles that are against him? Try to accept the fact that he has always been there for the country and remained honest and sincere towards his duties and responsibilities.Dont try to impose your nonsensical views against him. Stop your hatred
Why do keep writing articles that are against him? Try to accept the fact that he has always been there for the country and remained honest and sincere towards his duties and responsibilities.Dont try to impose your nonsensical views against him.
I agree journalism has a role in exposing the loop holes with its constructive criticism, but is this article really the need of the hour?? Certainly not… And surely not when the world leaders and organisations are actually appreciating the Indian effort in containing the spread! In these tough times media needs to write stuff that reassures the citizens that government is doing their job and spread awareness how each one of us can contribute by following regulations of the lockdown.
#stayhomestaysafe
the author i belive has got it wrong…the memory of the masses is always by default short. they might for a while forget that economic crisis is not because of modi but not for long…eventually they will have to blame him…at the max, it might have brought some breathing space for modi gov ….but the result of this lockdown will be catastropic for india and no amount of IT CELL/ media spinning can hide the pain of the masses int he lon//g term.
Words cannot define how low can someone think. I want to ask why are you perverting journalism in the name of this article in this hour when the world needs leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi and Narendra Modi to show light in this our of crisis. Why are you writing such a piece of shit. Get a psycho-counselling done that is my request. I pray to Allah for your mental health wellness.
You are repeating the revisionist history propelled in academia regarding the Roosevelt’s New Deal. Roosevelt created a great depression out of a recession.
The great depression of 1930 was caused by the very policies taken up by his predecessor Herbert Hoover and continued by Roosevelt. US had many recessions since their inception until 1929. Their founding fathers believed in little government intervention. In fact a much bigger recession started in 1920. But, government never intervened to stimulate the economy. Infact they never did any special stimulus kind of thing until 1929.
The stock market crash of 1929 occured due to low interest rates and increased money supply by Federal reserve. After the crash occured, the money supply went down. Wages and prices had to go down in theory as deflationary recession is taking place and markets are being corrected. But the presidents imposed minimum wage laws, price controls, crop destructions to increase prices and so on. They created a depression out of a recession and let it plague the country for well over a decade.
That’s when the Government did seriously erode the constitutional values embarked upon by their founding fathers. Govt. became a rescuer. people started looking at Govt. for jobs. Taxes were raised. Regulations and red tape increased. US had no income taxes until 1913.
This is another one from the MODI BASHERS Group who only rely on biased theories and purposely turn a blind eye from the obvious facts. A little restraint and a sense of responsible journalism was expected at this hour of world crisis!
It is easy to bash someone for writing critical articles of the govt in today’s times but no one seems to have raised any objections to the central surmise – which is mismanagement of the economy and not paying adequate attention to economic matters for the last 3-4 years and instead playing up on emotive issues.
The author, though writes on economic issues also does not seem to have prescribed any solutions – so I have taken the liberty of suggesting a few.
1. All sarkari salaries at 4th or 5th pay commission level – to cool off inflation and save on wage bills.
2. Stop to Capex intensive projects for now.
3. Loan moratorium for one year – with no accrual of interest (the current one is simply of no use – where is money going to come after 3 months?)
4. After one year, loan recalculation to reflect prices at that time. Eg if property has depreciated then loan amount should be proportionately reduced.
5. No repossession of business/property for next 3 years.
6. Abolish income tax for 3 years.
7. High rate of interest on savings or govt bonds (to encourage recapitalisation).
All measures are temporary and can be reviewed periodically.
Coming from a seasoned journalist like T N Ninan, seems he has reached the nadir in his writings.
He has taken all the necessary steps to ensure a proper functioning. For all those against caa I want to ask what you do with a growing tumor, it needs to be cut away. He is the best pm we got after sardar patel.
Truth is bitter my friend! But it is truth!!
From Swachh Bharat to withdrawal of LPG subsidy to the better-off, to demonetisation and now Covid-19, through all the other initiatives he has unveiled, he has invariably asked people to do something. Immediately, it makes them feel wanted, and responsible. Who doesn’t enjoy being taken seriously, and that too by such a powerful leader? He’s got the gift of seeking a sacrifice from people and pleasing them, instead of dispensing favours.
For the poor, Modi’s outreach is through direct and efficient delivery: Cash, LPG, toilets, housing, and there must be more to come. The message is not needed when money can work. His direct delivery of benefits to the poor has been phenomenally better and less leaky than anything in the past. Shekhar Gupta
He has taken all the necessary steps to ensure a proper functioning. For all those against caa I want to ask what you do with a growing tumor, it needs to be cut away. He is the best pm we got after sardar patel.
Good !! You may be exception in your religious community. Keep yourself safe.
Take a long break sir …u need rest with opinions
Anti-CAA protests were mainly against Hindus getting there due rights
What due rights? CAA is for the benefits of persecuted communities outside of India, not only Hindus which is fine. NRC should be scrapped. Why feed anti-India forces outside India for pet projects that don’t benefit Indians? Many Modi supporting Indians do not support NRC.
Such a low level story in such a situation of crisis. Can’t appreciate it.
Disgusting article ..surely gives us a glimpse of the pathetic mentality of the writer…this sick mentality of yours is more fatal than the covid-19 itself..may God help you
Never read such a pathetic article in the time of national crises.
I don’t understand what kind of material The Print Snouts before Writing the Articles. This is Complete Pathetic in Times of Crises.
How do you blog with an iq equalling room temperature,these propoganda’s is what destroys the unity you dumb ass blogger,if you’re blogging atleast put in some actual helpful information bitch
The author is a first rate idiot to say the least. Modi was never cornered but some stupids like this author continue to believe in harping stupidity
The bias that foreign bought press like the Print have are so apparent it is hilarious. The
Anti CAA protests were also foreign funded and thankfully the country does not have the Gandhi Nehru Wadra family looting it anymore.
And the author of this article saved this job by typing this article. So sad to see our journalism standard.
Brilliant piece , but who cares, the author would be abused as anti national criticising him during the hour of crisis.
What exactly is brilliant about this? Please elucidate, if you understand the meaning of the word.
Shame on you, your brain is polluted with politics ,and anti government stand, diverting nation’s attention to dirty political stand rather than leaving it to citizens to decide it for themselves, you are trying to give it a different direction.
This article is biased one and shows hatred towards modi. The intellectual writting this article is intellectual of nothing.
In fact, this crisis has trapped more in deep corner. Now no more jugaad can work and no more coated explanations will work. It has haulted many decisions and is going to change the environment and how people perceive this crisis management and decision making process. Transparency will be demanded by people themselves and this is going to push the wrong and fake things into further corners
One of the best columns in the Print in recent times! How Modi was able to mesmerize 1.2 billion people will be for future historians to analyze.
He has laid the foundations of a comeback in 2024 unless the economy spins out of control.
Rather modi it is you presstitudes who will find lame excuses to switch over sides since the impact of corona is reduced due to the stringent action by modi.
The author is so consumed by hatred of Modi that he cant think straight. Behind the author’s diatribe one senses a reluctant and unacknowledged admiration for Modi. Granted Modi is no saint nor a brilliant leader having made many mistakes but it is this kind of unbalanced reporting that results in my complete loss of respect for the media today who at the same time as they bash the government for every single thing complain about a muzzled press.
Just won election last year with bigger mandate and he was cornered already?
I notice Flipboard curate all negative News about India and mostly western news shows only negativity.. Modi has emerge as a great leader but some only see negative . Very Bias article. Thumbs down.
Coronavirus bhi sanghi hai.. Modi se mila hua hai… Look at the frustration & hatred of these fanatics against India’s leader. The PM is in a fight till end with this terrible disease along with his populace, and these small people are burning in a self imposed hell of negativity.
Very shameful and opportunistic of your media house to think and propagate such views irrationally and anti-nationally.
Is this journalists middle name Corona?
Very aptly put out!! Has been the thought for quite a while now, finally could see it up .