The present may be kind to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but history will be harsher on him. Modi has been getting away with all his imprudent decisions that include blunders, and will perhaps continue to do so in the years to come, with benign voters showering their awe on him, making his grandstanding overpower everything else. However, history will remember Modi as a prime minister who won a massive mandate, but failed to make any real contribution to nation–building.
As former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday criticised PM Modi for his Galwan statement, one was reminded of the famous remark he had made towards the end of his term in 2014 — “history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament”.
For Modi, it will be the other way around — he may be smooth-sailing now, but history won’t be kind to him — if he continues this way and instead remember him for catering to a very narrow vision and for initiating steps that have caused more harm than good.
From an ill-advised demonetisation to bulldozing his way through decisions such as the dilution of Article 370, followed by a strict clampdown in Kashmir and introduction of contentious and polarising laws, Modi has left the political environment vitiated and caused India’s relations with its neighbours to deteriorate. The Prime Minister has set many milestones that are unlikely to seem flattering when history around him is written.
ALso read: Millennials have seen India shining, they will judge Modi by last 30 years, not 70
Modi: The present
There is little doubt that Modi is among the most popular leaders, with a cult-like following that independent India has not seen before. I have travelled extensively to cover elections and other events, and found his popularity to be overwhelming. It cuts across gender, geographies and socio-economic backgrounds.
It is this massive goodwill and an uncanny ability to connect with the masses that has held, and will continue to hold, Modi in good stead. His blunders don’t matter. The opposition’s shrill attacks fade in front of his masterful histrionics and he ensures that his spin mastery overcomes the most challenging of situations.
Nothing has really hurt Modi politically so far: be it the ill-thought-out decision to demonetise high-value currency notes in one go in November 2016 or the hasty rollout of GST soon after — both of which adversely impacted voters across segments. And yet, when Modi is attacked, he only becomes stronger. No one can forget how former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s chowkidar chor hai campaign in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election and his corruption allegations in the Rafale deal, both of which directly attacked Modi, boomeranged.
An unquestioning electorate that laps up almost anything that the PM says and a splintered, incoherent and often scared opposition have been Modi’s biggest strengths. The present, therefore, is kind to the Prime Minister. But what will he be remembered for in the future and what is the legacy he will leave behind?
ALso read: India plays into China’s hands if we lament 1962 or criticise Modi govt and military
Where history won’t be kind to Modi
Among a number of adverse policy decisions, especially on the economic front, demonetisation, followed by a “flawed” and hastily rolled out GST will top the list, with their negative impact still lingering on the economy. While Modi sold them to the country as his big-ticket economic reforms, aimed at curbing black money and formalising the indirect tax regime, respectively, the reality is that they were twin blows to an economy that was running fine up until then.
That was his first term. In his second term, where he returned with an even-bigger mandate, the Modi government passed a number of legislations that have ended up straining the social fabric of India, and has left it polarised like never before.
Modi will be infamously remembered for presiding over a government of a party that played polarising politics across states. History won’t forget that when Amit Shah compared illegal migrants to “termites” and said that they will be thrown into the Bay of Bengal, it was Modi who was India’s Prime Minister.
History will not be kind to Modi for turning Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) from an ethnic issue into a communal one, or for bringing in the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The triple talaq law, questionable amendments to laws such as RTI and UAPA, and going all jingoistic about the ‘outsider’ — all show how the Modi government’s emphasis has only been on catering to its blinkered vision.
The Covid crisis is unprecedented and harsh, but the Modi government’s handling of the labour crisis, its thoughtlessness and how it tried to undermine the federal structure by towering over states will forever be questioned.
A poor bench strength in the government and the BJP, and his inability to groom a solid second-rung of leaders or retain true talent have also been Modi’s big weaknesses.
Modi’s poor handling of India’s foreign policy is another point that puts him on a sticky wicket. Be it the ongoing standoff with China at the LAC that has led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, a combative Nepal unilaterally changing its map to include Indian territory or incessant attacks on the security forces in Kashmir, India is being challenged by the neighbours more frequently than ever before.
Modi’s statement on Galwan at the all-party meet created a furore, which further shows he thinks more as a politician pandering to voters than a leader thinking geo-strategically.
While the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators has impacted ties with Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan dispensation under the Rajapaksa brothers also isn’t friendly to India, and is known for its proximity to China.
ALso read: Doklam team of Jaishankar-Doval-Rawat let Modi down but he has an option
Where history will be kind
One can’t say Modi hasn’t achieved anything at all. The welfare platform laid down in his first term — from providing rural housing to cooking gas connections, rural electricity, health insurance, the Aadhaar emphasis to weeding out implementation glitches in schemes, and the robust use of the Socio-Economic Caste Census to extend benefits to the poor have all been extremely popular, useful and sound policy steps.
Diplomatically, the growing India-US ties is a key foreign policy achievement of the Modi government. The cross-border surgical strikes in 2016 and the Balakot air strikes in 2019 have also helped add to Modi’s muscle.
However, the Modi government’s focus on welfare and governance seems to have all but disappeared in the second term. The past one year has been entirely around Modi catering to a narrow vision of fulfilling a majoritarian, nationalistic impulse, and closing historical issues that matter to his core constituency at the cost of more pressing issues.
Modi will probably continue to win elections for a while to come, but what will he really be remembered for in the long run, besides his amazing ability to command votes? That is a question that must haunt Modi, if he wants history to remember him as a nation-builder, and not just an election-winning, smooth-talking machine.
Views are personal.
Modi will be remembered for riots and lynch mobs.
Earlier newspapers were first printed then sold. Now they are first sold and then print. Your’s is of the first sold type.
Has history been kind to Bhagatsingh? Has it been kind to Subhash Bose? Has History been kind to Sardar Patel or Ambedkar? History has only been kind to Nehru, Indira, Rajiv and if at all it would be to Rahul. Specially if the JNU historians write it. Alexander would always be victor even if he looses to Porous .
You nailed it. People are making careers out of crticizing Modi.
okay,, come here to type some decent comment but can’t have enough proper words than u already used. EXACT TO THE POINT
Earlier newspapers were first printed then sold. Now they are first sold and then print. Your’s is of the first sold type.
Has history been kind to Bhagatsingh? Has it been kind to Subhash Bose? Has History been kind to Sardar Patel or Ambedkar? History has only been kind to Nehru, Indira, Rajiv and if at all it would be to Rahul. Specially if the JNU historians write it. Alexander would always be victor even if he looses to Porous .
As the author of this article says, “History might not be kind to Modi”, but the present isn’t kind to them, hence the rattling. Don’t be so obvious.
Dear Ruhi
In 2014 elections when Modi was cleared as BJP’s pick for PM, I became doubtful very doubtful , he had the tag of Gujarat riots on him where 2k muslims died. The only alternate , Congress had become a party of thugs and scams, not worth a bet either.. Over the years my thoughts have changed probably a full 180 degree. After 6 years today I feel he is the RIGHT leader that Indians were waiting for. I researched about the gujarat riots in full detail and the instigator incident : train burning that roasted alive hindu pilgrims inside the coach. That clearly cleared my doubtful mind. Now I proudly say Modi has given a bloody nose to our enemy twice and the icing on the cake was Wg Cdr Abhinandan returning back from Pak unharmed.
History my dear mam will place Modi on a much higher platform that you and I have imagined. Economic issues will come and go as time passes but remember Modi is a Gujarati so his decisions will always have the economic balancing .
Excellent. And absolutely TRUE
Modi is a diamond
(1)Modi is clear. He identified and tries. Fails due to bureaucracy and corruption still breathing albeit in its last throes.
(2) As a voter I don’t want to share gov revenues for a migrant.
(3) If that Migrant is persecuted I accept him If he is religiously persecuted then also ok.
(4) I will think about who is opposing voter rightful entitlement limited gov resources.
(5) MODI if found aligned History will be factual a d unkind to detractors.
(6) History ignores biased treatment to facts and will be unkind to Historian in that case
A premier fails due to his own ill decisions. Why blaming bureaucrats? What you said is just a hollow statement. Provide statements which are factually correct and makes sense. The author has presented a beautifully elaborated description of the topic that the perspe intended to define. The modi government makes more poses than policies and every incident is an election issue for him. Scrapping 370 rekindled the fire in kashmir. Balakot air raid is army’s merit but the credit is being taken by Modi. Had it been a war, the pm would have gotten credit but the complete credit goes to military incase of surgical strikes. Similarly caa and nrc are going to bring catastrophe to millions of people especially Muslims.
Only sickulars think 370 abrogation and caa nrc are bad
This refrain of “ 60 years of loot” is a baseless slogan repeated milliontimes like Goebel’s during Hitler’s rule. This is a one man band with support of one uncanny director who seems to be his hatchet man. Our Constitution is at peril and up is flouted on one single idea of a secular democracy and a cabinet form of governance. Instead we have one man handling all functions with a loyal and obedient PMO and ministers. While he has managed to mess our economy and foreign affairs, and now inability to face Covid pandemic, his main right hand man is controlling the massive treasury and voters, MLAs are bought and our electoral system is a silent spectator. Investigative agencies, police, and judiciary etc are under their strict control and the use of the provisions of law to arrest any dissent completes the picture.
Excellent, hard-hitting comment Mr SN Iyer ! What we are witnessing is the slow creep of fascism, albeit voted in by the people who believe that their Gujarati Messiah is the much awaited benevolent dictator who has modelled himself on Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew. We are lucky if he doesn’t turn out to be an Indian Putin. After all, in Baba Ramdev he has a readymade Rasputin !
Congress’s Achievement: Looting for 60 years.
BeeJayPee’s Biggest Achievement: Looting double that sum of money within a matter of six years.
Congress = We have just one family that loots.
BeeJayPee = We are one large family of looters.
***** O Gullible People of India, judge for yourself which kind of looter you would prefer, or perhaps you could do very well without a ‘Government’. Gone are those days when a POLITICIAN could be trusted. Perhaps in future it would be better to live without the presence of a Government !
Modi has expanded what was the “core base” of BJP many times over. What every politically conscious Hindu wanted, albeit many secretly so, Modiji has delivered. Article 370 abrogation and CAA.
For anyone who doesn’t know Muslim infiltration into West Bengal & Assam is a century old problem. Mamta Banerjee herself raised this issue several times in the national Parliament and CPM was in favour of CAA till 2011-12. Too bad they forgot all about that now.
Mr/Ms Nationalist: The revoking of Art. 370 and the CAA may have delighted the Hindutva crowd such as yourself. Your latent hatred of Muslims has finally been legitimised through the actions of the BJP. But you need to look at some of the consequences of these actions.
1. The CAA cannot be implemented and MoShah know that very well. It was, like the much ballyhooed Rs 15 lacs recovered from overseas accounts to be credited in every Indian’s pocket story. CAA presumes that Bangladesh will be willing to take back people India designates as non-citizens. And Bangladesh has categorically refused to do that. And is now talking and allying itself with China to make matters worse for India.
2. Revoking of Art 370 and Amit Shah’s speech in Parliament on 5th Aug 2019 to the effect that India would recover all territories held by Pakistan and China was indeed taken very seriously in China. Despite efforts by Foreign Minister Jaishankar to placate the Chinese and convince them that Shah’s message was to nationalists and jingoists like yourself, the Chinese paid no heed. They simply walked into Indian territory and have established permanent structures there.
As things stand today, thanks to gross incompetence on just about every front and an incompetence compounded by authoritarianism and adherence to a fascist ideology called Hindutva, India is in deep trouble. The economy was in doldrums even before the COVID crisis, the unity of the country has been weakened, minorities get lynched, India has serious problems with all its neighbours, including Hindu Nepal, the healthcare systems have all but collapsed and China is gobbling up Indian territory.
Meanwhile, Modi, the self-styled “pradhan sewak” has ordered not 1 but 2 state of the art Boeing 757 aircraft to the tune 0f Rs 9000 crores, is moving into a larger house, wishes to spend Rs 20,000 crores to get a new Central Vista in Delhi and so on – whilst migrant workers suffer and people die in hospital queues.
They say that Emperor Nero fiddled whilst Rome burnt. But, India’s Nero does not fiddle alone – he has bhakths like you who fiddle with him whilst India and Indians suffer.
It is easy to make allegations umpteen in numbers even, but to substantiate the same is what matters. So is the case with making evaluations. Let adverse tastes be not the yardstick to make/suggest both the said variables. People of the country has become more intelligent since independence to decide who is who and what is what. It is human to err but not human to err calculatedly for self promotion.
Mr Babu Rajan Kunju Pillai: Thanks for the response.
Perhaps you might wish to evaluate your claim:
“.. People of the country has become more intelligent since independence to decide who is who and what is what ..”
in the light of the re-elections to the Lok Sabha of swinder A. Raja of 2G fame and Godse worshipper cum terrorist accused Pragya Thakur. To name a few thugs and conmen who have benefited from said “intelligence” !
LOL. Another anonymous Stupid troll,. bombing replies of every modi supporter.
It’s pathetic and at the same time funny to look at people like you who are getting increasingly frustrated day by day to rising popularity of Modi.
Mr Dhawan Gupta: Thanks for your “response”.
Whilst you are entitled to rejoice at the “rising popularity” of Modi, it is about time you also have a look at the Modi made economic ruin that surrounds you, the Modi made health-care disaster that is enveloping India and the security threats to India from China. And the hostile actions from China can be directly traced back to the shrill Hindutva of Amit Shah about recapturing Aksai Chin from China.
Sadly, in India, competence and electoral victory are not always correlated. A.Raja of 2G scam fame, one of the greatest swindlers of all time has been re-elected and is a DMK MP.
Aa gaya congress kutta comments mein hagne
Testing comment
You vultures just can’t tolerate the sight of a Non Gandhi/Nehru party as a government. You have been bootlickers for 60 years and no wonder why you have been able to function. Now, your favorites have been kicked out of power.
This article is the direct result of that frustration.
STFU theprint
Mr Abhishek: It is pathetic to see people frame the debate about Modi not about the man and his actual record but in terms of leaders long dead and parties long out of power. That stance of yourself and many others reflects the following distractions at work:
1. The Modi record so far has been downright atrocious – nay tragic – on almost all fronts – economic, foreign policy, unity within the country, nation building, press freedoms, corruption etc. etc. such that the only way to shift the focus is by talking about people no longer in the limelight. Like Nehru who has been dead for nearly 6 decades. Flogging a dead horse as many would have said. And that is precisely what the BJP IT which controls your intellect cell wants you to do.
2. At a more identity level, the Modi regime has pandered to, egged on and capitalised on the latent Hindu hatred for Muslims and to a lesser extent Christians. And yes, I will not beat about the bush and will accept that the practitioners of these 3 major religions do not exactly love each other. Muslims, Christians and Hindus do not like each other’s religions. That said, even for educated people like you, the propaganda that Hindus are in danger from Islam and Christianity is something that resonates and something you prioritise even over even your won material well-being. That too, distracts you from the Modi regime’s atrocious scorecard. Indeed, your ilk is even willing to go hungry as long as Muslims – “termites” in Amit Shah speak – get thrashed and put into place. Lynchings of Muslims probably bring great joy to people like you – after all, they are being avenged for their past acts of violence aren’t they Mr Abhishek ?
As long as educated people like you continue to view and justify the shenanigans of the current regime by referring to an imagined past, no real debate or change is possible. Just ask the Chinese who badly want Modi to be in power such that more jingoism is whipped up in India and the Chinese can exploit that to pre-emptively grab Indian land. After all, didn’t Amit Shah’s provocative speech that India would recapture Chinese captured Aksai Chin not precipitate the current crisis ?
I will leave you with a quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-78) that summarises the obfuscation and deceit that the Modi government has stood for:
“What people say, what people do and what they say they do are entirely different things ! “
What Modi says, what he does and what he says he does are entirely different things. But a bhakth like you will take Modi’s words at face value – and he knows how to capitalise on it.
Kili josiyar is just one frustrated dravida makan probably conveerted to christianity by now who is brainwashed by arya dravidian theory by convent schools and kalaingar for their own goals. Mass conversion and mass murder by abrahamics and mass loot by italian madam and family has left hindus w no other option than modi and chaddi brothers to survive. You show another way for us to survive hindus w go there
I’m just going to say this, Modi is not the worst PM India has seen, but he certainly isn’t the best. One of his strong points are that he gives power to the military when they need it the most. The best example being the recent row with China. And it is something that I truly admire in him too. He has also strengthened relations with a lot of important Countries. Especially the US
But at the same time , it is true that a lot of his economic policies are not good. India’s economy was going good before his tenure but now it has fallen on hard times. And not only that it may not be visible to all in India but for those outside of the country, it is obvious that Modi is trying to make India into a Hindu nation. And it is saddening to see that bond between different communities breaking because of one man
Mentally blind can see everything very clear these days, though much doubtful. Whereas Idiots see far off things much clearer. Be happy in the change of times.
Whether future will be kind or unkind to Modi only future will reveal but why is Ruhi ji so unkind to him now? And why people should continue voting for him in awe when he is only taking imprudent decisions? Does she think people are stark idiots and she and her ilk is authors, liberals, leftists are very intelligent and smart people. You write anything that comes to your mind and your hatred for Modi, a single point agenda, takes precedence overs facts and common sense. Trust me, more you and your likes raise anti modi noises, more counter productive it will get. And take it from me, four years down the line, he will again come back roaring.
Mr/Ms Chandra d: You forget a fundamental pre-requisite for democracy : an electorate that keeps itself abreast of the policy decisions of their elected representatives and their consequences for themselves and the country. And holds these representatives responsible for their decisions. Alas, this does not always happen.
Not only in India, but also in mature democracies with robust safeguards for separation of powers and an educated electorate, one notes that populists and demagogues who play and prey upon peoples’ identities, racial or religious biases are able to subvert democracy and usurp it to suit their narrow ends. And the electorate often willingly chooses authoritarian men or fascist ideologies merely because they pander to their prejudices.
Thus, you have Donald Trump who appeals to working class white grievances and convinces the working class electorate that he is their knight in shining armour. Viktor Orban does the same in Hungary whilst Rodrigo Duterte plays the same populist playbook in the Philippines. Likewise, Modi plays the endangered Hindu identity card to garner votes.
Sometimes voters choose the demagogue even when they themselves are in danger of being harmed. In a BBC interview, a disabled white couple in a mining town in Pennsylvania who were dependent on Obamacare to cover their exorbitant medication costs which were upwards of USD 6000/month nonetheless voted for Trump who ran on a plank of removing Obamacare. They were enamoured by Trump’s “white man in danger” rhetoric even to the detriment of their own survival. Or Germans who were willing to send their children to fight for Hitler because they believed that Jews threatened the Aryan race.
Likewise, you have the migrant labourer who is forced to trek thousands of kilometers to his village in Bihar but still says that he will vote for Modi. Or the farmer who has lost his incomes and was on the verge of starvation due to demonetisation but yet would vote for the man who would rescue Hinduism from Muslims. Clearly, religious or racial identities and a slick PR machine can be a potent combination – at least for some time. But whether that is democracy is a debatable point.
You say that Modi would come back roaring in 4 years from now. But then, that is the wrong issue to be focussing on as the right issue should be:
“Will India remain a united country or one riven by fratricidal religious and ethnic strife” ?
No idea about whom the print is controlled. You have made many allegations against the current government. You have written many negative things which goes against the National intrest. When you says about modis decision on Article 370 35A , Domicile law on kashmir, Triple talakh, Balakot air strike , land mark Decisions on CAA and the sc verdict on ayodhya Ram mandir. The opposition cannot handle these achievement and success of this govt. Congress always forget their heroes. The journalism has been changed with the due course of time. We should always do those things which is good for the nation. These media houses are just playing propaganda.
Speaking of neighbors behavior and the behavior of India to their nuisances, Modi will respond than react.
You will die , but Mr Modi will live even after His Death because of His uplifting the country weight to the Himalayan peak. He is in the heat ,mind, soul & breathe of the country. God sends him here to save this soil………………..donot worrry . post this
History is written by victors always. So its always relative in context. Example– Indo pak history is viewed, written by two different viewpoint on either side. For allvthe shit written and given by left, left liberals to the nation in lady few decades, Modi will he liked if not loved by the majority and cursed, crinjed by the leftoversof other side. As future history writing will be vastly different from what was potrayed in the past and mostly it will be written by the majority in power and majority in society, the so called ” history ” Will always be amenable to people in power.
What matters is present and now and not some hypothetical fame in future.
Example– PVNR and ABVP would have taken definitely second term as PM, s and dobehat they thought was right (if offered by the circumstances) rather than saying i want history to he kinder to me so i will cater to those who will never vote for me. Atvthe best of compromise leaders will try to keep them less unhappy as they know that some will always oppose, crib, cry foul when out of power.
Modi is practical on the ground, in the present working politician who will implement thd agenda which he believes and for which his rock solid support base stands by him. Don’t have illusions and act ” Sour grapes ” as every other politician too will do the same
Modi with little education & understanding and having no acumen of diplomacy, is gradually proving himself a curse to the nation.
Your journalism is always biased and prejudiced against Modi and the Indian Govt. Everyone is aware that you are on the list of paid media. Some fools comment sitting happily in the USA and don’t have the guts to come down to India and work for the nation.
Have you smashed your Chinese made smartphone Mr Venkataraman? Encouraged your sons to go don the green camouflage uniform of the Army rather than covet the Green card?
Stupid post again. What Modi has done, nobody has done it in India. It is time for people to emulate it. Comments by Christians and muslims heteinabove are predictable. They are based on religion biases and not on actual assessment. The fact is they look to Rome and Pakistan for national issues.
What assessments you are classifying others with your narrow minded brain. We don’t said anything about religion,caste,gender. You are discriminating others on the basis of religion and then you are criticizing other. This is called hypocrisy
Congress’s Achievement: Looting for 60 years.
BeeJayPee’s Biggest Achievement: Looting double that sum of money within a matter of six years.
Congress = We have just one family that loots.
BeeJayPee = We are one large family of looters.
*** O Gullible People of India, judge for yourself which kind of looter you would prefer, or perhaps you could do very well without a ‘Government’. Gone are those days when a POLITICIAN could be trusted. Perhaps in future it would be better to live without the presence of a Government !
The author has a biased congress mindset, and had criticised all the excellent steps taken by Mr. Modi in the national interest and well being of the people. The only blemish I see is the demonetization, for which his advisors also have to take the blame in equal measure. We Indians feel very secure in the hands of PM Modi. The author, it is apparent, is a Modi hater and has lost his balance of judgement, while viewing the steps initiated by our Great PM. History will definitely judge him in the right perspective, but not in the way, the writer of the article intends to project.
Mr V.Ramakrishnan: In your blind devotion for the Great Gujarati Messiah, you seem to rely more on the fiction created by your Messiah rather than on the facts created by him on the ground.
And even when you grudgingly admit that the Great Gujarati Messiah may have messed up you will not hold the man responsible for his mistake but you bend over backwards to give him a get out of jail card! Thus, the harebrained move called demonetisation which Modi took against the advice of trained economists like Dr Rajan and upon the advice of quacks like Baba Ramdev and Anil Bokil of NGO Arthakranthi is something you still do not wish to blame Modi for. Never mind the fact that the nicely humming economy bequeathed to him by Dr MMS was ruined, the informal sector was shattered, shops shuttered, people died in bank queues, patients were turned away from hospitals, farmers lost their incomes and many poor people their savings. And in the end, no “black money” nor counterfeit notes were recovered and terrorism continues unabated. With China joining the party to bash India.
Despite the Messiah being 100% responsible for this débâcle – nay crime – , you allocate the blame, not to the man who single-handedly caused it but to “his advisors also have to take the blame in equal measure”. Well Mr Ramakrishnan, given the authoritarian style of Modi, qualified advisers and economists have not had a role in the decision making process, but quacks have had. And the man you deify is unable to differentiate between a quack and an expert.
You go on to pontificate: “We Indians feel very secure in the hands of PM Modi”. Did you ask your Muslim and Christian friends – assuming that you have some – whether they feel safe ? Or are they not Indians but “termites to be thrown into the Bay of Bengal” to use the language of the lieutenant of the Messiah ? And Sikhs Mr Ramakrishnan? Do you really think that they now feel safe in India where Hindutva rules ? Never mind the token concessions extended by Golwalkar & Savarkar to Sikhs and Buddhists.
In any case Mr Ramakrishan, the Chinese have exposed the many chinks – pun intended – in the Messiah’s expensive suits. They are not only shooting, but also calling the shots and apparently have not been frightened by his 56 inch chest and his chest-thumping. Meanwhile, the Messiah has ordered not one but two expensive, highly customised Boeing 757 aircraft so that he can fly about in style. After all, if Trump can have an Air Force One, why can’t Modi have two Air India Ones? The price tag of Rs 9000 when people are dying from COVID and the economy has nosedived crores doesn’t matter does it ? More so when the likes of Mr V.Ramakrishnan will gladly pay for having the PM pampered ..
Your pathetic – nay tragic – post reminds me of 2 quotes from Niccolo Machiavelli, the Italian political philosopher:
1.The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him
2:One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived
Romba thanks in advance for your reply Saar !
In my response to Mr V.Ramakrishnan above, there is a small typo.
In the 4th paragraph from the bottom, please read the sentence as:
“The price tag of Rs 9000 crores when people are dying from COVID and the economy has nosedived doesn’t matter does it ”
My apologies for the error.
This sincere and point by point reply of yours, Kili Jolsiyar, to a comment that is nothing more than indulgence in the cult of Modi’s personality, is extremely laudable. I fully concur with your views here and strongly wish that sooner this dispensation and cultic trend are made to vanish from the political scene, better it would be for the Indians, India, and the world at large. I find it very difficult to comprehend that how can anyone be picked up for praise who is ever ready to tweet on matters not related to governance but remain silent on the deaths of migrant workers who had set out to their native places during the abruptly announced lockdown on foot in the absence of adequate transport arrangements, but met with their death due to train running over them.
Thank you Mr Murtada.
Alas, when the electorate is unwilling to hold its elected politicians responsible for the actions, there is little hope for change. Crook and embezzler A. Raja (DMK) of 2G fame was re-elected MP from Nilgiris in 2019; Sadhvi Pragya Thakur (BJP) of Malegaon blast fame and an avowed Godse worshipper was elected from Bhopal; Dean Kuriakose (INC) with no less than 204 criminal cases against him was elected from Idukki; Godhra pogroms facilitator and demonetiser Modi himself has been promoted to the highest post in the country. Not once but twice.
As George Orwell said:
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices”
The authors argument is proved 100% by the comments to the article
Absolutely FAKE article. Just to create sensation, the same has been posted. Till date, there’s No PM our country has got who can be comparable to NaMo. MMS is ONE of the … PM which we feel ashamed to admit that he was our PM, that to for 10 years!!??
Even CONGRESS and / UPA Government’s were also not capable of what this Government has been doing and for future also. They’re all short-sighted, Corrupt and having no vision and long-term plans. NaMo will be remembered for a Long time and rest of the PM and Governments will be forgotten for ever.
PM Modi’s contribution in world peace and order has been enormous…. certainly PM Modi deserves a Noble prize…..that wouldn’t be far away!
The Print would get respect only if it does honest assessment rather than resort to Modi bashing for so many years. The Print has had zero impact on the public minds quite evident from the General Election. The Print assumes public as fools who cannot analyse for themselves. The comments of most is not in tune with The Print.
Modi always will be No 1 for his stupidities.
Dear Madam Journalist who traveled extensively
What a load of crap. Do you sincerely believe what you have written?. If you think that Modi is damaging India, then what would you say about what the Congress has done over the past so many years. We are the electorate, the common man ….. please don’ think of us dumb and unintelligent that we will get influenced with all that non-sense that you peddle. Pick a leader from the current crop of Politicians who have it in them to lead the nation. I am not a fan of politicians and neither of any party, the only reason we voted for Modi was that we believed him and, in his work and thought that he could provide a very stable and moving government. We couldn’t find someone better than him to lead the country.
Mr/Ms PK: Your “logic” seems to be:
“Congress has damaged India for many years in the past. Hence, if Modi does the same, he must not be blamed, the citizens of India be damned”
Essentially, your lathi wielding, shakha educated ilk believes that sins of past politicians justify and give carte blanche to present day politicians to commit their own sins. And a wily, cunning politician like Modi knows that with a great PR machine, a paid press and Islamophobic bhakths like yourself, he can get away with murder. Literally.
Meanwhile, the economy of the country was in doldrums long before the COVID crisis started, thanks in large measure to sheer incompetence and the disdain of experts like Dr Raghuram Rajan, Arvind Subramanian, Urjit Patel, Amartya Sen, ane even the initially Modi supporting economist Jagdish Bhagwathi. Then you have several Modi-made disasters like demonetisation, GST, a laughable Make In India scheme, retroactive taxation of firms, muddled policies towards privatisation of state assets like Air India etc. etc.
On the social front, the already fragile unity of the country has been rendered even more fragile thanks to Muslim and Christian bashing – something the restive Sikh population in India now takes note of with some trepidation. Hindutva inspired Muslim & Christian bashing and jingoism have adverse foreign policy consequences, something Amit Shah, Modi, Adityanath and that premature ejaculator par excellence Tejaswi Surya don’t grasp. Today not only Islamic Bangladesh but Hindu Nepal, Buddhist Sri Lanka and of course China are at loggerheads with India.
As regards your claim that there are no other leaders in India, it is a tad like the arguments one heard in cricketing circles: “Nobody can replace Gavaskar”; “Nobody can replace Tendulkar” and so on. Both Gavaskar and Tendulkar have been replaced and Indian cricket is doing very well, thank you very much. Hence, if PM Modi were to become incapacitated in some way, India is not going to stop and drop dead. On the other hand, it might stand up again and hold its head high again – without the millstone of Hindutva earning it disrespect.
Modi is what we need and believe to lead us . since we are in democracy Please write whatever you want to say . But History will surely respect Modi and rather I am afraid 60 years of Congress bullshit will be forgotten for ever. I sincerely feel you Should write on that lost glorious congress times so that history preserve those times at least for all the lies spread by them or otherwise that also would be lost the way we had recorded our Indian History.
You must have certainly lost a plenty of unaccounted and ill gotten money because of demonetization. GST would have curtailed tax evasion by businesses owned directly or indirectly by you, your family, friends or relatives, to some extent at least. The pain is visible in your malafide content penned with a vested motive. You don’t have to worry about Modi’s future, as by then the masses would have become enlightened enough to keep the likes of you at bay and not allow anyone to misuse the diversity of this country to their personal advantage.
You must have certainly lost a plenty of unaccounted and ill gotten money because of demonetization. GST would have curtailed tax evasion by businesses owned directly or indirectly by you, your family, friends or relatives, to some extent at least. The pain is visible in your malafide content penned with a vested motive. You don’t have to worry about Modi’s future, as by then the masses would have become enlightened enough to keep the likes of you at bay and not allow anyone to misuse the diversity of this country to their personal advantage.
Well I feel all these issues taken over by PM…370, triple talaq, GST , mandir ,CAA were long overdued and were hv to be implemented sooner or later. Now the final one is population bill which has to be introduced to stop this menace…no matter what the opposition or pseudo journalism says tough decisions hv to be taken to save this country.
Sabarwhal, the discussion here is about China killing Indian soldiers and taking land. Chowkidar to ‘surrender Modi’ took only one beating. What is the relevance of triple talaq and mandir ?
Kitne paise mile congress se…vultures…totally biased article spreading propoganda for the looters of india
We need bold people like you sir.
Aur apko kitne mile? minimum wages mil gya na? agar nahi to please join the trolls-union and demand your fundamental rights. (unless you are UP based of course where all labour laws have been suspended for 3 years).
Really, you always say bad thing about india and Government.
Look inside first.
Because of you people we are fighting with inside and outside both.
Its true that Independent India has not seen a mass leader like Modi after Nehru and to some extent Mrs Gandhi . The connect he has developed with the common man is so deep that the people see him as a savior which has been further cemented due to his corruption free government. Had there been an iota of suspicion in public mind he would not have been reelected, though some may think that Balakot made it possible. The faith on him for the general public is very clear from the type of mandate he gets in the center and in the states. The people want a man of their choice from local populace different from what Modi or BJP suggest for the states and when it comes to PM he is the only choice. The well exemplified immaturity of Rahul Gandhi in governance could be the main adversity for the Congress party in not being able to project a mass leader in spite of being the ‘Chirag’ of Gandhi family. Modi, is a class above others and slowly and firmly he is establishing his and party’s long standing agenda which will be in favor of the nation in the long run.But its not the history but the historians of the country may not be kind to him and that was their way of portraying things and surely ‘historians will repeat again’.
Modi is a class above others ? I sometimes wonder about your Hindutva intellect. He just got a beating from Xi, the man whose feet he used to touch. India lost soldiers and land due to Modi. RG called him correctly ‘surrender Modi’. Perhaps one more beating from Xi is necessary for you to understand.
Most of the comments here are from Modi supporters? I wonder why they read the Print at all since they are convinced that it is out and out anti-Modi and lacks credibility.
Modi is leading a charmed existence. He is innocent until proven guilty; if proven guilty he has enough fall guys beginning with Nehru to pin the blame on. As for Congress, they are guilty even if proven innocent. The current Chinese intrusion is a direct outcome of the secretive MOU between INC and CCP!!
People read in search of unbiased and truthful accounts. When they get such material they shower genuine appreciation. Modi has just completed one year of his second term. This report is biased and premature. We keep reading and commenting with the hope of better reports
Modi has clearly demonstrated to the world how India was raided and raped by ignorant and greedy invaders, over the last millenniums, by outside cultures that had not a clue about the intricate wisdom inherent among the Indian people.
He’s doing absolutely perfect what needs to set things right. When it’s done then India will once more be at it’s ordained position on the planet, to give all races the meaning of why we are all here. And from where we have come. And to where we belong.
After his next election, most likely a landslide, he will retire after two years into his well-deserved mandate and appoint a young and dynamic new Prime Minister who will lead India, and the world, to the peak of peace and prosperity.
????????
Modi is a great karmyogi. He is already a legend. He is most transparent leader India has ever produced we are proud of modiji.
So transparent that Xi read he is a weak coward ! Only his dense bhakths could not figure it out.
The new era humbug that Modi can be called at best.
The Muslim community, it was felt, was smarting over the fact that in two successive general elections, the BJP and Narendra Modi had coasted to outright victory without any Muslim support. PIONEER
Trolls leaving comments even without reading things fully…. No surprises
Partition left India in a devastating state yet people still remember Gandhi and Nehru fondly,Nehru as PM did many blunders yet people still talk high of him….The author has gone to the future already because the present has not satiated the journalistic bias and dislike which has led such journalists to lose their objectivity
ohh man I pity you a lot for your follies of unwavering desire and allegiance to Bhuke Mar Jao Party
****Congress’s Achievement: Looting for 60 years.
****BeeJayPee’s Biggest Achievement: Looting double that sum of money within a matter of six years.
****Congress = We have just one family that loots.
****BJP = We are one large family of looters.
***O Gullible People of India, judge for yourself which kind of looter you would prefer, or perhaps you could do very well without a ‘Government’. Gone are those days when a POLITICIAN could be trusted. Perhaps in future it would be better to live without the presence of a Government !
Are you mad ? What or how has bjp looted the country . Stupid ignorant comment . Why do you not talk about the real looters of India ; the bcmc jihadi pakies from Middle East looting Bharat for 800 years . Then the conniving British who looted India to the tune of 46 trillion dollars in 150 years of abuse and misrule . Then having sucked it dry, the bcmc British divided the country to give to the jihadi pakies west and east papistan and helped the pakies secure illegally part of Kashmir . Then to add salt to an open wound , the barstards gave the Hindus a Muslim nehru . No he was not a Hindu . Just because he called himself a ‘ pandit ‘does not make him a Hindu ! The deliberate policies he made have sent India reeling even after seventy years . That rand ‘ daughter ‘ of hers , if she was genuinely his daughter connived to fool the Hindus further by not using her real surname ; Khan .Yes she was Muslim . Imagine fooling the Hindus who gave her and her beef eating fake ‘ pandit ‘ father so much love and care . And see how they were ‘ rewarded ‘.
If the rightly elected Sardar Patel had come into power as he had won the congress votes ; India would have been Akhand Bharat and a super power years ago . But guess what? With Modiji at the helm ; this krsna avtar will balance the wrongs and Sanatan dharma wool prevail again . Jai Hind . Jai Modijj
lubby lubby
The author is a sure congressi. Modi will prove to be the best PM in indian history.
Your reporting is trying to fish more support for Modi when it doesnt exist. Dont make people fools close their eyes to truth of choosing a new leader. Be aware of the reality in South India, he doesnt have support and hasn’t built any except Karnataka, which will soon fizzle out.
As a Jammuite, I can only and only admire the gutsy Modi 2.0. History will always remember him for being a man who stood amidst all the ill-founded criticism. Why he transformed India-
1. Has guts to give my region its dignity back by repealing discriminatory Article 370.
2. He involved communities to make India a better place to live. It was a community driven approach that drove initiative like Swachh Bharat, people giving up on LPG subsidies, etc.
3. He brought in Digital Revolution. Steps like JAM, Digital India got India going.
4.Diplomatically –
(a) Has taken. more realist stance towards rogue neighbours like Pakistan. Believe me, China won’t get any different treatment strategically.
(b)Has moved away from shit of NAM to Multi Alignments. We have drawn both the Arab Works and actions like Israel closer than ever.
(c)Many neighbours are being made aware of Debt Diplomacy of China. To name a few- Maldives, Sri Lanka.
4. He thinks for a common Indian.
Aur tum log ek Jack Daniels pe bikne wale log ho.So Stfu.Even you want to criticise, so it objectively. It is not that difficult to criticise objectively, but tum log gadhe ho.
Ma’am I really don’t know who you are and have read much of what you have written, but this article makes me feel that you are one those pseudo intellectuals who have been used to setting the tone and direction for discourse and many decisions in India with the precious govts. With that hold people of your ilk had being stripped and Mr Modi Seemingly magically getting elected and after many, according to you, wrong decision yet continues to gain popularity. Then you start calling it Jumlebazi such phrases concocted to give your hurt egos some solace.
But you must remember that the common man though may not be as ‘intelligent’ as you is studying and assessing Modi and in his assessment Mr Modi gets top marks. About history being kind or not I just want to juggle your memory a bit, Gen Eisenhower, Churchill, even Gen Patton, Gen Mac Arthur history was and is kind to them because the y are winners and the Indian see Mr Modi in this company, please don’t worry history will be kind to Mr Modi and BJP will at least three more elections, also Mr Modi who I know is not one to hang on to power like many others, will most likely disappear from public life after the age of 75 an age he has set for retirement. He will identify suitable person and he will quit.
People like you will critize this also I am sure
Vultures have patience. Battle for redeeming India has only started. This has caused flutter among the enemies who were content nibbling at a prostrate India. Will soon emerge as a strong United India and claim our rightful place in the world. Jai Hind. Vande Matram
Partition left India in a devastating state yet people still remember Gandhi and Nehru fondly,Nehru as PM did many blunders yet people still talk high of him….The author has gone to the future already because the present has not satiated the journalistic bias and dislike which has led such journalists to lose their objectivity
Vultures have patience. Battle for redeeming India has only started.This has caused flutter among the enemies who were content nibbling at a prostrate India.Will soon emerge as a strong United India and claim our rightful place in the world.Jai Hind. Vande Matam