For once, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal might have got the better of the political guru he wouldn’t acknowledge — Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a meeting of the chief ministers with the PM last Friday, Kejriwal chose to livestream his remarks, drawing rebuke from Modi for breaching the ‘protocol’ and the ‘tradition’ of an ‘in-house meeting.’
Given that the PM’s remarks at the meetings with CMs over Covid-19 are always livestreamed, it was difficult to understand why a CM’s remarks about the state of affairs be treated as a violation of protocol or a secret. The PM is not known to get upset — not publicly, at least. What might have upset him was Kejriwal’s obvious attempt to shift the blame for his government’s failures onto the Centre. And he was doing it cleverly — by pleading for the Centre’s help to meet oxygen requirements in Delhi hospitals. The CM apologised to Modi but won the battle of optics.
Losing the narrative war
This brief exchange at the PM-CMs meet gave an inkling of how the second Covid wave has got the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre on a sticky wicket. A party that celebrated Modi’s victory over the coronavirus until recently seems to be fumbling as it seeks to set the narrative — its forte once.
That’s because the BJP has always had a set template to build a positive narrative, no matter how bad the reality on the ground is. And the strongest of them was what was aptly summed up in the All is Well song in Amir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots. Remember the song “Jab life ho out of control, honthon ko karke gol, sitee bajaa ke bol all izz well?” As this writer and his family remain in isolation, nervously watching scenes outside hospitals on TV and social media, the next line of the song gives the creeps: “Murgi kya jaane ande ka kya hoga/life milegi ya tawe par fry hoga/koi na jaane apnaa future kya hoga/honthon ko karke gol, sitee bajaa ke bol, all izz well.”
Personal demons apart, the all-is-well narrative really worked in the past. Be it the demonetisation of high-value currency notes or continuous economic downslide, people forgot all problems, with Modi’s all-is-well assurance and promise to make India a $5-trillion economy—just as a seemingly stillborn baby started kicking after hearing Amir Khan say the three words in 3 Idiots. As the second wave of Covid infections has hit India like a storm — with the much-touted revamp of the health infrastructure coming to nought — nothing is going well for the ruling party to croon that song.
Also read: There’s a need to hold up a mirror to Modi govt on Covid management, and this is the picture
70 years versus five years
The second pillar of the ruling party’s narrative used to be the ‘70 years versus five/seven years’. All those decades of opposition parties’ rule were a waste. It was left to the Modi government to ramp up the health infrastructure when the coronavirus hit the country. Even petrol and diesel prices remain high because no government in the past did anything to reduce oil import dependence.
As it was, nothing worthwhile happened in India for 70 years since the Independence till 2014 — 67 years to be precise. Having taken credit for putting in a robust public health infrastructure in place to ‘defeat’ the coronavirus last year, the BJP can’t blame the opposition for the utter lack of preparedness for the second wave.
Apart from the failures of successive governments in 70 years, the BJP leaders found many other issues to set the agenda — Tablighis as alleged super-spreaders, Chinese origin of the virus, and mismanagement by non-BJP governments (remember Amit Shah’s interventions in Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Delhi and the Central teams’ findings in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?), among others. There is nothing to differentiate between governments on party lines today. If Maharashtra, Delhi and Chhattisgarh are witnessing a surge in infections — and crumbling of the health infrastructure — so are Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. If patients are dying in Delhi hospitals for lack of oxygen, so are those in Haryana. And instead of Tablighis, TV screens carried pictures of sadhus taking Kumbh snan and top BJP leaders addressing huge election rallies.
Also read: As Modi govt faces up to Covid disaster, BJP learns a tough truth — the virus doesn’t vote
Can’t even bash Rahul Gandhi
Last but not the least, the BJP always relied on Rahul Gandhi, the opposition’s face, to give it a talking point. But, for a change, the Congress leader has been on top of the game right from the beginning of the Covid crisis last year. Who could have ever believed that the BJP would end up emulating Gandhi who had cancelled poll rallies in West Bengal, citing the Covid threat? Also, who could ever think that BJP leaders would feel political insecurity from the Covid relief works done by Youth Congress president Srinivas BV and AAP MLA Dilip Pandey?
Where the BJP seems to be losing the plot is in its failure to change its narrative as per the changing situations. So when the Modi government is facing the heat, it’s the same old tactic being deployed — opposition-bashing and singing paeans of Modi.
The scale of the fresh Covid challenge is too big to be managed with polemics and sophistry. The best strategy for the BJP would be to take a cue from its political adversaries like Srinivas and Pandey, and deploy million of its workers on the ground to bring relief to the people. This is no time for perception management. It is time for proactive public health management.
Views are personal.
Edited by Anurag Chaubey
It seems that when PM announced lockdown in March 2020, he was autocratic and was up surging power of states. This was bad for democracy. Towards end of first wave, states were handed over the responsibility to manage lockdowns etc. The states anyway were carrying on testing and so on. By all reports, states were given funds to put up O2 plants. Can some one also ask states what did they do with that money, why not declared lockdown early or take steps to prevent the spread. Now PM is blamed for not being autocratic and allowing states to take the responsibility. What does the writer want PM to do?
The 2nd surge has caught us all flat footed and Modi will have to take the blame as the captain of the team. Many a great leaders had failures like Churchill at Gallipoli, Stalin trusting Germany and Mao and his cultural revolution. They all fought back and did fulfill their mission despite all the carping like the writer of this article. Just reading applause for Kejriwal I knew what your article is going to say and I stopped reading. Have the write ever sat at a high table where weighty decision is made? The first rule is not to ever breach the protocol because it defeats the purpose of the meeting, and only a tapori like K’jwal can do it and tapori like the writer you can endorse it. For all his faults, Modi will continue to be preferred by this country’s voters because they know he does not steal money and stash it abroad. They like his neeyat.
It is amazing how one can convince oneself of the infallibility of their heroes. The men that you mentioned Churchill, Stalin and Mao were in some sense heroes but for many they were the worst mass murderers in history, it surprises me that you would be an Indian and call Churchill a great man. it is understandable that you couldnt read the applause of Kejriwal, guess if you chose to ignore everything, Modi does come out as the greatest PM India has ever known.
This article is partial and one sided. Only highlighted bad /wrong decisions and ignored good ones.
Has the Govt failed to control inflation?
Have not exports ,agricultural production gone up..
Is manufacturing gone down except during corona days.
Will the Balance of Payment and Foreign Reserves go up unless the financial management ids sound?
Is the percentage of infection to population higher than developed countries {though it may be high in absolute numbers}
Is not the percentage of vaccination better than many developed countries?
Did not Mr.Kejriwal kept quiet when OXYGEN Supplier told the court that DELHI Govt stopped supply of OXYGEN to ALL HOSPITALS?
YES.Govt should have been more careful about Election Meetings ,Kumbh Mela and similar religious functions by ALL parties and should have made State Govts responsible for enforcing discipline and wearing masks etc.
The sooner this govt disappears better for people and democracy. Lies every where. PM cares fund – carelessly gone for elections. Worst still coming.
Modi is an arrogant dictator
Hi ,Srinivas is doing fantastic work but at the same time Gautam Gambhir, kapil mishra,charu Pragya,tajinder Bagga,Vaishali Poddar,Shalabh Mani Tiwari ,adwait kala and many more BJP workers are working day and night,You haven’t mentioned them anywhere I don’t know why. Millions of RsS workers are working without any publicity but you haven’t acknowledged them as well although they are selfless workers.
RSS has always ben there for any crisis in the country but the all BJP cadres should be on ground Zero you dont see them
Mr feku Modi ji is a waste unfit pm & rss were complete buffoon’s who donno how to rule morever I view Rss as a radical Hindutva terrorist organisation & some jokers say rss help this & that ? My foot they earn via killing good minorities so those blood earned money ? Hahah it has no impact that is why same rss getting died in corona virus & natural disaster’s etc let them get deleted forever rip rss
Give me example of any Non-BJP ruled state managing the covid better than the national average.
Or do you have any proof that suggests Rahul Gandhi visionary Politics helped the Congress Ruled States?
Bro the centre has to provide funds that is the case. 6yrs of modi govt yet no improvememt that is the case. So he is just like all old PMs . That is what print is trying to say. Everyone fails modi has failed in covid second wave. Why cant u even accept that. We know congress is bad so is bjp..why cant u accept that
Finally Print again started getting Funding from Congress.
Everyone was wondering how come Print in becoming a Centrist News Portal, But we all know the reality that there is nothing called as centrist
congress does not have any money
Yet another lame article by a spent force. You should have written about this a few weeks ago. In Hyderabad, we had a Unani medicine called Zinda Tilismath…their punchline was *101 beemariyon ki dawa*. ???.
That is exactly what Modi has been turned into by an insane mob who think he is the cause of every ill in this country…
Probably shekhar does not want to eat his 2019 humble pie ; so he has let loose some cannon to squeak. Election results will give an idea on where the reality stands
Despite their efforts like Modi working long hours and giving speeches with false promises and Amit Shah working hard on election management with a large treasury overflowing, the ruling party’s commitment to the RSS doctrine of Hindutva has proven unequal to the major task of a strong economy, a united and not divided nation. The grand Modicare announced by the late Jaitley which provided health insurance and an allocation in the budget of a meagre Rs 1200,cr for providing basic infrastructure to cover every panchayat with a primary health centre was a big eyewash. Studies by agri experts have also brought out the inadequate budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector. MNREGA which was criticised by Modi had to be resorted to provide basic income for farmers. While the expenditure on infrastructure like roads, electricity was improved but maybe the Govt has overspent. We are now one of the top four countries on defence expenditure by ad hoc purchases at higher prices.
With this background, the onset of the pandemic has multiplied our problems. With not being prepared by planning to meet the second wave, the Govt is forced to facing huge expenditure on infrastructure and planning the whole vaccination strategy to cover even 70% of our population expeditiously and effectively. Our country have enough experts on public health issues like epidemiologists, and other technologists to coordinate the availability of vaccines, oxygen, drugs, temporary hospital beds etc This area is beyond and above politics when everyone including the people should cooperate to minimise deaths. It is time for ACTION for ALL to fight the deadly virus which could continue for another year or longer till everyone is safe and protected
Correct analysis ! Also, you made it clear Hindutva is not up to running a modern state and a modern economy. That is my view also.
Lakhs of RSS workers are already working for past 2 years silently .
No one gives them credit but the situation in dharavi in mumbai was brought under control largely to the selfless work of RSS .
Mr Mayoor: You conveniently forget the other side of the RSS when tragedies happen.
When 8 year old Asifa Bano was drugged and gang raped in a temple in Kathua by none other than the temple priest and his gang of thugs, the RSS organised the Hindu Ektha Manch to provide support to the perpetrators and not to the family of the victim. And the BJP and eventually and bizarrely even the Congress, ended up supporting the RSS.
So should the RSS have been given credit for its role in Kathua Mr Mayoor ?
Andhbhakt!!!! Bola….
Where did you read that ? In an RSS pamphlet ?
The mainstream media like TOI report Muslim volunteers despite Ramadan have come in numbers to help in cremation grounds – even in Gujarat. Hindus are sending videos of it and appreciating. In some cases, the families of the deceased do not have people to carry the bier, or people who are willing to dispose and cremate the body, and these volunteers have come forward.
The media have reported the Sikhs are running oxygen langars from gurudawaras.
There are no reports in the media of RSS serving in crematoria. They would be the last people – they do not see people equally, they would not handle bodies of inferior castes. Other communities are better at social service and that comes out in such times.
They only inform you about their work.
Talk about present situation
“The Print” you are actually so biased and one sided. If holding elections was an issue, why Opposition parties took part? They could have stayed away. Talking about Rahul Gandhi he only stopped campaigning after he tested positive.. So stop spreading negative narrative.
Opposition/Media can do Politics with Dead Bodies all it wants parrrrrr Ayega Toh Modi Hi!
Fikar Not Aayega Toh Modi Hi
Propaganda news machine like print are working day and night to discredit the government of its achievements.. just imagine how bad would have been the situation had your favourite Congress party been in power.. scams on vaccination.. research scams… Scams on unimaginable scopes.. ill propaganda against sanatan dharma.. and what not.
Try all you can.. but dharma will win your propaganda will not.. Indian demos is no more a fool.. people who are still supportive of adharmi parties do so either because they are deluded or because they have selfish motives to keep others like themselves deluded..
I read only the first para & knew that it has an agenda ! How can a CM begging for pardon, be a winner ! Are you related to Rajdeep by any chance ? Same rules apply for him – a slap in USA is victory ! You don’t deserve further read.
Instead, watch Capital TV from Delhi- he gives you all a correct title ! Just waiting Yogi
Its almost 8 years ….we are listing him….finally we are end up this situation……Thanks Modi you are true Indian.
The more you write article against Modi, ignoring the failures of Kejriwal / Uddhav, the more, the chances of him winning future elections.
For every criticism Modi/BJP has developed a habit of taking immediate corrective action. This corrective action will give the perception managers a clear edge to put up a strong narrative at election time.
Criticise Kejriwal and Uddhav for their failures and make them correct their mistakes, otherwise there Will be no opposition left to challenge BJP in coming years.
I just have one question: Can you just imagine a coalition government at the centre right now? Or even worse Rahul Gandhi as PM? You will simply thank god for Modi. Goodbye!
MMS was a capable leader. Maybe not Rahul. But certainly not thanking God for Modi, rather praying God remove him.
He seems to be managing perception quite well.
One test would be results on 2nd May.
Truly said.There is no cunning politics,or even religious appeal in Corona.It strikes every one ,regardless.
Modi and his coterie of adoring sycophants have brought havoc by their shabby governance. Some letters here mention that they will win election .Yes ,that is a truth -perverted as may be- looks like misery and death is the best vote getter.
It seems that all the responsibility has to be borne by the government and public can do what it wants to do, not wearing mask, not following SOPS, NO DISTANCING and also in the beginning people were so averse to taking vaccine and now when the wave has risen the same people want to blame government.
Obviously, people are paying huge taxes. So that Modi could have fun only. It’s government duty to protect people not people’s duty to pay taxes and work hard and take care of themselves as well.
Blaming others is very good…..Yes if u acknowledge some lacking on modi’s part then question also must be asked about the failure and responsibilities of state govts….why rahul can’t make congress ruled states as model states.
True to the last word But a lack of serious leader in opposition leaving baba this the only choice between devil and the deep sea.
Appeasement has made the majority think only Modi is right.Its last decades baggage of the pain imposed on majority that gives leverage to Modi even today.
But the endgame is near and looks we will have another kichdi govt in 2024.
‘Its last decades baggage of the pain imposed on majority that gives leverage to Modi even today.’
What is the pain imposed on the majority ?
The majority commits pogroms, it lynches minorities, its politicians incite hatred, it rapes 8 year olds in temples, the police and politicians are on their side. So how is the majority the victim ? This is just propaganda drummed into you to create the feeling that the majority is the victim, whereas the majority controls all, whether in Congress or BJP.
If you believe you now have a party that cares for the majority, then you have to explain why the crematoria are overflowing, and who has jacked up the prices for oxygen, medicines and cremations.