It Is Not Narendra Modi's Job To Please The Congress And A Section Of The Media
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2020-07-09 07:29:43
About the Author
The more the Congress and a section of the media taunt Narendra Modi, the more his stock rises. Rahul Gandhi questions every policy decision of his and asks for proof for everything like a self-appointed chief justice in a court that exists only in his mind. Most of the time, he hurls personal insults (despite being cautioned against it by party elders) like a local rowdy. Congress spokesmen and leaders like P Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor try to mock the Prime Minister. They win brownie points and likes on social media but all of it comes to naught in the people's court as Modi's policy decisions start to bear fruit.
Take the de-escalation of the standoff with China at the LAC. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress created scary scenarios from the beginning and tried to show the nation that the government was hiding what was happening at the LAC. They (and a section of the media that leans towards them) all but called Modi a liar and someone who would let the Chinese overrun India. They questioned why he was soft on China and why he did not name China in his speech about expansionism. This was parroted by the same section of the media. Even when the troops started disengaging, the Congress wanted proof. Sections of media engaged in biased reporting by saying the government was "claiming" that the Chinese troops were pulling back.
Shockingly, when the US technological firm Maxar Technologies provided satellite images as proof, these media outlets started to suggest that the buffer zones being created between the two armies at the LAC by the pullback were dangerous. Without having the knowledge of what the terms of the disengagement were, wild speculations are being made both by the Congress and the said section of the media. The Congress and these media outlets want proof. Maxar has provided that. Yet they are not satisfied.
But the people are. The people are happy that the government did not flinch and stood its ground despite pressure from the Chinese. The people are happy that the Indian soldiers gave a fitting reply to them when they were attacked. The people are happy that the Modi government has tried to hit China where it hurts by banning Chinese apps, holding up consignments from Chinese manufacturers and not allowing Chinese firms to invest in India. The people know that these are pressure tactics. They also know that the government cannot disclose all that is taking place in the interest of national security. Only the Congress and the disgruntled media outlets are not happy. But is it Narendra Modi's job to please them?
