Is the Narendra Modi Government a Suit-Boot ki Sarkar

Layout 1As soon as he returned after a two month-vacation at some undisclosed destination early this year, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi donned the war paint of a combative and invigorated politician and went for the jugular of the Prime Minister. No less. After all, he is the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which seems to believe it is the only Indian family vested with the privileges to rule the nation.

Rahul had, in fact, chosen his adversary even before the fateful Lok Sabha polls of 2014 by scoffing at and heaping scorn on BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. How could a measly tea boy who had the “dubious” distinction of hobnobbing with the RSS, become

India’s Prime Minister, he asked in a querulous voice.

Wasn’t Narendra Modi a Hitler and a merchant of death? How could the good people of India repose faith in such a person who lacked the right pedigree and was eminently unsuitable for the job? He interposed such questions with regard to Modi’s credentials and eligibility for the highest political office of the land. Rahul then decided to travel far and wide and tell people of the nation about the “evil lurking around the corner” aspiring to become India’s next Prime Minister.

Travel he did and told the people of the “impending disaster” too. But what he failed to do was to tell the people who UPA was proposing to anoint as the next PM. According to him, people should simply vote for the UPA. Once UPA returned to power for the third time straight, the Congress parliamentary party would decide who is to become the PM. Simple and straight. As for himself, he would not mind shouldering any responsibility that his party deemed fit to offer him, which is how he presented it to the Indian voters. What was left unsaid, but was clearly understood by the people was that the next PM would be decided by the Congress High Command, a euphemism for the mother-son duo of the ruling family, as had always been the practice in the past. In all probability, it would likely be a fall guy like Manmohan Singh who would be foisted by the Sonia-Rahul duo, who was happy calling the shots from behind the scene.

The electorate did not, however, fall for his gambit and preferred the more direct and forthcoming approach of the BJP, which had named its Prime Ministerial candidate. Modi had already arrived on the national scene in a big way, having captured the imagination of the people of the nation with his Gujarat model of development and pan-India vision vis-a-vis the other regional satraps who lacked a roadmap for the country’s progress and a blueprint for the development of its economy.

All that the UPA had to offer against NDA’s development-based program of action was a moth-eaten one-point agenda of their traditional “Secularism” plank. The people saw through their game and accorded the UPA at the General Elections of 2014 the contemptuous cold shoulder that they richly deserved.

UPA versus NDA

A downright rejection by the people, first at the Centre and then in a series of state-level elections, did not, however, deter the Congress Party for far too long from making it difficult for the NDA to have a free rein at the Centre, despite the latter’s humongous majority in the Lok Sabha. The UPA in general, and Rahul Gandhi in particular, focused on the NDA’s Achilles heel of inadequate numbers in the Rajya Sabha and started making it virtually impossible for healthy parliamentary debates to take place and some of the crucial legislations to be passed. The Congress Vice President led the shouting brigade from the front and did not flinch from leveling personal attacks on the Prime Minister.

Character Assassination

Rahul dubbed Narendra Modi’s hallmark quality of self-confidence as vanity and narcissism. Instead of taking on the government on its policies upfront, he went for the soft option of character assassination of his favourite bugbear. He conveniently forgot that Modi had risen to dizzying heights of political power from less than a modest social background by sheer dint of hard work as a disciplined party worker and with determination that had lasted over four decades coupled with exemplary developmental work as the Chief Minister of a State which scored over several others in economic and social developmental indices.

Rahul criticised Modi of grabbing power by means of a publicity blitzkrieg, purportedly funded by corporate houses, which had allegedly sidled up to him in the hope that he would return them favours after coming to power at the Centre. Based on these flawed premises, Rahul’s strategy was to take potshots at the Prime Minister, dent his pristine image, which was unmatched by any leader of the current crop. He thus tried his best to pull down Modi from the pedestal of high moral grounds, make him nervous and lose poise, which would have probably resulted in the latter making a faux pas, much to the glee of the Congress Party.

Layout 1

Rahul’s Strategy

Instead of waiting for a major policy goof-up, Rahul unveiled a three-pronged strategy of provoke, shoot and scoot. So he just kept on looking for a chink in the armour. How could US President Barack Obama’s second visit to India, which was directly attributed to a diplomatic coup by Modi, be allowed to be uneventful? So he decided to pick on Modi’s suit, which looked distinct with his name embroidered all over and unleashed a tirade, including the following.

Rahul called it expensive in terms of cost, but cheap in terms of taste. What a vain person had the suit made the PM! Such narcissism! Such audacity on the part of the leader of a nation which had still not attained the stature of an equal participant at the high table of the world’s economic power blocs! Such folly on the part of a man who dared to believe clothes made him and paraded around in cheap, vulgar clothes which reflected poor taste, like a proud peacock! How did he afford the expensive suit in the first place?

How could the people trust their money with such a man who shamelessly splurged money on symbols of vanity? If it had been presented to him, it must be by some industrialist or businessman with an axe to grind. Dig deep enough to find muck. In any case, let us not lose time in charging him of impropriety and lack of transparency before coming up with evidence or proof to make the charge stick.

Then Rahul creatively came up with a ballpark figure of Rs 10 lakh as the cost of the suit and accused Modi of misusing public money on acquiring the symbol of his vanity, narcissism and megalomania. Till date, Rahul has neither come up with proof or evidence to substantiate his charge nor had the decency to own up to the baseless charges he made against the Prime Minister. That is so much for his intellectual honesty and credibility as a leader.

Sobriquet for the Government

Taking part in a debate on the agrarian crisis in Parliament in April this year, Rahul told the BJP representatives, “Yours is a government of big people, a suit-boot sarkar”, in an obvious reference to Modi’s suit that was the eye of a political storm during President Obama’s visit in January this year. On protests from the BJP, he added, “The suit matter has ended, you have auctioned it, I will not talk about it. Happy?” So, Rahul officially declared his party position that the sordid suit matter had ended! Not because his charge made earlier that the Prime Minister had misused public money to the extent of Rs 10 lakh could not be substantiated, but apparently because the suit had subsequently been auctioned off.

Rahul was solicitous enough to ask the BJP representatives if they were happy with the ending of the matter! How very gracious of this ignoramus and needler! If there indeed had been a misuse of public money on the part of the Prime Minister as he had charged, should Rahul have not pursued the matter to its logical conclusion with all the tenacity and resources at his command instead of magnanimously letting it “end” with the suit’s auction? Whether the BJP representatives were “happy” or not about the closure of the matter, was Rahul not responsible for having caused a slur on Modi’s name?

Was it all, at the end of the day, a simple matter of smoothening the ruffled feathers of the BJP with nary a thought about Modi’s image and reputation? Did he not owe the people an explanation for announcing suo motu the “end” of the matter which involved the “stealing” of a large amount of public money? Was a quid pro quo involved here? Is this how the Prime Ministerial aspirant of Congress proposes to wind up his investigation into all the scams and scandals and make the Opposition ranks “happy”, in case he ever lands up in his dream job? That is a scary thought, indeed!

Accusations and Allegations by Rahul

Rahul accused the NDA government, which he derisively referred to as the “acchhe din government”, of failing the people and held it squarely responsible for pursuing an anti-farmers policy. And he made a series of other allegations and accusations including the following. The NDA government simply did not concern itself with the misery of the farmers in regions across the country, languishing under monumental debts owing to droughts, famines and hailstorms and driven to committing suicide. The Prime Minister was on a perpetual spree of foreign tours. Why was Modi not spending more time at home, to meet the farmers, hold their hands, commiserate with them and enact welfare schemes for their upliftment?

Rahul has been vehement about his party’s determination not to allow the passage of the Land Acquisition Bill in the Rajya Sabha. In a bid to sound sympathetic with regard to the plight of poor farmers of the country, he falsely accused the government of first “weakening” and then trying to smite by grabbing their land—all for the benefit of the influential industrialists, corrupt corporate houses and big businessmen and alleged that these are the very people who had funded Modi’s pre-poll publicity campaign.

So according to him, India currently has a government that had come into being in the first place using the money power of the rich; a government of people who had sympathy and concern only for the rich; a government that worked for the rich and enacted laws to benefit them at the cost of the poor farmers of the country. Hence the sobriquet “Suit-Boot ki Sarkar”!

Rahul has ever since been haranguing the government by castigating it with the sobriquet in his party meetings across the country to the amusement and titillation of the workers of his party and bemusement of the people at large—bemusement over such a bankrupt obsession with “Suit” by the Vice President of the oldest political party of the country while there were any number of crucial issues, ranging from terrorism at home to external threats, which begged urgent attention. Meanwhile, Rahul’s sidekick Raj Babbar added “Loot” to his litany of charges and made the sobriquet “Suit-Boot-Loot ki Sarkar”.

Failure of Congress

If in the eyes of Rahul, Narendra Modi and his political party were guilty of accepting financing from corporate houses and rich businessmen for their poll campaign in 2014, would he come forward and declare that he and his party were never beneficiaries of such a largesse from either the same or a different set of sources this time around or any other elections in the past? If both the NDA and the UPA had accepted funding from corporate houses, why should the latter pick on the former?

In any case, why had not the Congress Party which had been in power at the Centre for a total period of almost 60 years not done anything with regard to prohibiting political parties fighting elections from accepting funding for their campaigns by corporate houses? Why is Rahul finding fault with the system of the

functioning of political parties now, when his own party is playing the game by the same rules and is fully drenched in corruption, patronage, favouritism and abuse of power? Is it merely because of his party’s loss of face in the elections?

Why not a Suit?

Now, at the face level of it, what is wrong or evil about a suit per se? Is it something which only rich people are supposed to wear and not meant for poor people? Is the Prime Minister of India expected to represent only the poor people and not industrialists and businessmen as well? Are those people who are clad in a suit, children of a lesser God? Is it wrong for a poor man to aspire for riches and be seen wearing a suit? Have the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family, starting with Jawaharlal Nehru down to Rahul and his brother-in-law, not been wearing suits?

Is it an unwritten law that the quintessential Indian politician should be only seen in a crumpled pajama-kurta and not in a crisp suit, whatever the occasion? In any case, when English has been adopted as an Indian language, why can’t a suit be considered an Indian costume? Why the derisive urge on the part of Rahul to portray either the Prime Minister or the industrialists or businessmen as a butt of criticism for the mere act of wearing a suit?

Pro-farmers and Pro-poor Policies and Programs

Notwithstanding the merits of the Land Acquisition Bill and the benefits that will accrue to Indian farmers, what about the following pro-farmers and pro-poor policies and programs of the current NDA government, which Rahul has conveniently chosen to ignore?

  • Enhanced Compensation for distressed Farmers due to crop damage
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
  • Soil Health Card Scheme
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
  • Jan Suraksha Schemes (PMJJBY, PMBSY, APY)
  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission
  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (World’s largest Financial Inclusion Program)
  • Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Shramev Jayate Karyakram
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana
  • Mission Housing for all
  • Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA Bank)

Time for Rahul to Reflect

Will it ever occur to Rahul Gandhi that the right thing to do would be for him to study these programs and policies with a critical eye for possible flaws, shortcomings or inadequacies and lack of dedication or commitment, if any, on the part of the NDA government in their implementation? Such a course of action that calls for extensive research, analysis and objective assessment on his part would fetch him the stature of a serious politician whose primary concern is for the development and progress of the nation and the welfare of the people.

Will Rahul Gandhi rise to the occasion and seize the opportunity to become richer in stature as a serious politician and thereby present the people a viable alternative to Narendra Modi as a people’s leader or will he be merely contended with causing ripples in murky political waters with his provoke-shoot-and-scoot strategy? In any case, calling the government funny names for a strategy will only win him a few claps from his merry men and far from endearing him to the people make his stature not worth a picayune.

(The article was published in weekly magazine Uday India in August 9-15, 2015 edition on page 10-13)

http://udayindia.in/2015/08/07/is-the-narendra-modi-government-a-suit-boot-ki-sarkar/

109 thoughts on “Is the Narendra Modi Government a Suit-Boot ki Sarkar

  1. Abhilash Panigrahi

    It is Modi as PM who has brought back India on track after UPA wrecked the economy. We must thank him for his preparedness and vision.

    Reply
  2. Kanika Nema

    Your points seem valid but in totality you cannot blame the entire congress party. Pranab, Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor are all leaders with capability. Yes I agree Rahul doesn’t deserve top position.

    Reply
  3. Ashwin Murali

    This is luck. You can say that crude prices fell inflation dropped after BJP came. No hard feelings for NDA but they should put in more energy in delivering up to promises.

    Reply
  4. Chinmay Kumar

    In the interest of poor people, the government has launched so many schemes. Now if people want freebies then they can go to false-promising congress leaders. BJP is a party of ethical people.

    Reply
  5. Arnest Lewis

    Completely lost, congress must elect a non-gandhi leader now so that they can save their future. Rahul Sonia or Priyanka they are not capable of making India a prosperous nation.

    Reply
  6. nishant Mishra

    Pro-poor and pro-farmer! Appears as a joke. Why then now the government has made modifications. They know that votes will be lost in upcoming elections if bill is not amended as per poor farmers.

    Reply
  7. Parmeswaran Swami

    This is India’s fortune that PM like Narendra Modi is our leader.By simplicity,clear visionary and enthusiastic in gloomy atmospere and situation created by misrule by ,selfish,imcompetent politician except ABV rule.Had that been uptill now all the evil would have been eradicated which congress sow on this our pure motherland with help of greedy videshi.

    Reply
  8. Umesh Nandan

    If you contrast the two you come across a leader who has risen from absolute poverty and by the dint of hard work risen to the top post of the nation.He has not rested on laurels but has gone on to higher peaks gaining the confidence of countrymen on the way.He comes across as an honest politician who would like to do his best for the country and reciprocate the confidence reposed is him.On he other side we have some one born with a silver spoon in his mouth and having people at his beck and call to do his bidding.His remark that he was not interested in becoming PM but if people wanted it would not mind it.A big favor indeed.While one is constantly adding to his achievements and growing in stature the other one has simply one point program.Jeering at the tall leader and calling him names. The often repeated criticism is so monotonous and repetitive that even he should have got tired of it.There is a popular comparison of Raja Bhoj and Ganguteli in HIndi.Here the roles seem to have undergone see change between the Chaiwala and Italian boss man.

    Reply
  9. Harisankar Aravindakshan

    There is definately a great deal to know about this subject. I love all the points you have made.

    Reply
  10. Nihar Dalmia

    Hi there everyone, it is my first go to see at this site, and piece of writing is genuinely fruitful in favor of me, keep up posting these types of content.

    Reply
  11. Chintan Kansagra

    Hello, its my first time to commenting any post. But I could not stop myself from commenting on reading through such a sensible piece of writing.

    Reply
  12. Pratik Shah

    Whatever you wear it is not a big deal but what you work is an important thing.The way nation’s P.M. express gestures, it is never happened in past. Today everybody know very well about the action,attitude and skill to set the standard. He celebrate each work like person joyful in festival.This is not my political stand on BJP,but proud to be P.M. like him.

    Reply
  13. chingkhei laishangbam

    The site looks absolutely fantastic. Well done to all involved. Very professional & the navigation is great too. Cheers.

    Reply
  14. Mugi Harikiran

    I just had to drop you a line to let you know that John and I think that the website is BRILLIANT……………………… Well done.

    Reply
  15. Aayush Gandhi

    Thanks for the marvelous posting. I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and will come back very soon. I want to encourage that you continue your great work,have a nice day.

    Reply
  16. Karthik Hariharan

    Good day. I am certainly happy I discovered it and I will be book-marking it and checking back frequently.

    Reply
  17. alkesh gamer

    Hello, I am so happy I found your weblog. I am really appreciating the commitment you put into your site and in depth information you offer. This has been so particularly generous with people like you to supply openly all that most of us would have offered for sale for an e book in order to make some dough on their own, even more so seeing that you could possibly have tried it if you ever decided.

    Reply
  18. ishaan ishaan

    After checking out a number of the blog articles on your site, I honestly like your technique of blogging.

    Reply
  19. Abhishek Belsare

    You definitely realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people should read this and understand this side of your story.

    Reply
  20. Rock EvilZ

    You seem to be blessed with a perfect blend of good vocabulary and good writing. Thoroughly admired your work.

    Reply
  21. ajay bendale

    This excellent website really has all the info I wanted concerning this subject and did not know who to ask.

    Reply
  22. Benjamin Archer

    I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet viewers, its really really pleasant article on building up new weblog.

    Reply
  23. Abhishek Roy

    Hi there to every one, it is in fact a fastidious for me to go to see this website, it includes important Information.

    Reply
  24. Saumil Joshi

    Way cool. Some very valid points. I appreciate you penning this write-up and the rest of the site is also very good.

    Reply
  25. Mikhail Esteves

    I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .

    Reply
  26. bharath arjun Muruganantham

    I just want to mention I am all new to weblog and truly savored this blog site. Likely I want to bookmark your blog . You actually have terrific articles. With thanks for sharing with us your web site.

    Reply
  27. Abhi mehrab

    Way cool. Some extremely valid points. I appreciate you penning this post and the rest of the website is really good.

    Reply
  28. ravi chahar

    Thank you for the introduction to the new website. I will be re-visiting it many times, but on a fast run-through it looks really great.

    Reply
  29. Rajesh dalwadi

    it is hard to come by well-informed people on this subject, but you seem like you know what You are talking about. Thanks

    Reply
  30. Nils Fölsch

    Hello. I simply want to give you a huge thumbs up for the great info you have right here on this post. I will be coming back to your site for more soon.

    Reply
  31. ruchi chahwala

    Great blog you have got here.. it is difficult to find high quality writing like yours these days. I truly appreciate people like you. Take care..

    Reply
  32. vinay rawat

    If some one wishes to be updated with most recent technologies therefore he must be pay a quick visit this site and be up to date all the time.

    Reply
  33. Murugesan Palaniappan

    The structure of the composition is good,buttry to make sure the word order in your sentences is correct.

    Reply
  34. Kris Chaitanya

    I do agree with all the ideas you have offered on your post. They are very convincing and can definitely work. Thank you for the post.

    Reply
  35. shyam kumar

    This is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise information… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post.

    Reply
  36. Philip P. Eapen

    I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I will learn lots of new stuff right here. Best of luck for the next.

    Reply
  37. Joe antony

    Your style is very unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you have got the opportunity.

    Reply
  38. Abhinav Singh

    A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more about this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks do not discuss these subjects. To the next. Many thanks..

    Reply
  39. aman goyal

    This is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate info Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article.

    Reply
  40. kinjan mech

    What I have seen so far is brilliant and everyone involved should be congratulated. I can see me spending the rest of the evening perusing the site. Just when I thought I would like an early night.

    Reply
  41. Hardik rajpara

    Hi there. I simply would like to give you a big thumbs up for your great information you have got right here on this post. I will be returning to your website for more soon.

    Reply
  42. Laxmi Chand Aslia

    The author has unkindly burdened the opposition for an elaborate debate in parliament or discussion out side on many govt schemes to point out the infirmities or to suggest ways and means in improving the efficacy of the schemes. This head scratching job is quite tedious and boring. It is quite comfortable to use the contribution of all, dull and dainty, by as simple duty as disruption of parliament proceedings.

    Reply
  43. capt kumareswaran

    shri modi is elected by the people of india,they do not have any hatred against him.you can not compare rahul or any other leader of indian origin with shri modi.see the difference now all are talking about our pm,earlier nobody is interested to talk about indian pm.

    Reply
  44. SAROJ BEHERA

    In my openion BJP Government is the best ruling party in our country.there most important thing which i ever see.In an interview of Uma Bharti on AAPKI ADAALAT(INDIA TV),A big whole made by Congress which is filling up by BJP.thats why it takes little more time.So we have to support this Government.Time is very short that we will see the DEVLOPMENT INDIA.KYUN KE ACHHE DIN AANE WALE HAIN.JAI HIND

    Reply
  45. Ardhendu Ansuman

    Hi, all the time i used to check weblog posts here in the early hours in the break of day, because i enjoy to learn more and more.

    Reply
  46. Rohan Deshpande

    I quite like reading an article that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for permitting me to comment.

    Reply
  47. Amit Suvarna

    Absolutely wonderful, well done everyone, what a great achievement. Here is to the future and success for everyone. Thank you all for your hard work, we know it will be ongoing and trust that you will get the appreciation and credit of putting such brilliant articles on the worldwide web. Looking forward to seeing it grow.

    Reply
  48. sushant

    F*ckin’ tremendous issues here. I’m very satisfied to see your article. Thank you so much and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?

    Reply
  49. abdul raheem

    I read this article completely about the comparison of most up-to-date and preceding technologies, it is remarkable article.

    Reply
  50. Nirav Bavisi

    There is a tough competition in Bihar this time. Let us see what comes out after modi nitish clash. You are a strict BJPian. What should be BJP plan in Bihar?

    Reply
  51. harish abrol

    Raj Babbar himself lost elections because people know he just can do acting and deliver dialogues. No point backing congress party or even other non-BJP parties.

    Reply
  52. Neha Gupta

    What is the logic in halting working of government? Even if this is tit for tat, this is highly dangerous for the society and economy. I think court should step in and give some directives to parliament and speakers.

    Reply
  53. saunak kundu

    Right. Nehru we all know that he was a man who was chosen by British because of his western style and temperament. They left but with their agent in India. All congress leaders are the same.

    Reply
  54. poonam

    Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing on your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more very soon!

    Reply
  55. JAZZY Antony

    You ought to take part in a contest for one of the most useful blogs online. I am going to highly recommend this blog.

    Reply
  56. Rahul Beniwal

    After looking into a handful of the blog articles on your website, I seriously like your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Badrul Laka Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *