When Modi breaks his silence: His stance on the issues plaguing India
One of the biggest criticisms that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh received throughout his tenure, was his reluctance to take a stand and speak on issues that the country was facing. Narendra Modi, on the other hand, stormed into power, largely on the basis of his oratory skills and views, which came as a much needed change. But, over the recent past, PM Modi has also been criticised for not being vocal enough on a lot of problems that are plaguing the country. And, it has been after much protests from the opposition parties and the general public, that Modi has broken his silence on various issues. We take look at what Modi has said on some of the controversies and crimes that have taken place over the recent past:
On the Dadri lynching: One of the sharpest criticisms that PM Narendra Modi received was on his long silence over the lynching of Mohammed Iqlakh for suspected beef consumption, and the tension that flared post that, in 2015. He finally broke his silence, and, at an election rally in Nawada, Bihar, Modi said, “Hindus should decide whether to fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims have to decide whether to fight Hindus or poverty. Both need to fight poverty together. The country has to stay united. Unity, communal harmony and brotherhood will take the nation forward.” His remarks, though, were met with further criticism, with former J&K Chief Minister tweeting that there was no outright condemnation of the lynching.
On controversial statements by politicians: A number of politicians such as Sakshi Maharaj, Yogi Adityanath and Sangeet Som from the BJP, Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan, AIMM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, and many others, have been regularly making controversial statements which have caused public uproar. With increasing pressure to denounce them, at the Nawada rally, Modi urged people to not pay heed to such statements. “Some politicians are making irresponsible statements for political interests… Such statements should end… Do not pay attention to such statements, even if Modi himself makes any such statement," he said.
On the Kashmir unrest: It was after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed appealed for PM Modi’s intervention that he addressed the Kashmir unrest. At a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh, he said, “Insaniyat(Humanity), Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri values) and Jamooriyat(democracy) are the way forward. Freedom experienced by every Indian is also for every Kashmiri. Peace, unity and social harmony are the way forward.” However, he was criticised for taking a long time to address the Kashmir unrest. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad commented at the Rajya Sabha about how PM Modi tweets about events that happen across the world, and in countries in Africa, but does not address the issue at home. He also criticised Modi for choosing to speak about such an important issue while in Madhya Pradesh, rather than in the Parliament.
On the attacks on Dalit: With the growing incidents of attacks on Dalits across the country, PM Modi came down heavily while addressing a party meeting in Hyderabad. He said, “"If you want to attack, attack me, not dalits. If you want to shoot, shoot me”. Modi had chosen Hyderabad to address the issue, as the suicide of Dalit research scholar, Rohit Vemula, at the University of Hyderabad, had caused widespread unrest and protests across the country.
On gau rakshaks: PM Modi was scathing on his remark about vigilantes who have been attacking people in the name of protecting cows. At the Townhall event to mark two years of MyGov initiative, Modi had condemned the “handful of opportunistic people who in the name of cow protection are poisoning social harmony,” terming them anti-social. He had mentioned that such people constituted 80 percent of gau rakshaks in the country. While the RSS initially appeared to endorse his remarks, asking people to expose cow vigilantes, it later backtracked and said that Modi should have avoided using a definite number. VHP leader Pravin Togadia demanded that PM Modi retract his statement about 80 percent gau rakshaks being anti social elements.
On Raghuram Rajan and Subramaniam Swamy: Disapproving of the slew of attacks that RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was subjected too, especially by BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Subramanian Swamy, who wrote a letter to the PM where he said that Swamy was ‘mentally not fully India’, PM Modi had stated that the attacks on Rajan were unjust, and that he was as “patriotic as any of us.” He also rapped Swamy, in an interview, stating that, “Such things are inappropriate… the nation won’t benefit from such publicity stunts… anyone who believes he is bigger than the system is wrong.”
On Pakistan: PM Modi was lauded for his decision to highlight the human rights situation in PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan province over which Pakistan has laid claim. This aggressive stance was a marked shift in foreign policy and showed a much more aggressive stand by the Government on Pakistan’s intervention in the Indian affairs. In his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, Modi had said, “"I want to place two pictures before the world .. and I say to the world, there are those who believe in humanity and others who glorify terrorists, please weigh these two scenes,“ he said."When innocent people are killed in violent acts of terrorism (in India), there are celebrations (in Pakistan). What kind of a government that is inspired by terrorism (is this), this is what the world needs to see and evaluate.”
