B. Thohii Shuru
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]aryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda was booed and heckled by BJP workers in Kaithali during an event attended jointly with Prime Minister. Maharashtra CM Prithiviraj Chavan and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren faced the same boos and heckle at other functions. Prithiviraj Chavan having had embarrassed once in function with Modi on the dais in Solapur decided to boycott Nagpur function in which Modi is to perform “bhumi-puja” for the City’s metro rail project. Hemant Soren of JMM was embarrassed by BJP’s workers in Ranchi despite his prior request to the PMO that he would not be put in an “embarrassing” situation in la Hooda. He has decided not to share dais with Modi anymore.Bickering over politicisation has become a daily affair between BJP and Congress. The Congress has come out officially as stated by AICC general secretary Ambika Soni that the BJP’s ploy in government functions where CMs were heckled by BJP’s workers was “Orchestrated” and “Well-planned conspiracy”. Congress alleged BJP of vast conspiracy to use such public events – which ought to be politically neutral – to play dirty politics. The Congress is said to be convinced that BJP’s workers attempt to humiliate the CMs. BJP also tried to bully Omar Abdullah, J&K Chief Minister at a function jointly attended with Modi. AICC general secretary alleged that “Modi is trying to show Chief Ministers from Congress and other non-NDA parties, especially in the election-bound states, in poor light”.
However, the allegation is not proven because no hard evidence of such “engineering” and crowds at any Modi’s rally, official government business or otherwise, tend to be raucous. India Today reported that in Kaithali, the Prime minister ‘waved urging them to maintain composure. However, the crowds were in no mood to pay heed and continued to interrupt the Chief Minister during his speech, which was completely inaudible’. BJP is arrogant in defence of the supporters. Throwing rebut at the Congress, Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson justified, “Chief Ministers faced sloganeering as they were ‘non-performing’”. Congress’ allegation may be without hard evidence but a question worth in questioning the BJP leadership including Modi is, are they doing enough to avoid such heckle from its workers?
Congress CMs decision to boycott sharing dais with Modi may not be politically correct from a party that has ruled India for decades. Such political move no doubt set an unprecedented trend in India democracy. Boycotting Prime Minister for rowdiness of his supporters does not merit the grievances of the Congress but whose responsibility is it to sooth the ruffled feathers. Surely, it is the responsibility of BJP leadership including Modi. Doing little or nothing to stop such boo to non-BJP Chief Ministers on dais with Prime Minister would only imply that BJP leadership is silently encouraging it. Manish Tiwari’s charge on BJP, “If government functions are used for orchestrated politics” it was the case of impropriety is not without validity. The Congress stand as put by Tiwari “No Chief Minister, in his right mind, would have possibly gone this route if evidence of orchestration was not in front of us” has a valid reason behind.
Question on whether Modi popularity took the BJP to victory or was it the party popularity now seems more relevant. Presumably many insiders in BJP, though may not be vocal, does not want to attribute such accolade to one man only. Strangely such boldness came from RSS chief who said that BJP success came from all the workers and not from one man alone, though not named it surely refers to Modi. Slogan of ‘Modi wave’ was belittled by Congress. But ‘Modi wave’ did have impact to large extent even if one wishes to deny it. Many voted for BJP to see Modi as the Prime Minister of India.
Modi surely have public appeal largely by his sheer persona and political acumen but to certain level it is perhaps a stage-managed show by party workers as we saw in the run-up of elections of supporters waving or chanting ‘har har Modi’. Modi’s ability to touch the crowd with his skilled oration is known and yet again he showed it in his debut Independence Day speech at rampart, Red Fort.
Even Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Singhvi did not hesitate to laud Modi for his well crafted speech apart from criticism on omission on some issues and politicking that opposition parties will wait to see if Modi will translate his words into action. Unlike old tradition, Modi gave an extempore speech and without a bullet windshield. Modi is seen as a leader with difference as for now.
Being popular is a gift. But being a popular leader also demands responsibility. Modi is today a Prime Minister to all political parties. No political party can criticise Prime Minister Modi for being popular and his supporters going hysteria with cheers and chants in public functions. But the BJP’s workers behaving unruly with boo and jeer at the Chief Ministers of non-NDA who share dais with the Prime Minister is cheap politics. Contentedly BJP alone has absolute majority of MPs in Parliament with Modi as the Prime Minister: the man anointed as to be PM by BJP much earlier before the elections, the man with flare of speech to boost party image, the man who mince no words, the man saw to be decisive in decision, and the man who draw crowds towards BJP in the run-up of elections. BJP leadership now has to get above the syndrome of glorifying Modi, the way they did it to Modi as a star campaigner for BJP before the elections. Modi is a Prime Minister of India now.
As said Modi cannot dissuade the cheers and chants from his supporters; he deserves it if supporters give him but he cannot afford to remain besotted in his popularity world and forget what he ought to and can be done to tell his supporters to be disciplined and not to boo or bully the Chief Ministers of non-NDA who share dais with him.
If Chief Ministers of non-NDA boycott Prime Minister from sharing dais to avoid ‘embarrassing’ situation of la Hooda, Prithiviraj, and Soren from BJP workers it would be unprecedented on their part but at the same time it is also an ‘embarrassing’ situation for PM to have been boycotted by CMs in sharing dais with him. Refusing to share dais with Prime Minister Modi by CMs of Congress and other parties may be incorrect politically but it is also reasonable for the CMs to refuse to be on dais with Modi if such boos and heckle is not arrested in time by BJP leadership including Prime Minister Modi. Modi talked of federalism with states for good governance but how can centre-state relation be better if CMs of non-BJP ruled states boycott Modi from sharing dais. Boycotting may be politically unwise but Hemant Soren’s statement has a reason, “Any self-respecting CM will avoid attending public functions (with Modi)” if repeatedly booed, bullied and heckled by BJP workers.
Cheers and chant of ‘Har Har Modi’ is fine as long as it is not at the cost of dwindling another’s ‘self-respect’ in government functions, orchestrated under wile of dirty politics. BJP leadership need to rise above the old syndrome of ‘Modi wave’ now. The nation expects better politics.
