Modi is Govt, Govt is Modi & Modi is god!

“The goal of Modi’s guarantee is to transform the life of the person on the last pedestal of the society”, he said. He juxtaposed the coming of new temples with the construction of pucca houses for crores of poor, recalling dedication and foundation stone laying for 1.25 lakh houses recently. He also mentioned free ration for 80 crore citizens as ‘Bhagwan ka Prasad’, and piped water for 10 crore new families as ‘Amrit’

It has become an accepted practice for any government to lavishly advertise on their achievements and while launching various programmes – however small or big they are. I have no dispute over this since the ads add oxygen (pun intended) to the media. Political parties, too, indulge in advertising campaigns off and on, depending on their capacity. Government departments, however, get direct or indirect sponsors that help the ruling parties build their image. For instance, a cement company advertising India's longest sea bridge Atal Setu that connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai boosts the BJP-Sena-NCP alliance’s image. That is the occupational advantage that any ruling party enjoys. The KCR Government used go to pan-India with massive front-page advertisements about Telangana farmer welfare schemes. Mamata Bannerjee, Yogi Adityanath, Arvind Kejriwal and even Naveen Patnaik governments too tend to splurge with taxpayers’ money. The thin line between genuine messaging about government schemes and blowing the respective leader’s trumpet has disappeared long ago. The opposition, save the communists, dare not question this. I singled out the communists since it is the CPM which challenged the non-transparent electoral bond scheme in the Supreme Court.

The way PM Narendra Modi launched the Viksit Bharat Yatra and the way it is being conducted is nothing short of a BJP party advertisement drive, that too using to the hilt the government machinery – from Anganwadi workers to post masters to IAS officers. The Yatra is one part. But the way they reach various places where events are held look like nothing short of a BJP messaging for which the municipal corporations are also being used. No wonder, a group of youths in Maharashtra opposed the Viksit vehicles entering their villages as they sported the BJP colours and not the tricolour! White, the symbol of peace, was missing on the vehicles. But for this, we have not heard any opposition from any quarter. Aren’t the opposition parties missing out on a big opportunity to prick holes in the BJP’s balloon? Or they have just given up as nobody in this system listens? This is where I agree with Arnab Goswami – keep shouting to be heard!

Another punchline – Modi Guarantee – which began as a political campaign slogan in the recent elections to the legislative assemblies in five States - has now become a government slogan. The PM himself speaks about the Modi Guarantee and Modi Sarkar Ki Guarantee even at official events and various launches day in and day out. The national dailies carry below-the-masthead ads with the same line. And these are the government ads.

With no questions asked, the government has adopted another BJP line - Sapne Nahi Haqeeqat Bunte HainTabhi Toh Sab Modi Ko Chunte Hain (We don’t weave dreams, but realities; Hence we elect Modi). This is the BJP election anthem, but the government's ‘Modi Guarantee’ jingles on radio channels have begun to incorporate this musical line.

Ethics and politics are antonyms but is this kind of a blatant use of government platform okay for a political party?

Bhakts might justify by saying that the Congress regime too thrived on the punch line – India is Indira and Indira is India. They should be told that this line was propagated by just one man, the then Assam Chief Minister Dev Kant Barooah. That was dismissed as Barooah’s sycophancy and no one else in Indira Gandhi’s party chanted it. Similarly, TINA factor had also been coined by a section of media for Indira as well as Rajiv Gandhi. But now the Modi’s Guarantee and Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai are being chanted across by the Bhakts.

A glaring feature of the Modi Guarantee is that it is about the Viksit Bharat carrot and not about his government’s performance over the past 10 years. But for blaming the previous regimes, particularly the Nehru era, Modi government has not done much which is probably why the saffron leader has cleverly chosen the Viksit Bharat line of thought on the expiry of Amrit Kal word play.

Continuing his focus on pilgrimage even a month after the consecration at Ayodhya, Modi harps on religion as a tool to woo the voters. Sample this:

Launching development works worth Rs 13,000 crore at Tarabh in Gujarat’s Mehesana district, the PM recalled that on January 22, he got an opportunity to perform the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. On the Basant Panchami day on February 14, he inaugurated the first Hindu temple of the Gulf countries in Abu Dhabi. In Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister mentioned laying the foundation stone for Kalki Dham. He also performed consecration and darshan and pooja at Valinath Mahadev Temple in Tarabh.

PM Modi spoke of the presence of divine energy in the “pious land of Mehsana” and said that it connects the people with the spiritual consciousness of thousands of years associated with Lord Krishna and Lord Mahadev.

This energy, he said, connects the people with the journey of Gadipati Mahant Veeram-Giri Bapu ji as he paid tribute to him. He also bowed before Mahant Shri Jayaramgiri Bapu for forwarding the resolve of Gadipati Mahant Baldevgiri Bapu and accomplishing it. Highlighting his four-decade-old deep connection with Baldev Giri Bapu Ji, the Prime Minister recalled welcoming him to his residence on numerous occasions as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat to awaken the spiritual consciousness. For India and the world, the Prime Minister noted that Valinath Shiv Dham is a pilgrimage site but it is an auspicious seat of the Guru for the Rewari society and devotees from around the country.

The Prime Minister said that these temples are more than a place of worship but are also symbols of our centuries-old civilization. The Prime Minister highlighted the role of temples in spreading knowledge in society. The Prime Minister praised the local religious Akhadas for taking forward the tradition of spreading knowledge and said that the organization of Pustak Parab and the construction of school and hostel have enhanced awareness and education among the people. “There cannot be a better example of Dev Kaaj and Desh Kaaj,” PM Modi added. He praised Rabari Samaj for nurturing such enlightened traditions.

Modi talked about the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas ingrained in Valinath Dham and said in sync with this spirit, the government is committed to make the lives of every section better. “The goal of Modi’s guarantee is to transform the life of the person on the last pedestal of the society”, he said. He juxtaposed the coming of new temples with the construction of pucca houses for crores of poor, recalling dedication and foundation stone laying for 1.25 lakh houses recently. He also mentioned free ration for 80 crore citizens as ‘Bhagwan ka Prasad’, and piped water for 10 crore new families as ‘Amrit’.

We have had sycophants describing Modi as the man who brought Lord Ram to Ayodhya. Some glorified him as Vishnu’s Avatar Lord Krishna. Modi apparently takes pleasure in such praises or else he would have objected to these efforts to make him look like a god. Now, look at the way he himself describes the free rations to 80 crore people as ‘Bhagwan ka Prasad’. Please remember that this statement must be viewed in the context of the government distributing the free and subsidised grains on bags that carry Modi’s photographs.

Diversion from the real issues that bother the society and not giving credit where it is due have been the hallmark of Modi’s 10 years. Even during the golden jubilee celebrations of Amul - Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) – Modi said that a sapling that was planted 50 years ago by the farmers of Gujarat has become a giant tree with branches all over the world. But he did not remember Dr Verghese Kurien, the father of White Revolution. He spoke a lot about the success of Amul. Though several brands emerged in India since Independence, there was none like Amul. “Amul has become the symbol of the strength of the Pashupalaks of India”, the Prime Minister said, “Amul means trust, development, public participation, empowerment of farmers and the technological advancements through time.”

Amul is the inspiration of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Modi said, and noted that Amul products are exported to more than 50 countries around the world. More than 18,000 milk cooperative committees, a network of 36,000 farmers, processing of more than 3.5 crore litres of milk per day, and online payments to livestock breeders worth more than Rs 200 crores. He highlighted the momentous work being done by this organization of small livestock breeders makes for the strengths of Amul and its co-operatives. But he did not think it was proper to mention Dr Kurien’s efforts. Dr Kurien deserves to be honoured with Bharat Ratna but it obviously does not fit into Mo-Sha’s vote bank politics.

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)