Modi/NDA needs to draw a bigger line.

In our child hood, we used to throw a puzzle at each other- to make a line short without touching or erasing it.  Some related it  to Akabar- Birbal stories of wisdom. It is said, when everyone failed, Birbal just draw a Bigger line( parallel to old one) and showed that earlier line is now shorter one.

I remember this because, now days, there is competition among BJP/RSS/Minister to belittle Nehru legacy.  All this started with, election campaign of ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’, and continuing  with dismantling of ‘Planning Commission’, revamp of ‘Nehru Museum’, discontinuation of stamps of ‘Indira and Rajeev’ and so on.

I agree with BJP/RSS charge that one family got undue importance- and other important leaders of independence struggle and nation building were neglected- in historical narration. But my point is, to prove their point BJP/RSS need not waste time in tempering old things and must concentrate on proving themselves better than congress in governance. This will be better way to achieve ‘congress mukt bharat’. At state level the same has been achieved in certain states. Shivraj Singh Chouhan did better governance than Digvijaysingh and voter of MP forgot Congress.

If this is possible for BJP at state level, why it is difficult at national level?  In my view BJP/NDA has some real problem at national level.

First,  talent crunch. Everybody is ridiculing /questioning Smriti Irani’s qualification for HRD ministry, but a few experts had doubted competence of Jaitely (a lawyer by profession) to head finance ministry and over a period this feeling has percolated among layman. Such examples are more and varied. People give more value to RBI governor’s than FM’s view on economy and finance.

Second- lack of expertise in parliamentary politics and negotiations. Most leaders of BJP are trained as RSS pracharak and does have different value system than that needed for parliamentary politics. At  extreme level  valued key (over rated) person Jaitely have no experience of electoral politics and is hard liner (against V Naidu a soft liner). He is good at twisting the argument or justifying situation (like a lawyer), but for the same reason is antagonising opposition and this is not helping NDA. While in opposition he justified parliamentary disruption but now laments about it. For reforms etc, he (NDA) started with ordinance route, then proposed joint session, now questions wisdom of having Rajya Sabha and again says many bills will be brought as Money Bills (so nod of Rajya Sabha is not required). How many of these have failed and how many will fail only god knows. But all these put BJP/NDA in poor light and expose them to charge of not knowing the constitutional provisions and procedure.  Declaring intention without ability to implement is taking toll on credibility of Govt. They may blame Congress for it, but failure to move forward is going to harm them and benefit Congress.

Third-In fact the way BJP/NDA is prioritising the non core issue, Congress instead of receding in history, has, as opposition back at the centre stage of Indian politics. They may not win elections in next 4-5 years, but already they are able to decide course of debate. Within a year, NDA has to change plank and stop talking big things and concentrate on poor people. Withdrawal of Land Bill is a big boost for congress. Why government is in hurry to concentrate on small things like fighting with AAP in Delhi, appointment row at FTII and so on which gives excuse for opposition unity. Its minister Like Cultural ( Kalam inspite being Muslim was patriotic) and HRD minister are  more busy  in creating controversy than drawing bigger lines. Many a times govt itself promotes this view- for example while releasing religion wiase census data for 2011 it commented Muslim proportion has increased. To be impartial it could also have added comment that highest percentage fall in growth rate (5 %) for decade is from Muslim community. These one sided information is helping Congress and others to prove communal charge against BJP/NDA.

Fourth-In its long term vision, it is forgetting importance of short term achievement. Many of NDA’s initiative like ‘Swacha Bharat’; ‘Namai Gange’ etc are long term and are work in progress. I am happy that Railway Minister did not bow to regional politics and did not announce a single new train. But due to all these, ground level perception of ‘ Acche Din’ is not being felt. It seems Government is behaving like small kinder garden kids who dislike old toys, dismantle it but does not know how to reassemble parts in a new toy. 

In foreign policy many initiative are praise worthy but can Govt hold position of declaring Hurriyat leaders as third party and no talks with Pakistan?

Ultimately govt. must realise limitation of parliamentary democracy (limitation to take nation forward on its own) and try taking opposition along with it to draw a big line for itself. Erasing /tinkering old line is not a proper strategy. Time is running out, its own people like Swamy has started questioning performance of economy ( exports are down for continuous 9 months). Before chorus becomes louder and lay man start doubting competence to deliver government should change course and style of functioning.