India’s Modi was an over-sharing politician. Now he’s a silent prime minister.

[prasad1]

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"You campaign in poetry, but govern in prose" goes a well-known saying by Mario Cumo, the New York politician.For years, former prime minister Manmohan Singh was bitterly attacked for being too silent, a trait that eventually became a metaphor for his ineffective leadership. Many called his 10-year rule "a decade of official silence." But it was going to be vastly different with the new prime minister, Narendra Modi. Or Is it?
During his four-month-long campaign this year, Modi spoke breathlessly on almost every national and local issue. He gave stump speeches, blogged, tweeted, Facebooked. India's youths had finally found in the 63-year old Modi a leader fit for a generation of over-sharers and hyper-communicators. Now journalists, political pundits and opposition politicians have begun asking why Modi has gone silent. What happened to the promise of a leader who weighed in on every issue that consumed the nation?


"Narendra Modi brought with him the promise of a leader who will not be a mute spectator," the Headlines Today channel said last month. "Is silence going to be the norm when it comes to complex issues like crimes against women?"
"Why has our current prime minister, who is a 24x7 communicator, suddenly fallen silent on matters that are making front-page news, have been headlined in the international press, and have worked the Twitterati up into a tizzy?" wrote Caravan magazine.


The Business Standard newspaper called it "Narendra Modi: Silent PM 2.0?"


Modi was silent when Indian construction workers were kidnapped by Islamist militants in Iraq; when a young Muslim techie was killed by a Hindu mob angry over a derogatory Facebook post; when Hindu nationalist leader Praveen Togadia gave an open "warning" to Muslims this week to fall in line; he has been silent on price rise; and he has been especially silent on the spate of rape incidents being reported across India.

He has also ended a political culture in which prime ministers took large contingents of journalists with them on foreign trips. The result is "a virtual news drought for 24x7 media," complain local journalists.

"All the officers are under strict orders ... not to have any connection with media," Kumar Ketkar, a political commentator, blogged Tuesday on NDTV.com, a 24x7 news Web site. Calling it a "Gestapo-style" vigil, he said, there is "constant surveillance of the offices to keep tab on who meets whom and to check on whether ministers are spending evenings at social parties."
India?s Modi was an over-sharing politician. Now he?s a silent prime minister. - The Washington Post

 

[tks]

My knowledge of India's political scene is by readings posts here and from talking to some friends in India.

I do not know the extent of PM Modi's accomplishments but I do not like the thesis of this article in Washington Post.

There is no reason for a leader to speak too much once elected - rather his or her results should speak.

From what little I hear from my friends who were not particularly Modi supporters (they were AAP types) I understand there are lots of improvements - that speaks volumes for now.

The other reason I do not like these articles is due to my inherent mistrust of the so called mainstream media in general which tends to be agenda driven. They also have by and large lost their journalistic integrity

 

[prasad1]

So how is the Modi sarkar doing?


This is the most-often asked question these days, laced with a million hopes, anxiety, anticipation, and a tinge of worry too, by people cutting across class, profession and even by vested interests all over India.


So much has happened and so fast in the last 60 days in Indian politics that it’s too short a time to make a judgement on it. Obviously, any government should be given at least six months to settle down.


But the luxury is not available to the Narendra Modi-led government due to the rising food prices and rail fare hike. It has in a sudden way created a bitter feeling much before the celebration of the new government’s arrival got over. It only shows that Indians are impatient now.


Since the government opted firmly in favour of price hikes, the hope of ‘achche din’ is becoming, increasingly, more a satirical expression than reality. It’s interesting to see that millions of people who voted or not voted for the National Democratic Alliance government are watching every action with a sharp focus on Prime Minister Modi.


Repeatedly, one hears from common voters, “Dekhte hain aage kya hota hai. Mehngai toh kuch kam nahi hui” (Let us wait and watch. Prices haven’t been brought under control).


It’s a fascinating political phase in the nation’s life when people really believe that something surprising will emerge from the government’s actions which will lessen the drudgery of their lives.


As the people want to know what’s up in New Delhi, rediff.com talked to a few important people in the government to make sense of what is happening in government.
So how is the Modi sarkar doing? - Rediff.com India News


I agree that we should give Modi government another 30 days. But there was a promise of transparency, what ever happened to that? Yes instead of making useless claims, and false praise they should moderate their speeches. But on important issues they must have communications.

But things of national importance must be addressed by the government. In a democracy the government is answerable to the public. I hope it is not dictatorship.

 

[tks]

So how is the Modi sarkar doing?


This is the most-often asked question these days, laced with a million hopes, anxiety, anticipation, and a tinge of worry too, by people cutting across class, profession and even by vested interests all over India.


So much has happened and so fast in the last 60 days in Indian politics that it’s too short a time to make a judgement on it. Obviously, any government should be given at least six months to settle down.


But the luxury is not available to the Narendra Modi-led government due to the rising food prices and rail fare hike. It has in a sudden way created a bitter feeling much before the celebration of the new government’s arrival got over. It only shows that Indians are impatient now.


Since the government opted firmly in favour of price hikes, the hope of ‘achche din’ is becoming, increasingly, more a satirical expression than reality. It’s interesting to see that millions of people who voted or not voted for the National Democratic Alliance government are watching every action with a sharp focus on Prime Minister Modi.


Repeatedly, one hears from common voters, “Dekhte hain aage kya hota hai. Mehngai toh kuch kam nahi hui” (Let us wait and watch. Prices haven’t been brought under control).


It’s a fascinating political phase in the nation’s life when people really believe that something surprising will emerge from the government’s actions which will lessen the drudgery of their lives.


As the people want to know what’s up in New Delhi, rediff.com talked to a few important people in the government to make sense of what is happening in government.
So how is the Modi sarkar doing? - Rediff.com India News


I agree that we should give Modi government another 30 days. But there was a promise of transparency, what ever happened to that? Yes instead of making useless claims, and false praise they should moderate their speeches. But on important issues they must have communications.

But things of national importance must be addressed by the government. In a democracy the government is answerable to the public. I hope it is not dictatorship.

If a person has taken 60 years to become fat and bloated , it is unrealistic to expect any set of activities to turn the person lean and healthy. Growth and change by and large have to be organic. There are many who would love for the new government to fail. If there is a huge turnaround in 10 years it will be a huge accomplishment. Currently no one has more credibility to instill positive change.

 

[vgane]

Are you not seeing his daily posts in Twitter...

Modi is reserved; but doing his duties rigorously...

He may like to accomplish a few things before speaking..

He has already mentioned that the first 4 years of his term is going to be dedicated for work..Media interaction and campaigning will happen in the 5th year

Also you may hear him during the state assembly elections..They are going to be held every year in some state or other

 

[Brahmanyan]

Running a Government is continuous process. The results cannot be judged by days or months, but years. Mr Narendra Modi is a "stayer" in Politics, not a "sprinter" to vanish quickly. He has taken steps to contain Prices, speedup administration, improve the ties with neighbours etc. All these are long term issues . The best thing he has done is to silence the "trigger happy" press waiting for their prey. We can't expect any favourable comments from journalists like Kumar Ketkar, Vinod Mehta or Vinod Sharma, nor from Business Standard or Washington Post. Indian visual media is using every opportunity to gain their TRP by high decibel noise, in the highly competitive field today. Most of the issues takenup by our TV media are the happenings around the Metros and they have short shelf life.
People of India (common voters) are intelligent enough to understand a person and they know how to judge.


Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[sarang]

In his rallies modi asked for 60 months to correct 60 years of misrule and last 10 years of rampant corruption and gobbling of resources by a few who are adored and supported by the main street media. Sensible forward looking bharatvasis have will give him the full term before evaluation. Even in a corporate environment, when a project is in doldrums, a good CEO and project head will analyze the project threadbare, weed out all the harmful elements, apply corrections at every step and put it on even keel and on a healthy path. Hasty jerky steps to please the media or the critics will be avoided. Modi and many now know about the pressitutes, both foreign and Indian, and their touts, to take them seriously.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

People need to realise that the tv and print media are suffering from a withdrawal syndrome - disoriented and bored after a year-long frenzy of hyperventilated abusive reporting, followed by a denouement that was devastating and leaving them gasping. It was no longer possible to dish out the daily dose of scam reporting by the sicko reporters Barkha Dutt, Arnab Desai and the like, leaving observers shocked and horrified, waiting for the next fix of "breaking news". And with Modi coming to power, the regular feed of scams is running dry, and "breaking news" is getting scarcer.
With no "breaking news" to start the hyperventilated reporting, they are obsessed with finding faults with Modi’s style of functioning, an obsession that borders on hysteria. And many of these reporters justify their survival by feeding foreign news organisations like the WP, NYTimes, WSJ etc and other foreign journos on how Modi’s silent mode of functioning spells disaster for democracy.

Congressmen, like Mani Shankar Iyer and others of his ilk, desperate to get back their lost power and pelf, and with no serious issues to lambaste Modi, are losing all sense of balance, only to find their own party members issuing contradictory and controversial statements. The country was bemused by Priyanka Gandhi meeting with her father Rajiv Gandhi's killer, because it was her "way of coming to peace with the violence and loss" that she had experienced. The German Government bought outright a CD of names of 1,400 account holders in Liechtenstein's LGT Bank, from one of the bank employees on paying a price of roughly US$475 million. A spokesman of the German Ministry of Finance categorically stated that the data will be willingly shared on request with other nations at no cost to the requesting country. This was widely advertised all over the world including India, but the trinity that ruled us did nothing to avail of this highly attractive offer, even though many other nations did so and enriched their economies in the process. But the hyperventilating Indian media did not take cognizance of it.

Transparency International, through its Indian chapter headed by retired Admiral R.A Tahiliani , publicly urged the Government of India in 2008, to take necessary steps to seek the data that the German government had offered free of charge. The offer was too good to refuse, but the then government did nothing.

Credits to Ram Jethmalani [FONT=&quot]http://tinyurl.com/l9bn4lh[/FONT]

 

[vgane]

Economic Times has listed the policy achievements of Modi Government...Very useful to curb corruption, simplify procedures and make life easier and better for both industry as well as the common man!

10 small reforms, big impact: Modi starts bit by bit for big bang - 10 small reforms, big impact: Modi starts bit by bit for big bang | The Economic Times

[FONT=&quot]10 small reforms, big impact: Modi starts bit by bit for big bang[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]By Vikas Dhoot, ET Bureau[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Where are Modi Sarkar's big-bang reforms, some are asking. But most are missing a clutch of small policy changes that will greatly improve business climate and citizens' lives. A picture on small reforms:[/FONT]
[h=3]1. Red to Green Tape[/h] Promoters of big projects can seek online green clearances. Cuts out discretion. Big change from UPA's Jayanthi tax.
[h=3]2. Sailing Through[/h] Ships, critical to commerce, to get lifetime licences from local marine authority. No more annual trips to Delhi.
[h=3]3. Freer Factories[/h] Industrial licences valid now for 3 years, plus simple process for 2-year renewal. Big change from 2-year permits and red-tape maze.
[h=3]4. Better for Boiler[/h] GoI tells states to stop notorious factory visits by boiler inspectors and go for self or third-party certification on boiler safety
[h=3]5. Inspecting Inspectors[/h] Inspector raj to end. Compliance checks on business for labour laws only on basis of solid information, not babus' whims.
[h=3]For Citizens[/h] 1. Goodbye Notaries

Citizens can self-attest IDs, address proofs & other documents. No need for long queues at dingy notary public offices. States advised to follow the same rule
[h=3]2. Rooting for Retired[/h] PF contributions go up big because salary cut-off raised from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000. Plus NPS contribution made tax-free.
[h=3]3. Fuelling Change[/h] UPA made premium petrol, diesel much pricier than ordinary fuel. Price difference now down to just Rs 2/L. Good for city air.
[h=3]4. Truly Tatkal[/h] Those last-minute rail bookings now far easier. Railways online system can now handle 7,200 bookings per minute, a 300% jump in speed.

 

[sarang]

There is talk of social security/insurance package for the poor individuals to be announced from red fort on 15th august. Husband and wife will benefit separately, to minimize men stealing wife's share.

 

[[email protected]]

Leaders are like this my friends. Even today, he works continuously (clock around 14 hours a day). The central government employees are on toes. I have a neighbour who is a senior officer in a Ministry - this gentleman is ready at 08.15 am in the morning to get into office 15 minutes before the start time... I live in Delhi for the past 28 years and this is the first time, I see what you call a sea change !!! I don't think as a PM or for that matter any senior party member should keep on rattling and waste their time on these 24X7 media channels. These guys are destructive. One example is : Shiv Sena MPs shouldn't have behaved in such an aggressive manner (whether they have a right or not but as parliamentarians, they should keep their anger under check). The incident happened on 16th July (Wednesday), there were 6 journalists while this episode happened, various meetings happened between different parties, the issue was on poor food quality... After 5 days, someone figured out that the waiter is a muslim and let's milk it. It went viral.. Now in this episode, it will be stupid arguing and reasoning. The objective of the news is for a particular purpose.. Had someone senior in the government publicly abuse SENA MPs, will that satisfy the ego of Arnab Goswami. NO... he is running the show for a purpose - till that's achieved, his shareholders will throw him out !!!

 

[vgane]

Did you notice that iftar parties with cabinet Ministers, PM donning the skull cap are not being celebrated with the same rigor as in UPA...NDA ministers have given it a miss...Good riddance!

 

[vgane]

Why did India vote against Israel in the UN? Sad that Modi has done this

 

[sarang]

As per an article in Asian age, modi did not attend iftar hosted by the president, nor his office has plans to host one. Even ram vilas paswan is not hosting one, though he did it in the past with lot of pomp and media glare.

Did you notice that iftar parties with cabinet Ministers, PM donning the skull cap are not being celebrated with the same rigor as in UPA...NDA ministers have given it a miss...Good riddance!