Modi will be at centre stage of Indian politics for another 10 years: Dr Chandra

Expressing how PM Narendra Modi is the focal point of all politics in India today, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra stresses that Modi has distanced himself from the narrative being created that he gives undue support to Adani and Ambani. Dr Chandra also gives his take on the regulation of media, especially digital media, the meeting between Modi and the RSS leadership in Nagpur after the first phase of polls, and how Nadda’s statement on the BJP being strong played out in the political field. He also gives a lowdown on how the BJP and RSS are two sides of the same coin and how the word that the RSS may bring forth another leader if the BJP does not get 272 seats is completely unfounded and baseless. Excerpts... (Part 3)

• PM Modi’s statement in context with Adani and Ambani was in discussion everywhere. What could be the reason behind it?
  Dr Jagdeesh Chandra: From what I understood, I think he meant to say that he is not under anyone’s obligation or taking advantage of someone. In fact, he must have given a lot more to those seeking. He is not under obligation to any industrial house. A few days ago, someone in Hyderabad said in an interview that Adani means PM and PM means Adani. This must have irritated Modi, and thus this statement. This statement was also a means to distance himself from the negative propaganda that had been created regarding him, saying that he is close to Adani and other industrial houses. So he laid it out straight before people. He is the best person to judge if he should have said it or not, but according to me, he has distanced himself from this narrative of being supportive of Adani and Ambani.

• Media circles, especially in the national capital, are abuzz with word that with the start of the third tenure of the Modi government, regulatory control over media will increase. Will that actually happen?
  Control is an integral part of governance. Every government exercises some form of control over the media. While media control is not as stringent today, we can look back to the days of the Emergency for contrast. Back then, newspaper editors had to get their editions approved by the collector’s office before printing and distribution. So today we are better off. Moreover, the media fraternity and owners of media houses should understand that media can only act according to the times we are living. It may be that the level of freedom, which a certain section may be hoping for, would not be there but control would be there somewhere since regulation will have to be done. See, 900 channels are operating as of today which is a huge number and more than 50 per cent of these are in loss. I suggest the government rationalize this by providing a onetime bailout to cover part of their losses, with the stipulation that these media houses refrain from re-entering the market after being bankrolled. See every government works in its own way. Word is that the Broadcasting Act would be brought now to bring YouTube and similar platforms under its ambit and this is also true that anything and everything is going on in the digital world and at times derogatory posts are made and they go public. So regulations may come, but they won’t be as fierce as in other nations of the world.

• The word in relevant political circles is that a meeting occurred between PM Narendra Modi and RSS top leadership in Nagpur after the first phase of the election. What was it about?
  I have heard about it. Perhaps when he went to Nagpur he may have gone to meet Mohan Bhagwat and others since RSS is the parent organisation. Since he went after the first phase they must have discussed the low voter turnout and both sides must have expressed concern over it. Modi may have asked for RSS workers to come out in the field.

• In a recent interview, BJP chief JP Nadda said that every organisation and every institution have their own area of work. What is your take on it?
  It is a serious and policy-related matter which must have been done with the prior tactical approval of the top leadership. Looking at Nadda’s simplicity, loyalty and his wisdom, it does not appear that he may have said so on his own accord, rather this is a policy statement. It appears to be a turning point in the relationship between RSS and BJP, however, the turning point need not be negative. Nadda clearly said that in the beginning we were incompetent, we were small and hence we needed RSS help, but now we are a big organisation, and BJP does its own work. Indirectly, in layman’s terms, it means that now they do not require RSS. No one refuted this statement or gave a counter remark, neither did the government, nor the RSS say anything and there was pin drop silence over it. Gulab Kothari wrote in the newspaper that the timing was not correct for this to have been said since it was the election period. Dainik Bhaskar said that BJP and RSS are on two different crossroads and another newspaper Rashtradoot said that BJP and RSS are like a swan with two necks and if one neck is damaged, the swan will die. So if BJP and RSS have become distanced due to this, it is unfortunate because the nation needs both of them and both are committed and working towards nationbuilding. Ram Madhav has correctly said that it is only ‘kite flying’ since RSS is committed to nation-building and it is not correct to drag RSS into electoral politics. It is worrisome and hence one can only hope that if there are some gaps, then bridges should be built and issues should be talked over, if any. Both should work together since the nation needs them. BJP and RSS both have a role to play in the agenda of developed India.

• It is being said in a hushed voice that if somehow Modi doesn’t get the required number of 272 for the majority, then RSS may project some other leader. Is that possible?
  This is the hope of a handful of people who want that Modi should not be the leader of the nation. They have been hoping for it for the past two tenures but their wishes remain unanswered. These include some politicians, media persons, and even a few leaders from the BJP could be there. But truth be told, there is no one today who is in a situation to dictate terms to Narendra Modi, and here I am not making this remark towards RSS. Modi is the focal point of power today and he has the support of 140 crore Indians. He is a born leader. As far as RSS is concerned, I would like to say with utmost humility that it was Narendra Modi who fulfilled the RSS dreams. Be it related to abrogation of Article 370, for which Modi had gone to Lal Chowk to hoist the Tricolor in 1991, or the Ram Mandir, or UCC and now talks are on regarding the Krishna Temple or the Viksit Bharat or the dream of making BJP the largest political party of the world, who fulfilled all those dreams? It was Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. So, who can tell Modi to step down? Who has this moral authority, courage and conviction to do so? Even if the BJP gets only 150 seats, then also no one can ask him to step down from leadership. It would be illogical and unethical to say this but this is a narrative which is being built by a handful of individuals, but it is completely wrong and thus I have given you the counter answer to this narrative. There is no one in the nation today who can tell Narendra Modi to step down, be it an individual or an organisation and here I don’t mean RSS. I am not trying to belittle the authority of the Opposition, but if they have any differences then sort them out by mutual discussions, but do not disturb the progress of the nation.

• Some people say that Modi is like glassware which once broken would not be reassembled again. Who do people say this? Is there any problem between RSS and BJP?
  You have summed it up nicely. I have also maintained that he should not be disturbed by trivial matters. He has a free hand to achieve results, and that is the prime requisite for achieving your targets. Modi and Shah have been able to attain so much because they had a free hand from their parent organisation, their allies and their peers. Chief Ministers had faith in him hence he could achieve what he did. Modi, if he gets irritated, might head to the ascetic life and leave all this behind in an instant. Then perhaps one day you will hear that just like Subhash Chandra Bose, Modi would be seen in Kolkata and no one would know for sure since he chose to leave all the worldly things behind. So my suggestion is that he should not be disturbed since it is national leadership, and support should be extended to him so that nation can move ahead. I am not their spokesperson, but the facts and reality need to be said.

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