Modi’s Central Hall speech was statesman-like
On Tuesday at the Central Hall of Parliament, Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi demonstrated with telling effect why he is called a master communicator. During his speech to leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party from across the country — Members of Parliament and Chief Ministers among them — Mr Modi moved them to tears, brought smiles on their faces, raised hopes of a bright future for the country, asserted that his Government would not fail even the poorest of the poor, and showered fulsome praise on party workers and veteran leaders who had helped him in his epic journey. Millions of Indians here and abroad who watched him speak in the venerated Central Hall, including his critics, cannot but acknowledge that he stirred the collective conscience of the nation. It's been long since a leader has so effectively connected with the people. From the time he touched his forehead in reverence to the steps leading to Parliament to the moment he broke down and could not speak for a few seconds when he was responding to praise from party veteran lK Advani, the Prime Minister-elect showed the country a soft side to his personality that few had encountered before in public. The man of steel, the iron man, had tears in his eyes. He seemed genuinely overwhelmed, not just by the massive mandate the voters had given and the rousing affection of his seniors and party workers, but also by the fact that he, an individual from the humblest origins, was the focus of attraction in what is the Temple of Democracy and in a hall that has a history. But, apart from these moments of emotional outpouring, what stands out is the statesman-like speech that Mr Modi delivered. There was no hint of arrogance or negative pride, nor biting sarcasm or unbridled aggression that had been his hallmark during the election campaign. In fact, he went to the extent of giving credit to the earlier Governments for the “good work” they had done within the means that were available to them, saying that he did not wish to criticise them in this hour of triumph. The clear message he was sending out is that he wished to work in collaboration with the entire political spectrum in the larger interests of the country. Contrast this maturity with the cussedness of the Congress whose senior-most leaders have not shown the basic courtesy of personally congratulating Mr Modi for his victory and for becoming the next Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister-elect's repeated emphasis that his Government will be for the poor, will listen to the poor, and work for the uplift of the poor, has pulled the rug from under the Congress's feet. The Congress had run a malicious campaign that Mr Modi represented big business interests and had no concern for the less privileged. Of course, results show that neither the poor nor the rich nor anybody else in any meaningful number had believed in the Congress propaganda. Mr Modi’s confident assertion that his Government will not let anybody down and that his report card will be before the people five years down the line, is in keeping with his known commitment to accountability. Now Mr Modi must pick the threads from Tuesday's historic speech and get cracking. On May 26, he takes oath as the country's Prime Minister. From all accounts, he has already hit the ground running. His critics must give him ample space to perform and put on leash criticism till the time it is due.