lK Advani spells out the mantra for success
Bharatiya Janata Party's leaders and the cadre must put into immediate action Mr lK Advani's advice that, instead of repeatedly highlighting the failures of the disastrous UPA regime, they should vociferously defend and explain to the people the merits of the strong measures that the Narendra Modi-led Government has been taking to revive governance and the economy. The veteran BJP leader, who speaks from decades of experience in public life and many years into Government, knows well how public goodwill gained over years of hard work can be soon lost if the Government fails to communicate its policies and programmes. This is especially relevant in the present context since Prime Minister Modi has hinted at tough measures which his Government would be taking in the coming months in a bid to set the fiscal and executive houses in order. The regime has already made a beginning — the executive has perked up with the decision-making process back on track; the dignity of the Prime Minister's Office has been restored; and, the non-populist decision to hike rail passenger fares has been taken. These measures have to be sold effectively to the people, otherwise the chances of the Government's rivals twisting the decisions to present them in bad light, are always real. The Opposition has begun doing just that — it is criticising the Government for taking ‘the anti-people' decision to increase rail fares, trying to belittle institutions by seeking the resignation of Governors, interfering in the affairs of autonomous bodies like Delhi University, and converting the PMO into a dictatorial outfit. Similar attacks are certain to follow once the Budget is presented, more so if it lives up to the expectation of administering strong doses to shore up the economy. People are willing to give the Modi regime a reasonable amount of time for tangible changes to show, and they will be satisfied so long as the unpopular decisions that it takes for the larger good of the country in the medium and short term, are credibly explained to them. The Government must not allow the perception to gain ground that it had promised far more than it has the ability to deliver.
One principal reason why the Congress-led UPA regime had lost the confidence of the people was that it simply failed to communicate. Worse was the fact that it had frittered away the trust of the people through its spineless conduct in the face of massive scams which broke out during its tenure. The public thereafter refused to believe in anything that the Government promised or the measures it took, some of which may have in different circumstances been seen in a less negative light. The Modi Government must learn from those mistakes and make full use of the faith which the people have reposed in its ability to deliver. As mentor and guide of the BJP, Mr Advani has given his advice. The party and the Government cannot afford to ignore it.