The BJP has issued a manifesto for the Lok Sabha election underway, and news reports widely suggested that the document carried the stamp of the party’s PM nominee, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Such a proposition can now be said to be in doubt.
In a recent television interview, perhaps the only point to emerge in relation to policy which Mr Modi tried to give body to was in relation to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. While the manifesto rules this out altogether, Mr Modi appeared to keep the prospect open, arguing that a reconsideration was possible if it was felt that FDI in this sector would lead to an enhancement of the manufacturing sector.
This appears a way to keep a foot in the door despite the BJP’s policy pronouncement to the contrary, for the pros and cons of permitting FDI in multi-brand retail have already been discussed threadbare. We do not yet know Mr Modi’s views on a host of key issues, although he often speaks as though he is PM already. Since on the FDI issue noted above the divergence between the Gujarat CM’s position and that of his party’s manifesto has been made plain, it will be interesting to know if there are other questions on which Mr Modi and his party’s manifesto are not on the same wavelength.
Apart from the BJP PM aspirant’s repeated assertions at public meetings that the so-called development model pursued in his state has virtually wrought miracles (this was showed up by Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, who cited data, just the other day), Mr Modi has kept assiduously quiet on his policy premises. He has preferred instead to attack his opponents. Even on the question of black money and corruption, which Congress’ opponents seek to highlight, the BJP leader had little to offer. He has given the impression up till now that he would not like to be subjected to serious questioning on his plans as leader of the government at the Centre and his record in Gujarat.
Perhaps the singular issue on which Mr Modi held forth during the interview was “secularism”, on which he mounted a sustained attack. Seeking to argue his case, he assailed the idea of giving any special aid to any category of Indians. He also went a long way eulogising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), heaping praise on the Hindutva mother-body for being an embodiment of nationalism and selflessness. In the past, commissions of inquiry into communal disturbances have criticised actions of RSS followers, and stalwart BJP leaders at election time have seldom dwelt on the subject.
