Is Arun Shourie disputing various schemes by Modi’s ?
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]A[/dropcap]run Shourie was a World Bank Economist, Executive Editor in Indian Express penning many fiery investigative articles about the excesses during Emergency, and an important former Minister (under Vajpayee) who earned a very good name as efficient and honest, before he retired from active politics, only to return to just before the 2014 Elections.
If the goal of Arun Shourie is to point out the follies of Modi to get Modi to perform better, the thrust of his articles and interviews would have been positive
He has a place in the history of contemporary Indian politics. He was expected to play an important role in the Modi Government, but that was not to be. He has since been one of the staunchest critics of Modi.
If the goal of Arun Shourie is to point out the follies of Modi to get Modi to perform better, the thrust of his articles and interviews would have been positive, but they are offensive and vitriolic. So, he appears to believe that Modi Government should go, and perhaps we will hear more from him on this in the months and years to come.
Whether Shourie believes a Rahul, Mulayam, Mayawati, Mamta or a Lalu will be a better alternative is not clear. Even if a Nitish were to become an alternative, he can only do so as part of a Mahagatbandhan with these people.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]A[/dropcap]run Shourie’s criticism of Modi as a fascist and being vengeful are at gross variance from the perception of the people; surely, such views are always subjective, and open to question. And so are his beliefs that Modi has failed on all fronts. Shourie believes that Modi has done nothing meaningful in his 3 years in office. I have a counter-narrative in the form of this article: No Achhe Din, Yet Modi’s Popularity Is Rising; Why? ( https://www.pgurus.com/no-achhe-din-yet-modis-popularity-rising/ )
People believe Shourie’s views are substantially different from what they see and experience in their own lives, and so reject his views. He may believe that people are too naive to know and try to mobilise ‘liberal’ intelligentsia and media to educate the people. Though I believe people would still reject such out-of-sync views, it is also necessary for those who disagree with Shourie to keep countering them at every opportunity. Just as he has a right to tell, the others have an equal right to rebut. We may be called bakths (though it is not true), so what?
Coming to the successes of Modi Government, aam aadmi has benefitted from 24X7 electricity even in remote villages, easy low-cost Mudra loans (which has translated into some kind of subsistence income for the 8 crore beneficiaries), Jan Dhan bank accounts for everyone, Rupay Cards, subsidised LED bulbs, free cooking gas connections to 2 crore poor families, Beti Bachao – Beti Padao scheme, toilets through Swachh Bharat, women as beneficiaries of many Government schemes, financial aid to pregnant women, doing away with interviews for Class 3 and 4 jobs, etc.
Though schemes for the farmers such as e-Nam, mandis, neem coated urea (ensuring availability of urea to genuine farmers), low premium crop insurance etc are beneficial, a lot more needs to be done given the enormity of the farmers’ problems. The Government is aware of this and is working seriously on this. Implementation of OROP for defence services is also a huge accomplishment.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]here are other successes and work-in-progress which are not individual-centric, but community and nation-centric, like GST, low-cost housing, highways to rural roads improving road connectivity, Sagarmala and Bharatmala, expansion of airports, railways, smart cities, broadband connectivity and more.
Increased fillip to FDI in Defence and other high end sectors, lower income tax rates for MSMEs, self-certification of documents at application stage, Insolvency & Bankruptcy laws are other important accomplishments.
Transparent e-auctions of coal and spectrum, and infrastructure development projects and other public procurement policies have minimised big ticket corruption; so, Modi has ensured his Council of Ministers are seen as fairly clean.
Is Arun Shourie disputing all these?
No one says Modi has brought in ‘ache din’ or he could not have done more. With all his imperfections, Modi is the best bet we have today for PM. No other leader with a similar vision without personal motives is around. The moment most leaders in power look at any project, the first thing they think is, “how can I milk it?” In such a backdrop, Shourie’s assessment appears to lack balance and fairness.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]B[/dropcap]e that as it may, Arun Shourie’s elaborate views on Modi were expressed in a recent interview published in the Wire ( https://thewire.in/98900/decentralised-emergency-pyramidal-mafia-state-arun-shourie-modi-sarkar/ ). We’ll critically analyse some of his key criticisms of Modi, and see my counter-narratives.
Arun Shourie is not into social media and doesn’t seem to understand how they work. Modi is unlikely to even know who all he’s following, since it will be a team that would be posting on behalf of Modi
Criticism: Modi is following some trolls of Arun Shourie who made despicable statements about Shourie in social media, and Modi even recruited them into BJP’s IT cell.
Arun Shourie is not into social media and doesn’t seem to understand how they work. Modi is unlikely to even know who all he’s following, since it will be a team that would be posting on behalf of Modi, under his broad guidance. Is it possible that due to Shourie’s bias, every action/ inaction of Modi appears intentional?
Criticism: “Just see now in Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Patrika has been denied advertisements by the state government because they wrote something about the central government.”
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]f this is true, it is wrong, though all the political parties have been doing it all the time all these years. So, why single out Modi? No politician has been targeted so much in independent India like Modi. In his place, almost any other politician may have treated their opponents far worse. In any case, how does Shourie know that Modi has instructed Rajasthan Government to do this? When it comes to Modi, is he presumed guilty unless he proves otherwise? Arun Shourie should introspect.
Criticism: It’s a decentralised emergency. What we are going towards is a pyramidal decentralised mafia state, where local goons will belabour anyone whom they think is doing something wrong… (Earlier) I supported V.P. Singh despite the warnings of Chandrashekar, who told Cho Ramaswamy that he’s a very dangerous man…”
If Shourie misjudged V. P. Singh then, is it possible that he’s now misjudging Prannoy Roy & co as clean and denouncing Modi?
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]ncidentally, it has been broadly acknowledged that Cho was a very good judge of people. He didn’t back V.P. Singh, but he backed Modi till his death; he has answered most of Shourie’s objections about Modi in the Tughlak magazine.
Is Shourie justified in using strong words like ‘decentralised emergency’, ‘mafia state’, etc to describe a few sporadic incidents which, in any case, are law & order issues to be handled by states? Are these clear indications that his bias against Modi today is shrouding his eyes?
To be continued…
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People like Arun Shourie and Shatrugan Sinha are unable to accept they have been sidelined and deservedly so . Now they are trying to gain some attention by making a public nuisance of themselves.
Just before the 2014 there was a book release by Arun in chennai on China. Arun was very praising of Modi and in fact if you watch that video you would notice he was lobbying for himself a role after election.
But Modi has displayed full respect to all the seniors including Arun. But Modi might have though he could not drive the oldies as he would want to as Modi wanted NDA to last at the minimum 10 years in order to change the course of the nation. That means this first 5 years need to be done at break neck speed.
In 2014 Modi already had an uphill task in managing opposition, MSM, lack of majority in Upper house, huge problems in NPA etc every economic area was doing badly. On top he needs to take the pranks of all these egoistic seniors would have sapped his energies. If he needs to set direction, he cannot keep seniors as ministers and demand work.
He also has a task to build second level of leaders in the party to sustain the political continuity. People like yogi, Fadnavis etc fall on that category.
Seeing all these Modi has not given rolls to seniors. But these guys are so bent on not thinking others could also do throwing their tantrums.
They are not gracious
Shourie has lost balance as no importance was given to him by the present govt.He was made a minister in Vajpayee’s cabinet as good officer is picked up ,and not because he was a grass roots leader.He expected to be put on a pedestal by Modi govt.,got pissed when ignored.So lost balance and aligned with the mob
Arun Shourie turned rogue the moment I saw him on “Walk the talk” interview with that wheeler dealer sottai thalai way back in 2004.Since then he has been consistent.What might have got his goat and turned him could be the suffering his wife went thro’ and the son to whom he gives constant care.I feel for him,no honest soul should be put thro’ a wringer as he has been.Hope he finds solace, realise his anger has contrived logic which makes no sense.What he is today does not demean what he did in the 1970s,1980s.I will remember him for those deeds.
He has been confused. Watch his interview 4 years ago with Mahdu. He states many issues the bjp took up during the then upcoming election. Then he back tracks on the issues saying they are not important, then they are important. He can’t articulate how to deliver on those issues. Now he is even worse half a decade later.
Aruns perseveration on issues are a strong sign that he is demented. When he talks, just smile politely and walk away.
Sorry to be a bit harsh, but Arun Shourie is past sell-by date.
Right
May be he wants some post to keep shut. When you criticize Modi, we must also know that there is no alternative. Does shoury want return of looting rajya? If at all , the looting rajya comes back, the country try will go back by two decades at least.