Desk Report,
Are Modi’s days coming to an end in India’s power?
Is the grip of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah on the BJP loosening a bit due to internal and external pressure? Is this the first time the Prime Minister is facing the biggest crisis in 11 years? These questions are being hotly debated in the halls of power.
Are Modi’s days coming to an end in India’s power?
The Prime Minister himself has fueled speculation. Otherwise, why would Modi hint at ‘paying a high price personally’ at a meeting organized to mark the birth centenary of agricultural scientist and father of India’s Green Revolution, M.S. Swaminathan?
The meeting was organized at a time when India is in a tight tug-of-war with the United States over a trade agreement. When President Trump is imposing tariffs on every country in the world at will. Just before Modi addressed the meeting, Trump announced that he would impose a total tariff of 50 percent on Indian products.
The United States has been trying to expand the agricultural market in India for a long time. There is also a lot of discussion about whether India will give any concessions to the United States in the agricultural sector to avoid additional tariffs. In that atmosphere, Modi said that he would not do anything that would harm the interests of farmers and that the country’s livestock breeders and fishermen would face tough competition. While saying that, he said, ‘I know that I may have to pay a high price for this. I am ready for that. But I will not let the interests of farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen be harmed.’ Politics has been in a state of turmoil since then. Why did Modi hint at paying a personal price? What did he mean? What does a high price mean? Leaving power? Politics is abuzz with these speculations. Political observers believe that Modi has at least made it clear that he is not very comfortable.
The Prime Minister is not comfortable for many reasons. Or, in other words, strong pressure from home and abroad has taken away his comfort.
Trump is cornering Modi in domestic politics by repeatedly asserting his role in ending the recent war. Even today, the Modi government is unable to figure out how to stop that demand. In this situation, the burden of 50 percent tariff is pressing down. What is the way out, Modi still does not know.
External pressure is definitely from his friend Donald Trump. The way he has imposed the highest tariff on ‘friend’ India to make the United States great again and is increasing the irony of ‘best ally’ Modi is unexpected. Kashmir and Pakistan have always been sensitive to India. India does not tolerate any third party mediation in this matter. This has been the policy for many years.
Trump is cornering Modi in domestic politics by repeatedly asserting his role in ending the recent war. Even today, the Modi government is unable to understand how to stop that demand. In this situation, the burden of 50 percent tariff is pressing down. What is the way out, Modi still does not know.
Along with this serious external pressure, internal problems are growing. The main problem is the pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Sangh is no longer willing to give the license to let the BJP run as per the wishes of Modi-Shah. Because of this, the Modi-Shah duo has not been able to choose the BJP’s All India President yet. The term of the expired President JP Nadda is being extended repeatedly. The Sangh wants the people they like, Modi wants them. The tension continues even today.
An even bigger pressure is the question of whether Narendra Modi will remain as the Prime Minister when he turns 75. In 2014, after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi removed everyone above 75 and made them the party’s ‘Margdarshak’ (advisor). Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Singh, Yashwant Sinha had to step down. Will Modi apply that rule to himself this time? This is not just a question, it is also pressure. The pressure is being given by the Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat himself. He is also reminding us of it in various ways.
At an event last July, Mohan Bhagwat had said that if someone gets a shawl as a gift after turning 75, then it means he should step down now. Let others do their work. Mohan Bhagwat is only six days older than Narendra Modi. Bhagwat will turn 75 on September 11 this year, Modi on September 17. If Bhagwat retires, it will be an additional pressure on Modi.
At an event last July, Mohan Bhagwat had said that if someone gets a shawl as a gift when they turn 75, then the money should go away now. Let others do their work. Mohan Bhagwat is only six days older than Narendra Modi. Bhagwat will turn 75 on September 11 this year, Modi on September 17. If Bhagwat retires, it will be an additional pressure on Modi.
At this very time, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had to step down unexpectedly. That too because of his lack of rapport with Modi-Shah, which is no secret today. Till date, no Vice President of India has had to step down in such a dishonorable manner. Dhankhar had lost Modi’s trust so much that even though Parliament was in session, he was not even given a farewell reception. Yet, Modi himself had drawn Dhankhar closer. He was the one who made him the Governor of West Bengal. Also the Vice President.
Modi also appointed Satyapal Malik as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. That Satyapal started opposing Modi’s policies openly for various reasons. This time Dhankhar has become ‘disobedient’. RSS is now strongly objecting to appointing people outside the ideology of the Sangh to important positions. That is why Modi-Shah is unable to choose a candidate of their own choice for the Vice President position, ignoring the Sangh.
This attitude of Modi-Shah towards the two Jat leaders has angered the Jat community. Last Friday, the party expelled Krishnakumar Janu, a Jat leader from Rajasthan and spokesperson of the BJP, for six years after he questioned this. There is widespread unrest in the Jat community of Rajasthan, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh over this.
When a loose fist is released, it is reflected in various ways. Satyapal Malik died recently. He was in the BJP for 22 years. He was the Governor of Bihar, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, and Meghalaya. However
