Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Modi is a better speaker than PM or Gandhi' that was published in Newsband

Modi is a better speaker than PM or Gandhi

It was clear from his speech during Independence Day at Bhuj that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi seemed intent on drawing all attention to his own self. With his work area extended beyond Gujarat to the national stage, Modi evidently longs to be recognised as the face of the opposition to the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

He used his Independence Day speech in Bhuj to launch a frontal attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He tirelessly picked on those he wanted to rival, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

Modi was criticized for this speech he delivered during I-Day. His critics said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wouldn’t do such a thing during such an auspicious occasion. 

But what these critics fail to understand is that in his new role as prime ministerial challenger, Modi is entitled to hit out at the enemy whenever he gets an opportunity

Modi is a politician and he is quick to jump at any reasonable opportunity to further his political agenda, as all politicians worth their salt do. Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi didn't attack Modi not out of magnanimity, but out of their all too evident lack of oratorial skills.

There obviously was the dismal lack of a vision for the future in the PM's I-day speech, while the I-day speech of Modi got a lot of popularity and also criticism from Congress. Modi did the right thing by criticizing this non-performing government which wrecked the economy and inundated the country with rampant corruption. Modi asked the tough questions and asked for accountability from this government.

Modi didn’t say anything wrong in his speech; all he enunciated was nothing but true; yet his detractors picked hole because of the occasion. Most importantly there is no need to compare the two speeches. PM is a figure head of the organisation and hence his speech on Independence Day cannot consist of criticisms or smell of any ulterior motive and Manmohan Singh maintained the dignity. On the other hand, Modi who is restless and not bound by any moral obligation like PM, pursuing aggressive politics was all right in his speech. More importantly what could be better occasion than 15th August to put facts before country about a failed government? Modi did no wrong in taking pot-shots at government; the propriety of the occasion is not questionable here. Political detractors and dissidents will keep harping on the occasion and scoffing at Modi on flimsy grounds since they too are intimidated by him.

Much is being talked about the propriety or otherwise of Modi's Bhuj speech. Why is there no discussion about the PM's insipid speech year

after year? Independence Day address by the PM has been reduced to the status of a non event in recent years, thanks largely to Mr. Manmohan Singh. Compare the same with other leaders from other countries in similar situations which they use to connect with the people as well as to lay a road-map for the future. None of these can be witnessed from our jaded and fumbling leaders. What Modi's speech has done is to urge for the need to rekindle the glory and importance of the PM's speech on Independence Day.