The Silent Prime Minister and the Silence of the Lambs

The Silent Prime Minister and his favourite “Mann ki Baat”  is gradually turning into a “Maun ki Baat”. Let me explain! The Indian Prime Minister has started a series called Mann ki Baat where he addresses the entire nation on radio. Mann means mind while baat means dialogue. So, it’s a dialogue of the mind.

But Maun means keeping silent. And gradually our PM in his second term is becoming the Silent Prime Minister. As an elected representative of this country, the PM is answerable to the citizens of the country. However, the  Prime Minister decides to keep silent on some burning issues impacting the country.

He has a pack of wolves who keep attacking any voice of dissent but the Prime Minister has taken a vow to keep silent. The strategy adopted by the PM Office is the flotilla strategy of the naval world. The strategy is about a mother ship being surrounded by a flotilla of 3-4 warships. To reach the mother-ship the enemy has to first face the flotilla. In our case, if a common citizen, media or an opposition directs a question towards the PM, the answers are given not by him. Instead a flotilla of Ministers like Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sambit Patra will answer to it.

I don’t know if this is a legacy issue. Even our earlier Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh went into a silent phase in his second term. I am raising some direct questions to the PM which as an honest taxpayer of the country, I have a right to know.

The Oil Prices have crashed and still not a penny passed to the citizens

Dear Silent Prime Minister, Globally the oil prices have crashed and a couple of months back Brent crude was at the US $25 per barrel. But still, we citizens ended up buying petrol at Rs 72-73 per litre. The Centre and the State Government raised excise taxes and pocketed the entire savings in the name of generating funds to fight the pandemic. I know for sure that petrol prices are now market-linked but then why is the government still controlling it.

Just by keeping silent, it doesn’t mean that you can take the people who voted for you for a ride. On the other hand, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister has gone missing as if he has no responsibility for answering to the citizens of this country. I don’t understand how these people become cabinet ministers and assume such important responsibilities without any accountability.

The Petrol prices are rising every alternate day since June and today in Delhi is priced at Rs 80.43 per litre.

The Migrant Labour problem

During the lockdown phase at home in April and May, we witnessed thousands of migrant labour walking back to their home. It was painful to see the backbone of urban India with their backs facing the wall. Carrying personal belongings on their heads, walking on roads with small kids under the harsh summer sun, the pain was visible on their face. The Lucky ones could manage a lift on their way while few of the unlucky ones met with accidents.

The government authorities tried their best initially to stop them from moving out of cities fearing the spread of the virus. But with no money to pay for rent and food, the poor labour decided to set on foot for his hometown. Still, our Silent Prime Minister preferred to keep quiet. 

When the PM appeared on television a whole lot of people including me expected him to accept the problem of  of migrant labour. But the Silent Prime Minister preferred talking about lockdown and extended lockdown. He ignored that they have a problem of migrant labour at hand and that they are trying to resolve it. It was more the initiative of the state governments like UP, Bihar, Orissa that the problem was addressed. Meanwhile, nobody heard a word from the Labour Minister. Many may not be aware that we have a Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar heading Ministry of Labour and Employment with an independent charge.

Job losses a big challenge for the Silent Prime Minister

Industry after Industry is announcing lay-offs. Aviation, Tourism, Hospitality, Media, Manufacturing and so many more are in bad shape. The fear of the virus spreading and the lockdown and the social distancing norms have taken the fizz out of corporate India. The middle class has been impacted the most but unfortunately, the middle class in India has never got any recognition from the government. People who have lost jobs are at a loss of word of how to explain it to their families.

The US government has supported citizens who have lost their jobs by transferring funds into their account. On the other hand, the European government is compensating organisations by bearing the salaries of employees who are on furlough though for a temporary period.

Even your government had announced a Rs 20,000 lakh crore bail-out package for the industry but we all know that it’s a big eyewash. The only successful scheme implemented by your govt has been for the poor. Money has been transferred into their accounts by direct transfer and also they have been provided free ration now extended till the end of the year.

What has the middle class got except a loan moratorium of housing EMI’s? The Indian banks who act like the Kanhaiya Lal of Mother India movie are going to charge interest over interest. The middle class, like the poor farmer, will never be able to pay the principal as the interest will keep piling on.

The Silent Prime Minister will be questioned by the leader of the Opposition

Every time the leader of opposition raises a question to your government, he is labelled as an anti-national or anti-secular. I think he deserves more respect from your cabinet ministers, Mr. Silent Prime Minister. Whenever the opposition raises a question, it should be considered as the voice of a common citizen and not as a party who wants to destabilise you.

He has raised questions on the petrol price hike recently. It’s not for his benefit. It’s for the entire population. If he has raised issues on the recent border clashes, please answer with clarity rather than making fun of him. Because when you answer to him, remember we are listening and even we want to listen to the official government stand.

A world that has become very vocal through social media interaction would love a vocal government. There is no point hiding behind a mask in the name of protection. We would love to see a more transparent and proactive government.

Wishing you all the best for the next 4 years of governance. Hope you will break your silence soon Mr. Silent Prime Minister. It’s time you respect your people and respect your opposition just the way Mr. Vajpayee did.

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