Jamal Kidwai: What the COVID-19 Crisis Means for the BJP and Opposition
The content and tone
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest address to the nation were full of
contradictory messages. He tried to sound like a statesman, by reminding the
people about India’s mythology. Bharat’s contribution to yoga and solar power
was foregrounded, he exhorted us to become atmanirbhar and to
be vocal for local. He garnished all this with the announcement of a staggering
Rs 20 lakh crore package.
Yet his speech left
many wondering why he did not mention the migrant worker crisis. He spoke about
the ‘demographic dividend’ when lakhs of poor are helplessly walking on Indian
roads. Modi spoke soon after 16
migrants were crushed by a train near Aurangabad and in the backdrop
of other sufferings that are being revealed daily: a pregnant
woman being wheeled on a makeshift cart, migrants
clashing with the police and more recently, the death
of 24 people in a truck accident in UP.
Some other
developments also indicate that Modi has been uncharacteristically indecisive
and directionless. And in this process, the opposition is getting the
attention, much to the chagrin of BJP supporters. But the big question is
whether the opposition will be able to utilise the opportunity.
Cracks in the BJP: First, the chief
ministers of the opposition-ruled states have been praised for their
administrative skills and compassion. Pinyari Vijayan,
Udhav Thackrey,
Arvind Kejriwal and
others have scored a major political victory over the BJP and NDA ruled states,
which are chaotic and give
contradictory orders.... read more:
https://thewire.in/politics/covid-19-bjp-opposition