As PM picks new battle, Congress points to record Modi targets Opposition with corruption and nepotism jibe

During Independence Day speech, Prime Minister seeks people’s blessings in his 'decisive battle' to weed evils out Narendra Modi at the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.  

Narendra Modi at the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. 

PTI J.P. Yadav   |   New Delhi   |  16.08.22  : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday carried his political campaign against the Congress and regional parties to the ramparts of the Red Fort, listing “bhrashtachar” (corruption) and “parivarvad” (nepotism) as the two big challenges before the country in his Independence Day speech.

He sought the people’s blessings in his “decisive battle” to weed these evils out, wrapping up what increasingly sounded like an election speech.

Modi devoted the better part of the speech, which lasted over an hour, to conjuring the dream of a “developed India” in the next 25 years, the period he calls “Amrit Kal”. The political punch came at the end.

“Corruption is hollowing the country out like termites. I want to wage a decisive battle against it, speed up the drive (against the corrupt), take it to a decisive juncture,” Modi said, sometimes wagging a finger in warning, sometimes clenching his fist as a mark of his determination.

“Bless me, my 130 crore compatriots, I need your support. I have come today to seek your support so that I can wage this battle.”

The BJP has been wielding the graft and “dynasty” planks as sticks to beat the Congress and most regional parties with, often using the central probe agencies to target their leaders and tarnish them as corrupt.

Regional parties, many of them led by political dynasts, have become hurdles to the BJP’s plans to expand into newer areas ahead of the 2024 general election.

Among them are the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the DMK, which rule Telangana and Tamil Nadu, the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and the ruling Trinamul Congress in Bengal – the latest Opposition party to face the wrath of the central agencies.

Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United has now joined the list, having dumped the NDA to tie up with the RJD, Congress and the Left, and leaving the BJP miffed and feeling “betrayed”.

Modi seemed aware that he might be accused of using the Independence Day address to run an election campaign, and sought to put himself in the clear.

“When I talk about bhai-bhatijavad, parivarvad (nepotism, dynastic politics), people feel I am doing politics. Not at all. Unfortunately, this evil in politics has helped foster nepotism in every field,” he said.

He said “parivarvad” had gripped every institution, causing the talented to be deprived and fostering corruption. He called for a “collective battle”.

“In politics, too, dynasty has done the most injustice to the country’s strength. Dynastic politics is only for the welfare of a family and has no interest in the country’s welfare,” he said.

“So, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, with pride in the Tricolour and while remembering the Constitution of the country, I call upon the people to come forward and rid politics and other institutions of nepotism.”

Modi has many times in recent weeks flagged dynastic politics as harmful for democracy, indicating that this could be big campaign plank for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

It’s widely expected that after Bengal, the central probe agencies would now turn their attention to Bihar.

The Opposition has been alleging “political vendetta” behind the central agencies’ raids, but Modi focused on the cash seizures.

“While some people have no money, there are people who are finding it difficult to hide their money,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Modi had spoken of five pledges or “Panch Pran” that would be pursued over the next 25 years.

He outlined the five pledges: turning India into a developed country, removing any trace of the colonial mindset, taking pride in the country’s legacy, strengthening unity, and doing one’s duty as a citizen.

Modi also made a pitch for gender justice, saying: “We should do nothing that lowers the dignity of women.”

He spoke about giving more opportunity to women in nation-building.

Targeting women as a separate vote bank has been an important facet of the BJP’s political strategy.