By Aditya Aamir
What do you say if the decision to cancel the UNGA meet with Pakistan is compared with Smriti Irani’s attempt to trample on freedom of expression with her diktat to PIB and mainstream media? In both cases Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to step in as “saviour”. Irani pounced on the Press at the midnight hour. PM Modi intervened the next morning to restore order though it is lore that no decision could be taken without the Prime Minister’s okay!
Ditto, the UNGA meet decision. Thursday, MEA announced that EAM Sushma Swaraj will be meeting Pakistan’s foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of UNGA in New York. Friday, after a national uproar, Prime Minister Modi rescinded the decision. EAM Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told media in an appropriately stern voice.
The decision to rescind the UNGA “meet” also brings to mind demonetization and GST. That is because ‘behaviour’ is repeated. And bad behaviour is repeated until punished. Demonetization was launched without preparation and bad behaviour got punished. Similarly, GST, which took off at the midnight hour, a “tryst” some people say was only half-ready!
The point is MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar had to eat crow the day after because Prime Minister Modi has a habit of stepping in at the last moment to correct mistakes committed by overenthusiastic cabinet ministers. That said whoever propagated the myth Modi is an authoritarian should be banned from eating Cheetos for the rest of his God-given life.
The reality is, if BJP spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra is to be believed, PM Modi is supremely confident of his ministers in taking decisions and, if they make a mistake, quick to correct by stepping right in. It’s not for nothing that loads of people think of him as “saviour” and his ratings outstrip the also-ran.
But this latest step-in was a close shave. Foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will meet on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York was typically interesting data. More so, after Junior EAM Gen VK Singh and Senior EAM Sushma Swaraj made it plain that talking with “puppet” Imran Khan’s Pakistan was out of the question. Just you dare propose and see how we dispose!
Hells bells, two very tough ministers, lady and general! Then out of the blue landed Imran’s letter: “Dear Mr Prime Minister Modi, let us talk. Please.” And the next thing we know, Raveesh is announcing it to the world. “Talk what?” asked media. Raveesh retorted: “That’s not decided, yet.” He’s of course not a victim of short-term amnesia. Ghajini!
It would be interesting to know whose fingerprints are on the note that gave the thumbs-up to the UNGA meeting. For four plus years it’s been drummed into bhakts – BJP’s base – that India, if it talks to Pakistan, will only do it over the dead body of “Pak-sponsored terror”, plain and simple.
‘No talks until terror stops’ was the Modi government’s calling card and that was not stop-gap policy, pretty much permanent like a successful arranged marriage. But enters Greek God Imran Khan and the vow’s broken. Thursday HMV says, “We’ll meet at UNGA and then we’ll see.”
Two-thirds of the media broke out in raucous indignation, one-third in silent approval. A couple of TV anchors asked: “How could you? Especially after another of our brave soldiers was killed and his body mutilated by the ugly Pakistanis. No sir, if this is right, then you were being downright silly for four and a half years. The message was loud and clear: You’re gonna regret it. The media get it but you cannot, such a pity!
Social Media chambers echoed. Congress party’s vociferous questioning and even Amit Shah heard. Under normal circumstances nobody would have had the guts to tell Shah bad news. It would be like Sholay and ‘Ab Tera Kya Hoga Kaalia.’ But this was grave.
The party’s base was on fire and it was not because it was pining to vote for Modi! ‘Bhakts’ sizzled like a Thai dish on a wooden wok! Angry like hell at the betrayal. The BJP base went to bed with heavy heart Thursday night.
But midnight oil must have burned at BJP headquarters. With first light the BJP woke up to reality. The party was not popular like it was the week before. Something had to be done, and quick. The world liked it. The USA of Trump did somersaults at the State Department. “Good Man, great dude,” it was gush a minute at the “messages being exchanged between PM Khan and PM Modi.”
But in New Delhi, by Friday afternoon it was messy and Messi! Talks with Pakistan was a football getting kicked around and the boots were on the other foot. The Congress was going all guns booming at the abject pusillanimity. “How can they talk to Pakistan? Unacceptable.” Congress spokespersons went to town with the rhetoric and the message finally hit home: Time to call in the ‘Saviour’.
Viola! No UNGA meet after all. Raveesh Kumar revealed the “true face of Imran Khan”. Three unarmed J&K policemen had been killed in the Valley and that was serious. So, forget the world, Trump and Xi. It was time to rollback. Pullback. So, like with Irani’s assault on Freedom of Expression, PM Modi stepped up to the plate. Crucial decisions could not be left to Senior EAM and Junior EAM. It was imperative for PM to intervene and intervene he did. Phew! It was a close shave. “Thank you Mr Prime Minister,” the anchor spoke for the nation! (IPA Service)
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