A rational speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again extended a conciliatory hand towards the people of Kashmir valley selectively, acknowledging that bullets or abuses will not help resolve their problems and a change needs to take place by embracing all Kashmiris, was a significant aspect of his Independence Day address yesterday. This should set at rest speculation that his government is set to remove in any precipitate action the special status that Kashmir enjoys. However, he took the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions in state of Jammu and Kashmir for granted as all the central governments have been doing in the past thus undermining the genuine aspiration of both these distinct regions from the hegemony of Kashmir valley.

At the same time, however, he made it clear unambiguously that national security is a priority for the government and there will be no soft approach towards terrorists or terrorism. In a veiled warning to China on Doklam, Modi asserted that India is capable of tackling any kind of security challenge, be it the sea or borders.

Alluding to his resolve to curb black money as reflected in past promises, Modi said demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes last November had helped bring over Rs 3 lakh crore of hitherto unaccounted wealth into the banking system. He said over Rs 1.75 lakh crore had been deposited in banks post note-ban and more than 18 lakh people with disproportionate income were under government scrutiny. ‘Those who have looted the nation and looted the poor are not able to sleep peacefully today,' the Prime Minister said, vowing to continue the welcome crackdown on black money.

Yet, there is an inescapable impression that his government spares big moneybags. Talking about rollout of GST on 1 July, Modi said it was a key illustration of cooperative federalism. He said abolition of inter-state check-posts after the implementation of GST has reduced time for movement of goods by 30 per cent and saved thousands of crores of rupees. Modi's advice to people to shed the ‘chalta hai' attitude was well meaning indeed and needs to be acted upon.

‘Violence in the name of faith is not acceptable in the country,' Modi said while invoking Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Buddha. ‘Bharat Jodo' (connect India) should be the slogan like ‘Bharat chhodo‘ (Quit India) was during the freedom struggle, he said. The Prime Minister also referred to the issue of ‘triple talaq', saying he stood with women who had to lead a pitiable life because of it and appreciated the movement which has created an environment in the country against the practice. Modi asserted that in ‘new India', people would be the driving force behind the establishment rather than the other way around. He lamented that democracy has been confined to ballots.