India: Twin Weak Links In Modi Government – OpEd

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Narendra Modi’s government has certainly initiated many praiseworthy steps to tone up the administration and improve governance. The latest is the crop insurance scheme that would go a long way in making the life of farmers a little more secured. Unfortunately, the problem is that the creditable steps of Modi government are not being explained to the people in a convincing way.

Apart from the fact that there is a communication gap between the Modi government and the people, there is certainly disappointment amongst the cross section of countrymen that the corrupt persons are not being caught and exposed and convicted. Many of them are going scot free, and people certainly think that Narendra Modi is not fulfilling his promise to rid the country of corruption which was the highlight of his poll promise during his Parliament election campaign and people were impressed about Modi’s claim of commitment to fight against corruption.

Obviously, the Finance Ministry which should investigate and haul the tax evaders and corrupt persons, is not rising up to the expectations of the nation. Suspicions are rising that Finance Ministry is going soft on certain people and perhaps quite a number of them in the opposition parties. It appears Subramaniam Swamy is doing more work to expose the corrupt elements than the Finance Ministry.

The media is making all sorts of vague allegations and increasingly voicing views instead of news. The information ministry has to communicate its stand to the media and to the people through media much more effectively and convincingly. The govt has to necessarily challenge the motivated media personnel who make observations almost irresponsibly. One gets the impression that the Information Ministry is conspicuous by its absence.

These two weak links namely Finance Ministry which is not going after the corrupt people vigorously for whatever reasons and the Information Ministry which is not publicising the progressive work of Modi govt are costing Narendra Modi dearly.

Sooner that Modi looks into this problem and take the necessary corrective measures, it would be good for Modi government and the country.

N. S. Venkataraman

N. S. Venkataraman is a trustee with the "Nandini Voice for the Deprived," a not-for-profit organization that aims to highlight the problems of downtrodden and deprived people and support their cause. To promote probity and ethical values in private and public life and to deliberate on socio-economic issues in a dispassionate and objective manner.

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