Narendra Modi vs. Rahul Gandhi
What do their maiden speeches in the 18th Lok Sabha, as well as the dramatic role reversal in their popularity, reveal about these two leaders who matter the most in the new political reality of India?
[Left] The verdict of the Indian voters seems to suggest that they are tired of PM Modi’s “divide and rule” along religious lines. (Photo: Instagram @narendramodi).
The scene was far from pretty during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha that ended in early July. The political acrimony between the ruling NDA and the opposing INDIA coalition, and more specifically between PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi, has continued to spiral since the much-debated maiden speeches of both in the opening sessions of the Parliament. In this new chapter of coalition government in India, many may find entertainment in what seems to have turned into a spectator sport. However, it is troubling for those who view it from the only filter that matters: where is the nation headed with these leaders at the helm?
Under the circumstances, it is easy to fall into a cynical submission that all politicians are alike in their posturing and partisan bickering. At first glance, it certainly seemed that way to those who watched Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, and Narendra Modi, the prime minister, deliver their maiden speeches in the Lok Sabha. But, even as both seemed to have launched an all-out attack on the other, there was a profound difference between the two.
Rahul Gandhi’s forceful deconstruction of Modi was framed around the grave issues affecting the country: the extreme politicization of religion, NEET (long standing corruption in medical entrance exams that has become endemic), Agniveer (playing fast and loose with the Indian armed forces), widespread unemployment, the plight of farmers, and the long-ignored ethnic violence in Manipur, among others. He cautioned against the dangers of leaders spreading hate and fearmongering, and he did so by drawing on inspiring examples from all major religions. He concluded by extending a hand of support to Modi, emphasizing that the opposition is “sincerely here to make your work easier” to “take the country forward.”
In stark contrast, Modi’s response was a brazenly uncouth and vitriolic characterization of Rahul Gandhi, portraying him as clueless, infantile, and amateurish. Considering that none of these allegations were backed by anything substantial or credible, Modi’s attack on Gandhi was akin to the name-calling that children indulge in during a classroom fight.
Modi has every right to highlight Gandhi’s deficiencies, but this exercise can only be legitimate if done in the context of the nation’s issues. Since he failed to do that, his speech became nothing but a long diatribe of personal vilification of a political adversary. Far from shining as a visionary leader, Modi behaved like an authoritarian who was livid that someone had dared to hold him accountable.
Chaiwala vs. a beneficiary of nepotism?
According to popular narratives, Modi rose from a humble chaiwala to become the prime minister, while Gandhi is the “shehzada” who rode on dynastic politics. Of course, then, who better than Modi to understand the plight of the aam aadmi, right?
Ironically, our urban legends are often diametrically opposed to the underlying reality behind them. Even a casual observer of Gandhi’s ideological and political positions would see a bleeding-heart liberal who has consistently aligned himself with the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed. Through his two Bharat Jodo yatras, Gandhi transformed himself from just a politician into a national leader who values a real connection with people from all strata of society.
In contrast, Modi created an oligarchic capitalism that disproportionately favors the Adanis and the Ambanis. He instinctively gravitates toward power, wealth, and special interests. He has repeatedly demonstrated an astonishing level of insensitivity to the plight of the people, whether it is farmers committing suicide, students whose lives are destroyed by leaking test papers, or the citizens dying by the dozens in ethnic violence in Manipur. His sustained silence and passivity on these grave issues affecting millions of lives borders on callousness.
Idealism vs. arrogance
The core and striking difference between the two is that Rahul Gandhi is driven by idealism, while Modi can be defined by his communal mindset, arrogance, and, of late, his increasing desperation. This is particularly unfortunate because, unlike a vacuously incorrigible demagogue like Donald Trump, Modi has the potential to be a transformational leader—if not dragged down by his Hindu Rashtra agenda and his “I am the chosen one” God complex.
[Right] Through his relentless visitations with the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed, Rahul Gandhi has risen like a phoenix, firmly establishing himself as a leader of the people, by the people, for the people.
Indeed, many of Modi’s initiatives, such as the Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Make in India, the infrastructure initiatives, and Digital India, even when not perfectly executed, have, arguably, done some good. Psychologically, his assertive style has helped Indians shed their inferiority complex, especially in a geopolitical and global context.
Yet, Modi stands to be judged by history unkindly because the risks of his administration far outweigh the accomplishments: a communally–divided country, an authoritarian disposition where dissent is not only not tolerated but aggressively squelched, a push towards a police state that suppresses and oppresses law-abiding citizens on spurious grounds, and the intent to tamper with the Constitution to fundamentally change the country’s charter from a secular one into a Hindu Rashtra.
Who “won” the election, and what do the people of India want?
Modi and the BJP have been fervently trying to deny to the world, and perhaps more so to themselves, that they suffered a setback in the elections. They keep harping about Modi’s “historic” third term and the fact that they still hold more seats in Parliament. But what really matters are the hard-core ground realities that have changed: BJP has lost its majority status and, with it, its authoritarian power!
Modi seems to be in denial of their massive losses, most spectacularly in Ayodhya, the epicenter of his Hindutva agenda. The verdict of the Indian voters seems to be clear: they are tired of the BJP’s “divide and rule” along religious lines, its emphasis on sloganeering in place of substance, its continued disregard for the burning issues of the nation, and its arrogant and authoritarian ways.
The people hope that the leaders across the coalition government will collectively move the country forward instead of being mired in political gamesmanship. Gandhi, while certainly quite spirited in his role as opposition leader, nevertheless seems more willing and capable of doing that. We hope Modi will surprise us and get on board with the business of taking India forward.
Parthiv N. Parekh is the Editor-in-Chief of Khabar magazine.
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