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Modi and his ministers avoid media

By Brij Bhardwaj. Dated: 8/1/2014 10:28:18 PM

Style of governing has changed in the national capital. The media finds leaders of BJP who in the past courted media and were on very friendly terms with print and electronic channel have stopped receiving calls or messages from those who were earlier considered friendly and supporters of BJP. The Ministers in the Modi Government no more join media in Central hall of Parliament and under instructions have to spend more time in party offices interacting with party Faithfull's.
Prime Minister has stopped his ministers from canvassing for projects for their constituencies or States they represent. Instead they are expected to send their proposals to Prime Minister Office. Cabinet meetings no more witness free discussions on proposals put up to them for consideration and instead follow the guidelines laid out by Prime Minister, who in turn closely monitor their actions. The ministers cannot go on foreign tours or junkets without clearance. In many cases Ministers were asked to cancel foreign trips at last minute because prior consent had not been obtained.
Despite Prime Minister and his colleagues becoming inaccessible, media has no alternative but to depend on official releases which are controlled. Many of them wonder how the social media has become more important and a tool for educating the public as well as party cadre. The trend set during the elections is being continued after the installation of new Government at the Center.
The official media has suddenly become important as all electronic channels as well as print media has to fall back on using bites or information doled out to them by the Government. Such close monitoring of information in many ways is taking the country back to the days of emergency. The difference being there is no censorship, but leakages as well as access to sources has been denied. In addition opposition is free to speak and occupy the space in the media.
There is also a benefit of legislations like Right to Information, reports of Comptroller of accounts and Audit. Social media also is difficult to control as it is spread widely and newspapers and electronic media has started picking up leads given by the social media. In addition there are attempt by organisations outside BJP but part of Saffron brigade like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena and others to make statements causing embarrassment to BJP leadership.
One wonders how long the present policy of being tight lipped and denying the access to media can work as very soon party will face the task of fighting elections to State Assemblies in Haryana, Maharashtra and other States where local media plays an important role. No one can deny that the media played an important role in victory of BJP and defeat of Congress in 2014 poll to Lok Sabha. It will not take long for the situation to change on the ground.
To start with the results of three by elections to State Assembly in Uttarakhand should be taken as a warning if not an indicator of trend. The poll in 2014 which witnessed total decimation of secular parties and saw a decline in number of members belonging to minority community in Lok Sabha. This was attributed to division of votes of minority community among different parties. The secular parties are aware of the reasons which led to it like division among them and polarisation of voters on religious lines. The agreement between the Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav and Congress in Bihar could change. The situation.
This trend could be followed in other States also. The inability of the Government to control prices of essential items particularly vegetables could hurt image of ruling party. Slogan "Acche Din": which was the war cry of BJP in the poll has now become a call by the opposition to highlight the failures of the Government. Agreed that the present Government inherited difficult situation, but people also cannot be blamed as the campaign by Modi had raised high hopes and there is not much to show on the ground.
In days to come the Government will have to start delivering as it faces a difficult task of controlling prices, reducing deficit and reviving growth of economy. The States also have high expectation from Center. It has to work without touching the big burden of subsidy. Many areas like labour reforms, attracting foreign investment in insurance sector and others policies which BJP opposed in the past may have to be implemented including foreign investment in multi brand trade.