(Image source from: How Narendra Modi is fast becoming Manmohan Singh part 2?})
If under Manmohan Singh, there was deficit of information, under Modi, there is a deficit of dialogue. That's right! The new PM does speak, but always from behind the smokescreen of social media.
Cut to the past, before elections, where Narendra Modi, the candidate, would talk 24x7. The need to talk and communicate was so ardent that there were hologram versions of him that would speak on his behalf, not to forget the chai pe charchas where he would chat up a storm.
The prime minister, Modi, however, has fallen silent. Indeed, he gives long speeches after launching a space rocket, unfailingly tweets about what he told the World Bank president about cleaning the Ganga, talks while releasing a Braille biography of Sardar Patel orconveying best wishes to Team India in the 20th Commonwealth Games.
But when it comes to the raging issues, like Shiv Sena hooliganism or Sania Mirza brouhaha, the prime minister goes mute. Well, for him, these could be non-issues, trivial misunderstandings hyped up by the hyperactive media. That said, his silence, cannot be ignored.
Manmohan Singh’s legendary diffidence made him the butt of all jokes. Even Modi made a few digs at the silence of that lamb. However, going by the current state, even Modi seems to h ave taken a leaf out of Manmohan's book himself. However there is a difference.
While Manmohan's silence was merely an instruction, an order to keep shut, Modi's silence is far more strategic — it's a silence of choice and convenience.
While fanatics say that Modi does not have to speak on every issue that gets talking heads in a tizzy on late night television as he has bigger issues to deal with like getting the country back on track instead of dancing to the press' tune, it seems he is deliberately keeping himself away from media glare.
No wonder, the press is pouting. To add to their woes, Modi has stalled the practice of taking a large contingent of journalist on foreign trips too.
Modi’s silence might be an indication that he is above the fray. But at times, even his silence can be misinterpreted. For example, during the Pune techie murder, Modi was slammed for not speaking, for defending the right wing silently, for suffering from Mislim perception deficit.
No one expected Manmohan Singh or Sonia Gandhi to communicate nor were they selectively silent. But Modi has a different image.
During election campaign, he gave stump speeches, blogged, tweeted, Facebooked and won India's youths who finally found in Modi a leader fit for a generation of over-sharers and hyper-communicators.
But a silent Modi is something they never dreamt of.
It’s good to be a leader who would rather be known for his work than his words. But at times talk is imperative. Otherwise, how would the nation know if Narendra Modi walks his talk?
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
