DNA Edit: The likes of Lal Singh may undo govt’s good work

Yet another Bharatiya Janata Party leader has blurted out something that’s not in line with the party’s supreme leadership, i.e. party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Former minister in the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir and legislator in Assembly Lal Singh has asked journalists to behave or else meet the same fate that of Shujaat Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir who was gunned down by terrorists only a couple of weeks ago. The threat issued by Lal Singh has put the whole party in the accused box, with the Opposition pouncing on his statement. Lal Singh’s words poured cold water on his party president Amit Shah’s visit to the troubled state where the latter had condemned the killing in unequivocal terms. Before him, party strategist Ram Madhav, too, had expressed shock at the heinous killing of the journalist.

However, with Lal Singh’s unfortunate and needless ‘warning’ to journalists, what will remain stuck is not what Shah and Madhav said, but what was uttered by a lawmaker who is more concerned with his local vote bank and not the nation. It is this fringe that has been the bane of this government. Consistent rankings of the economy as well as governance, including those from foreign institutes of repute, are testimonials of the performance of the Modi-led government. Despite much outcry over fuel prices, let’s not forget they have not skyrocketed since their 2014 levels, and this is even more commendable when one takes into account average price rise in any industry.

Even inflation has been contained by the government despite pressures on the economy. Demonetisation and GST were focal points of criticism of the Modi government over the last two years, but successive victories in elections have proved that the people have faith in Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister. This is largely because despite continuous efforts by the Opposition to tarnish the clean image of the PM, the voter believes in him when he says Na Khaunga, Na Khaane Doonga. PM’s foreign tours have been a subject of public discussion, mostly painted negative by his opponents. But the fact remains that the PM has managed to hardsell India at the international fora and has proved it to the world that India is not a pushover. India has even dared to stand up to the US over tariff war and has given back good, forcing a mighty nation like the US on the backfoot.

All these achievements, however, bite the dust every time a Lal Singh issues threats or a Muslim is lynched, a Dalit man is flogged in the name of gauraksha. The Prime Minister has time and again made his stand clear on the issue of religious and communal harmony and has stressed the need for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas. It’s less than a year to go for the general elections and the BJP will have to ensure the harmful fringe is contained. Or else, the party runs the risk of public perception of the fringe becoming mainstream.