Continuing his trenchant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's style of functioning, renowned journalist and former politician Arun Shourie on Sunday alleged that there was too much centralisation of power in the Prime Minister's Office because of the insecurity of the 'top boss,' Modi.
Shourie, who served as a minister in the first NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also said that 'falsehood' was the 'hallmark' of the Modi government and it had failed to fulfil several promises such as generating jobs. Shourie was participating in a media event in New Delhi.
Shourie explained, "A person who is psychologically secure... he will not be nervous of any situation. And a person who is psychologically insecure will never allow others who have a base of expertise to come near (him)."
"Today, donkeys have become horses. And the leader can choose who he will be surrounded by," said Shourie, who has been a leading critic of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party–led government.
He also said that "today, there is a greater centralisation of power in the PMO.”
"There has been never a weaker PMO because of the insecurity of the top boss (Modi). Similarly, the ministers and the chief ministers, those who are chosen like (Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra) Fadnavis, (Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal) Khattar and (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi) Adityanath (whom he said was an exception).... And all the persons who have no base can never threaten you," Shourie said.
He also said that the NDA government was very sensitive to criticism.
"Now Modi Saheb never says 'Mitron', as he was ridiculed on social media. Similarly, the way in which he used acronyms in the very first year... but after being ridiculed, he stopped using it.”
He also said that he found Modi as a 'very astute politician.' "If he realises that he has not been able to deliver on his promises of development, therefore they (BJP) have to revert to the only trick they know, that is to divide the people and conquer," he said.
Referring to the government's 'falsehoods,' Shourie said that he could give many examples of that in the form of full-page advertisements in the newspapers showing 'government statistics of generating over five-and-half crore jobs by MUDRA scheme' only.
"But we should not be surprised at this... falsehood has become the hallmark of this government," he said.
Shourie also stressed that we should not examine what a person or leader had been doing for a long time but examine their work 'minutely.'
Citing Mahatma Gandhi, he said, "A very important point that Gandhiji used to make (was) 'don't go by what he has been doing but go by his character' and 'what can you learn about his character?'”
"And we have missed that twice, both in the case of (former Prime Minister) V.P. Singh and Narendra Modi. They just say whatever is convenient at the moment," he said.
Slamming the government over the short winter session of Parliament, Shourie said, "Today, we are surprised by the centralisation of power but that is the Gujarat model.”
"We have been surprised as the Cabinet has reduced to a nullity but that is the Gujarat model... we are surprised by the fact that the Parliament has been reduced to the status of the state assembly but that was the Gujarat model... and all the agencies and institutions are being the instruments of a coterie but that is the Gujarat model," Shourie declared.
He also slammed the government over issues like intolerance and violence and even the debate over ideological differences.