Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview to news agency ANI has been widely appreciated, particularly going by the traction in TV channels and various print media. It is the first time that Modi has sought to begin the new year by responding to questions on a range of issues that concern the nation. It is a coincidence—or is it?—that the prime minister has spoken to at least one person in the media exactly a fortnight after his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said on December 18, 2018 that he had never been afraid to talk to the media.
At the launch of his book, Changing India, a distinguished audience, comprising political leaders and academia including the country's best known economists, cheered and applauded Singh as he said one of the six volumes of the book will show how much he spoke. BJP's leaders did not attend the function. Remember, it was the BJP, led by Modi, who had called him “Maun Mohan Singh”, meaning 'silent' Mohan Singh. Singh's volume comprises not only his speeches, but also his interaction with the media. He described the impromptu ones, too.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intention behind Tuesday interview may or may not be a response to Singh's assertion that he was never afraid to talk to the media—something everyone read as a jibe at Modi.
In all fairness to the prime minister, he has done TV interviews previously as well. In one interview to a TV channel in September 2016, two and a quarter years after assuming office, Modi took a swipe at the media and spoke of “super political pundits”. The media don't have time to research because they are so busy chasing news, and because there is no research there is criticism. He said he favoured fact-based criticism by the media. “There are compulsions of the media; most media houses are running in losses. TV channels are covering those who are abusing me to try and raise their TRPs,” he had said .
“I believe in living in the present, if you have come to meet me, this is my present... My ideas of five years ago need not necessarily be workable today. One should have the courage to give that up and live in the present. One should not carry the burden of one's old baggage,” Modi had further said.
In January 2018, ahead of his visit to Davos, he obliged yet another channel where he spoke on globalisation, India's need to lead the economic world pro-actively, doubling of income of farmers by 2022. On questions pertaining to threat to democracy, lynching, communalism raising its head, he blamed it on the “unfortunate part of our life in the country, this communalisation of politics.” On 2019 elections, he remarked, “I don't waste time calculating election results. I am here because of 1.25 hundred crore Indians brought me here. They will decide.”
In April 2018, Modi was seen in a Q & A session with ad-man and lyricist Prasoon Joshi at the Central Hall Westminster, London. The diaspora was in full attendance at what was called the “Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath”. It was indoors, but very reminiscent of the Madison Garden Square razzmatazz. “Nation knows I can deliver. People have expectations, because they trust.” he said along side rubbishing the Congress party's loan melas of the yore.
But there is a difference between Singh's interaction with the media and Modi's TV interviews. When an interview is sought, Modi's office—even before he became the prime minister—always wants to receive, read and reject questions from the journalists. There is the famous incident when as the chief minister of Gujarat seeking re-election in 2007, Modi walked out of a television interview three minutes after the cameras rolled—the question pertained to Godhra incident, whether he could have handled it differently, and the Supreme Court observations on it. Modi , according to the interviewing journalist, did not show any anger, extended hospitality over the next hour that the journalist spent persuading him to resume the interview. That did not happen, and to make matters worse, the journalist believes because of this, the BJP's spokespersons and the ministers have silently boycotted his show!
PM Modi has not altogether ignored media.
He invited practically every editor and journalists covering the BJP, for “Diwali Shubh Milan” at the BJP headquarters, around Diwali time from 2014 to 2017. The first time around, media representatives made feverish attempts to have him answer their questions. But after a walk through the massive Shamiana, greeting and obliging selfie-with-PM seekers, he left the venue. In 2015, the attempt by journalists to ask him questions was feeble. Thereafter, the “milans” were just that—milans over elaborate and sumptuous fare.
Singh spoke about the press conferences he held on board airplanes while travelling to foreign countries, and those there. Modi's entourage does not include the media in general—it used to be by invitation, by rotation earlier. An agency and Doordarshan accompany him, and generally what they feed has been just one way coverage of Modi's events and engagements.
May be, Modi is not afraid of speaking to the press, as Singh never was. And technology has to take the entire blame for standing between him and the diverse free press whose members have various concerns.
For Modi, possibly social media which allows leaders of today to address their target audience directly, is enough. Given there is the “janata” (people) who will decide on the basis of what he tells them, he does not have to answer questions from the soldiers of the Fourth Estate .
After all, one does not have to answer questions from the media to prove that one is strong, that the 56” story is true.
