PM’s Speeches Betray “More Than Nervousness But Also Worry and Concern”

186,158
0
Publicado 2024-04-26
PM's speeches betray "more than nervousness but worry and concern": the author and columnist, Neerja Chowdhury, to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

...........................................


Neerja Chowdhury, who is presently covering her eleventh Lok Sabha election and is a star columnist for the Indian Express, says the PM’s election speeches over the last six days betray “more than nervousness but also worry and concern” about the way the BJP’s campaign and earlier messages to the electorate have been received. Neerja Chowdhury also says that many, if not most, of the people she has met during her tours of constituencies have said this is not a Hindu-Muslim election and are variously surprised, shaken, shocked at the anti-Muslim rhetoric the Prime Minister seems to have made the staple of his discourse in the last few days.



In a 40-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Neerja Chowdhury, who is the author of the best-selling blockbuster “How Prime Ministers Decide”, also said that reports she has received suggest that the BJP is concerned and worried by the significant dip in the turnout during the first round of elections. Her tours suggest that whilst Muslims have voted in very large numbers, Hindus, particularly those who are thought to vote BJP, have been slow if not somewhat reluctant to turnout. She says this seems to be a Modi vs ‘local issues’ election.



In the interview to The Wire, Neerja Chowdhury says “all eyes are on the Election Commission of India not just in India but worldwide”. She says how they respond to the allegations against the Prime Minister has become a test of the independence and credibility of the Election Commission. This is further emphasized by the fact that even after receiving yesterday’s (Thursday’s) notice the Prime Minister, both in Malda and Araria, has continued to speak the same rhetoric and that is, obviously, a sort of defiance of the Election Commission.



I am only giving you a few of the main points made by Neerja Chowdhury. She is an extremely experienced and insightful journalist with a deep and profound understanding of elections and, in particular, how voters respond to politicians. There is, therefore, a lot that you will learn by watching the full interview. I strongly encourage you to do so. At this point, when the second day of voting is happening, you cannot do better than hear Neerja to understand what seems to be happening on the ground and how voters are behaving. This also explains, in turn, the behaviour and rhetoric of the BJP.

Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join

Todos los comentarios (21)
  • @ddiddi8361
    Sir problem is most of the educated people are pro Modi . And rest of the population are hypnotized . And I believe this image of Modi is not like a house of cards that will comedown automatically. Opposition ko ghar ghar jaa k samjana padega. This is what i believe .
  • @mg.f.9023
    We are ASHAMED by PM’s fascist remark.
  • @arulsoosai1330
    Remove Modi, Amit Shah and RSS head. Then the country is safe.
  • @user-ce5uw1sr5k
    Whether BJP wins or loses, Modi has created a Bhasmasur for himself by uttering such heinous, noxious and unconstitutional words. He has alienated the Muslim for ever.
  • @vargheseb8602
    How can a hate monger like him remain as PM. He deserves to be tried and punished. He is proving Mani shankar Aiyyar right.
  • @jpclinton017
    This woman is a clear example of a journalist without a spine
  • @Charme-zc5xi
    This could be the beginning of the end for this communal minded party. They forget the fact that everyone who climbs the Everest can't stay there for ever but need to descend. It's a disgrace for the nation when the PM himself speaks in this manner. Sorry state of affairs.
  • Pls save Manipur our future is at risk we can't imagine our future it's the question of our survival
  • @rohitmpanchal5803
    As ECI officials have proved to be spineless, Supreme Court should take Suo Motu action against ECI as well as the supreme leader. Sad days to witness the nation being destroyed and torn apart on communal lines.
  • @Sams_gyan
    With these speeches, the party is isolating a community and going against their own slogan "sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas".
  • @bds29
    Election commission is acting like an impotent
  • @KM____
    She never criticises those in power. In fact, her columns read like Tavleen Singh’s and Shekhar Gupta’s these days. We used to look up to these people at one time.
  • @mrinmoyc1191
    Neeraja Chowdhury being a huge fan of Modi just cannot imagine a govt without modi.