Modi Pays Touching Tribute To Vajpayee, But Needs To Walk The Talk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a video released earlier today, to pay tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said that at a time when political instability at home and an uncertain global environment had threatened to derail a still incipient economic reforms process of India, Vajpayee rescued the economy from the morass of the mid-1990s. The words 'moral compass', very rightly used by PM Modi can be used to describe Vajpayee's efforts in guiding spirit, providing vision, cohesion and direction to his people.

Starting as an ordinary party worker in the Jana Sangh, Vajpayee, along with the likes of LK Advani, organized the only national-level party to be formed in independent India — the BJP. Vajpayee and Advani shared a 65-year-old friendship that served as a strong leadership for India in tough times. However, PM Modi achieved what the Vajpayee-Advani duo could not.

At the national level, PM Modi jumped to popularity with just one election in 2014, when he rose to power in one shot. On the other side, Vajpayee went a long way before becoming the country's PM. However, Vajpayee, in a coalition government, ran the country effectively, while PM Modi, with an absolute majority, is facing criticism over the government's functioning.

In a democracy like India, an Anti-defection Law was the need of the hour in Vajpayee rule. Not only did the Vajpayee government pass the Anti-defection Law, he was dethroned from power twice but he never indulged in buying MPs. It was a sensation when the BJP government, under Vajpayee, lost the No Trust Vote by just one vote, in 1998. Although a debate over Vajpayee's inability in attracting an Opposition MP surfaced back then, it was Vajpayee's integrity and sincerity that attracted the masses.

Today, as the Anti-defection Law is being violated under PM Modi's rule, democracy stares at danger. Are we supposed to understand that the BJP government is unaware of the fact that Five YSR Congress party MPs (four MPs defected to the Telugu Desam Party and one to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) had defected to other parties? Or does it suggest the Centre's negligence? Is it a trait a Vajpayee's heir possesses?

Isn't it a mockery of the democracy to let go off the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments which had bought legislators with hundreds of crores of money? Did the BJP not do the same in Arunachal Pradesh? Given PM Modi's greater popularity in comparison with Vajpayee, should we not expect a more truthful and responsible leader in Modi?

It would be a truly touching tribute to Vajpayee if PM Modi follows his own words.

Also Read: Bharat Bids Adieu To Its Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee