It is unlikely that the Prime Minister will play to the gallery simply because the Opposition, the media or the public wants to hear him (“PM keeps ‘radio silence’ on Lalitgate”, June 29). We cannot have the head of the government making a statement in the House or in a ‘Mann ki baat’ radio talk taking the cue from us. The top leadership is least expected to assuage public perception of a non-political issue. Perhaps Mr. Modi could be waiting for an opportune time to clear the air. What is clear is that the Opposition is trying to draw political capital out of something that is clearly a creation of the media.
R. Prabhu Raj,Bengaluru
No one could have foreseen that things would turn out this way and so soon. Suddenly, Mr. Modi seems to be confronting a crisis that is threatening to engulf his government. He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far. However, the very fact that he campaigned on an anti-corruption platform in the run-up to the general election and emerged victorious makes it even more imperative that he does something to justify the trust reposed in him. Instead of deluding itself into thinking that it will come out of the scandal surrounding some of its prominent leaders smelling of roses, the BJP must take a principled stand against corruption and demonstrate how it is ‘a party with a difference’.
G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Is Mr. Modi not aware of the issues precipitated by his tall leaders, Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje? The element of perception was the weapon that he used effectively to cut the UPA down to size. It is shocking that a similar element of perception is being dismissed as being of no consequence in Lalitgate. Due to the strong numerical strength it enjoys in the Lok Sabha, the BJP may be able to escape an immediate threat to its survival, but the lingering perception about its disregard for people’s opinion may affect it in the long run (Editorial, June 29).
Ravindranathan P.V.,Bengaluru
It has been rightly said that in a battle of perceptions, to concede an inch is to lose several feet. It is all the more applicable to the Modi government which runs high on propaganda and perception management, which is a clearly established fact by now. The BJP’s carefully crafted image is now in danger of being muddied. Maintaining pin drop silence on Ms. Raje so as to avoid any political upheaval in Rajasthan is yet another example of a short-sighted, politically expedient move. Mr. Modi should realise that in the long run, such an attitude or strategy will end up doing more harm than good to the party. Justice should not be held hostage on account of political priorities.
Vijaya Chikara,New Delhi
