Prime Minister Modi's speech was just the sound of despair. The whole country was waiting for some relief from demonetisation: what was heard was an election speech. Instead of being apologetic for putting the people of India through insufferable pain and anguish, he sermonised on the non-existent virtues of demonetisation. He was pedantic without any reason and substance. It was just rhetoric. I suspect that he probably knows he has committed the biggest blunder of his life and his address to the nation was an exercise in damage control. He looked desperate. He looked worried. He was tentative. He was nervous. He presented a brave face, but the tension he seems to be under was rather visible.
When his address to the nation was announced, it was expected that he would reveal bold moves to rid people of the fatigue of demonetisation, that he would lay down a road map for economic rejuvenation, that he would present a blueprint for the rehabilitation of those who had suffered in the last 53 days, that he would shed a few tears for those who lost their family members standing in the queues at banks, that he would put some balm on the wounds of small and medium traders and entrepreneurs who today stand amidst ruins of their businesses, that he would offer some solutions for those poor farmers who sold their perishable produces literally at giveaway prices, that he would sympathise with those youngsters whose marriages could not be solemnised and also to those senior citizens who had to stand in queues for hours despite their advanced age. But the Prime Minister was oblivious to all of them.
While listening to his address, I was reminded of his statement recently made at a rally in UP that demonetisation had ended terrorism, the drug mafia and counterfeit notes. Even on November 8 when he announced demonetisation, he had said how this would destroy all evil. This was also the argument proffered when the Indian army carried out surgical strikes against Pakistan a few months ago. But till date, terrorist attacks are unabated. There seems to be no demoralisation in terror camps.
Actually, the Prime Minister's logic was faulty. Terrorists don't require tonnes of black money to trigger a blast. A Kasab needed only a few lakhs to enter India and create havoc in Mumbai. Pakistan cannot generate the kind of counterfeit money that can paralyse the Indian economy. It is assumed that at no given time has the sum of total counterfeit notes crossed more than Rs 1,000 crores, which is peanuts compared to the volume of the Indian economy. In the last two months, I have not heard of any drug mafia leaders being caught or arrested.
If one believes Prime Minister Modi, then we Indians should no longer worry about terrorism. Demonetisation has taught Pakistan a lesson; terrorists and terrorism are now a matter of the past; Indians can sleep peacefully; Jammu and Kashmir will be peaceful now onwards. This is something nobody will believe. The situation across the border and in the Valley is equally grim. So what should be assumed? Was the PM naive or misled by his advisers? Or did he lie to the nation? In either case, it does not speak well of the man who holds the most powerful constitutional position in this country.
I am also reminded of another statement of his as reported on November 13 that he needed only 50 days to make things right and if after that, and if people suffered, he should be punished at a public square. 50 days have passed and the people's suffering does not seem to end. Citizens still can't withdraw their money at will, rationing is still on, long queue still can be seen in front of banks and ATMs. According to the latest notification, people can withdraw only Rs 4,500 in a day from an ATM. It was expected that Modi would put an end to this cash rationing. But his speech only brought disappointment. The agony will continue.
What is more painful was the absence of sympathy for families who lost their loved ones due to demonetisation. More than a hundred people have died since November 8 of causes linked to the notes ban. There was an expectation that he might announce some compensation package for them. But there was no regret. No word of compassion. Not even a mention. They were the citizens of this country. They also had hopes from Modi. He did not learn a lesson from the Latin American country Venezuela which withdrew demonetisation within a week as one person died.
He was unfortunately more interested in the upcoming assembly elections in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Goa. He has showered people with sops in anticipation that they will forget their misery and will vote for the BJP. It was a kind of bribe. I hope that the Election Commission will take note of this and will initiate some action. But I am also aware that the era of T N Seshan is a matter of past. We are living in the Modi era. Institutions are crumbling, the system is being used brazenly for partisan political ends. But people are not fools. Long ago, Mrs Indira Gandhi committed the same mistake. History is the witness. People taught her a lesson. Will history repeat itself?
(Ashutosh joined the Aam Aadmi Party in January 2014.)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.