There were enough cues for grassroot BJP/RSS workers in the PM’s Dussehra speech in Lucknow. Bhupendra Chaubey reads the political tea leaves.
PM Narendra Modi with a gadaa on the Ramlila stage in Lucknow's Aishbagh maidan on Tuesday. (PIB PHOTO)
Sample this! By wearing the Sudershan Chakra on his arm, by accepting Lord Hanuman’s Gadaa as a present and by doing aarti of Ram, Laxman and Sita, Modi has brought joy to millions of his supporters in UP who still have the Ayodhya Ram temple dream. BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Subramanian Swamy had even gone on record a few days back on CNN-News18’s #Big5At10 Programme to state clearly the party position: “We will certainly be raising the Ram temple issue during UP polls. I am sure Amit Shah realises that construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is our biggest USP.”
So he even tried to play the statesman. #YudhSeBudh isn’t just a catchy hashtag. There is a clear cut political message there in the context of surgical strikes of September 30. India under Modi isn’t Mr Nice Guy anymore. It wants to shed off the image of being weak kneed. India doesn’t want war, but won’t shy away from attacking those who threaten India. Read Pakistan. Modi reminded everyone that when Sita was taken away by Ravan, the first person to take on Ravan was no soldier, but Jatayu, the mythical bird. So who is the modern day Jatayu? Us, you and me. Citizens, of course including citizens of Uttar Pradesh. So if UPwallahs want to shed away the tag of being Bhaiyas from Ulta Pradesh, vote for the muscular Modi, not the meandering caste-based outfits. At least that’s the message Modi wants to hand over to people across the state.
Elections in UP will be announced in the next few weeks. With this majestic performance, Narendra Modi has clearly set the agenda. Be prepared for a high octane combination of religion and politics in the days ahead.
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