Shobhaa's Take: Where's good governance?'

There! He said it! Forget the elephant in the room, India’s feistiest, fiercest journalist-politician, Arun Shourie, brought in an invisible chooha (mouse) into the political narrative, and did so with such panache, the interview instantly went into orbit. Mr Shourie was on fire as Karan Thapar nudged, probed and prodded India’s most respected political commentator to air his concerns about... well, let’s be blunt, about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It would be a gross understatement to say Mr Shourie minced his words.

He was in full flow and it was an absolute treat listening to his down-to-earth, upfront views on what he believes is going wrong in the country. But it wasn’t his words alone —  Mr Shourie’s body language attracted a great deal of comment too. It was a bravura performance, not an interview! He was not just animated, he was unstoppably dramatic! His arms and hands created arches and shadows as he held forth on the many ills of this government, with a twinkle in his eyes and a naughty smile playing on his lips. This was vintage Sho-urie — a man who was feared and admired for his forthright attitude as an editor and public intellectual. A man of integrity and passion.

So far, nobody has dared to cast aspersions on his commitment to a better India, and his aversion to corruption in public life. Not one to hold back his words, this time too,  Mr Shourie didn’t spare anybody, and provided an overview that was sharp and thought provoking. “Where is the good governance?” he asked pointedly, while providing examples of failed promises at several key levels, such as police reforms. Questioned about the cancer that has steadily corroded India — corruption — he commented: “Any crusade against corruption works if there is impartiality.” He went on to name names — Lalit Modi’s for example.

Adding: “Action is taken or not taken according to convenience.” Then came the fusillade against the Prime Minister where he blasted Mr Modi’s style of functioning, which he said was marked by a “lack of consultation”. He called Mr Modi “Machiavellian” and accused him of being “remorseless”. He refer-red to him as “President” and said he was “deliberately dividing India”.

He also observed Mr Modi treats “people like paper napkins”, and that he plays a “boxing match with everybody”. He brazenly mocked him by calling him a “Casanova who has to reassure himself every night he can still conquer”. He described the present scenario as being a “one-man government”, with “no checks and balances” stating the Prime Minister only listens to the chosen few who agree with him and tell him what he wants to hear.

His most trenchant observation was when he boldly and flatly announced: “There are no core beliefs left... the only objective is to win the next election any which way.” When asked to amplify, he plunged right in where no one had had the guts to go earlier, and warned citizens that there is going to be trouble ahead, with more divisiveness, disruption, violence and polarisation.

He predicted the “cow” bogey will soon be replaced by another one to divide and rule India, since the cow issue didn’t work. He also warned about the possibility of inconvenient voices being choked. He concluded on a pretty pessimistic note. When Mr Thapar asked: “Are you saying Prime Minister Modi is not good for India?” Mr Shourie shook his head, his eyes lost their twinkle, and he clarified: “...it is a dangerous direction for India.”

There are many important firsts in this candid interview. But then again, there are the sceptics who will always try and inject a petty, personal grouse into an important dialogue. The truth of the matter is Mr Shourie has successfully broken through the sound barrier and said things that needed to be said. His was not an outburst or a rant of a “silly ex-” — for he can be called that by silly critics who sneer he’s being spiteful and is only hitting back for being snubbed by the Prime Minister who didn’t offer him the finance minister’s post. This is so juvenile!
Perhaps Mr Shourie did hanker after the job... perhaps he was disappointed and hurt. Perhaps he continues to be angry. But can anybody deny the underlying concern of what he’s saying? He merely articulated what citizens have been feeling... experiencing. When he mentions the “systematic attempt to crush civil liberties”, can the charge be denied or challenged?

Mr Shourie has spoken. It’s doubtful he will be made to “face the music”. He is a senior citizen, is looking very frail, plus, he has a sick wife and challenged son to take care of. What can they do to him for speaking his mind? Nothing. In all probability, he doesn’t have an income large enough to attract harassment. The Central Bureau of Investigation chaps would be wasting their time digging up dirt on this individual. Morchas and protesters do not faze people like him — he has seen that and more in his time.

The thing is, we can’t ignore Mr Shourie and this interview. Neither can  Mr Modi. These are uncomfortable truths that need to be confronted. And we need to do that right here, right now. This is not some random, bitter, angry old man venting his spleen and making reckless charges against the government because he needs publicity. If we don’t pay close attention to his many warnings... his heartfelt advice, we will be doing ourselves a huge disservice. Mr Shourie is a worried man. So should we all be. When he warns us, we must listen! The price to be paid by turning our backs on Mr Shourie’s words is way too high. We cannot afford to do so. Neither can Mr Modi.