Could Modi 3.0 be strikingly different from Modi 2.0? Swaminathan Aiyar explains
Swaminathan Aiyar, Consulting Editor, ET Now, says “the emphasis is on more of the same. The thing is not to be different. The aim of the exercise is saying I am guaranteeing you that I have done so well for you. I am such a fantastic guy, the world looks up to me, I have improved India’s stature in the world, I have defended you against Pakistan, so I am such a great guy. I am giving you more of the same and I am giving my guarantee that I am more of the same. So, the emphasis really is more of the same, I would say, rather than saying how it is different.”
Aiyar further says: “In four areas – education, employment, environment, and the police judicial system, major structural reforms are required, but they have not been attempted. And they have not been attempted because they are not easy areas to do. The attempts so far have not got very far. The BJP does not want to rock the boat at this particular point of time, even though it does have the political capital to do so. So, it is not attempting to do structural change in these four very important areas.”
How doable does the BJP manifesto look to you?
Swaminathan Aiyar: This BJP manifesto is something that very few people will read. But what the big message is, Mr Modi is guaranteeing more of the same. This is not a manifesto that shows significant changes. There are a very large number of minor small changes. But basically, the message is that Mr Modi has given you 10 very good years and is going to guarantee you more of the same. Many of the programmes will
