Speaking at a literature festival here, Tharoor described PM Modi as an individualist whose behaviour frustrated even RSS members. "There is an extremely striking metaphor that an unnamed source in RSS told journalist Vinod Jose (in 2012)," Tharoor said, citing the quote. "Removing him with your hand would mean you would end up getting stung. Hitting the Shivaling with a chappal would raise questions on the spiritual tenets you have been practising for years! That they let it be with Modi is an illustration of the complex dynamic that exists between the Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression of it." At the festival, Tharoor was to read excerpts from his latest book, "The Paradoxical Prime Minister".
Recalling that he had backed Modi in 2014, the MP said, "I was criticised in the middle of 2014 for having given the PM the benefit of doubt in the sense that I welcomed some of the statements he gave after his election, particularly in the first week. He appeared conciliatory, inclusive and, in terms of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, he was going to be PM for all Indians... but the disenchantment didn't take too long to set in." He then elaborated on the various ways in which the current government had failed to deliver on its promises.
"Minimum government, maximum governance was Modi's slogan, but in the last four-and-a-half years what we have seen is the most centralised government, with a tremendous concentration of power in the PMO. Previously empowered ministers and secretaries have to defer to Modi and his team," he said.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2Ppt8m6
