Amit Shah’s maiden speech sounded more like an election jumla

In a speech that lasted for one and half hour, Amit Shah dedicated maximum time to slamming Congress

“When we came to power in 2014, we were given a big crater,” Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha training guns at Congress. The BJP President made his debut speech in the upper house on Monday since he was elected to the Rajya Sabha last year. Considering that it was Amit Shah’s maiden speech, his words and statements came across harsher and aggressive. In a speech that lasted for one and half hour, Amit Shah dedicated maximum time to slamming Congress. From Congress’ Pakoda comment to its stand on Triple Talaq, Shah did not mince his words. For anyone who is a regular listener of his speeches or is familiar with his aggressive style of addressing the masses, yesterday’s speech wasn’t a new surprise. We can undoubtedly say there was no difference in his Rajyasabha speech and any other election campaign speech, except for the fact that parliament is not a place where the fancy jumlas work.

For instance, the BJP President on Congress’ Pakoda employment comment said that it is better to be a Pakoda seller than to be jobless. He said, “If a poor person sells ‘pakodas’ today, it is possible that the generations after him end up being industrialists. If a ‘chaiwallah’s’ son can become the Prime Minister, anything is possible.” If he had made the statements at an election rally, he sure would have got loud cheers and whistles, but in Parliament-the temple of democracy, such arguments only hold no water. A Pakoda seller’s future generation being industrialists is a noble and optimistic thought but even industries need Employees and if everyone becomes the Pakoda seller, who will be the Pakoda maker? Thus, the euphemistic statement undermines the existence of the very problem that is glaring at our younger generation.

The ruling party is answerable to the questions raised by the opposition. The government carries a responsibility with it of being accountable towards the people of the country. However, the way it chooses to answer establish the government’s credibility. If at all Pakoda selling has to be considered as a job, then does the government possess any data on how many people have adopted this method of employment? Or how much they earn? If yes, Amit Shah should have presented the data. If not, then his statements are reduced to just another jumla.

For long, the BJP has been in opposition. It is used to the formula of surrounding the government and attacking them. But maybe because the party has for a longer period stayed in the opposition, it is hard for the star campaigners of the party to refrain from making such statements in the parliament even when it is ruling. Prime Minister Modi’s below the belt comment on former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh saying “Only he knows better how to bathe with a raincoat on” was unbecoming of the ruling party. Even worse, the statement came from the Prime Minister of the country. In the heat of election campaigning during Gujarat elections, PM Modi even alleged that Singh had a secret meet with Pak officials at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s home and is planning to defeat him with the help of Pakistan. The claim that he could not substantiate. Amit Shah’s speech was no different.

BJP must remember that being in the position of power does not only comes with privileges but also responsibilities. When in government, the action and the words coming from the ruling party are taken at the face value. Especially, when the government makes the representation in the parliament, it does not address only the opposition but also the people of the country.

And after 3.5 years, the people now don’t want to hear the blame game but want to see the results. Thus, BJP must ensure to choose its words carefully more than ever.