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Why Modi's Davos address suggests he has an eye on 2019 general elections

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Geeta Mohan
Geeta MohanJan 23, 2018 | 19:52

Why Modi's Davos address suggests he has an eye on 2019 general elections

India has made a pitch as a force to reckon with at the world stage. After 20 years, an Indian prime minister set foot in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, with a clear agenda in mind: to showcase India and its growing economic prowess.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be jumping leaps and bounds in many indices to do with development and growth, but back home he is faced with tough questions on employment generation and lack of visible increase in the standard of living of average Indians.

This exercise at Davos helps Modi project his vision not only to the world but also to his domestic audience. While addressing the issue of growth and development, Modi also wanted the world to see India as an influencer and one that has a role to play in the changing global dynamics.

He began his speech with focus on the theme this year "Creating a shared Future in a Fractured World" emphasising on the "challenges facing humanity", be it fissures among people, between nations or for that matter the vast differences among nations that could have disastrous impact. He was hinting at policies of nations that are creating a "divide between the requirements of today and the needs of conservation for the future".

He spent a substantial amount of time speaking about climate change in his keynote address. India is one of the leading nations when it comes to tackling climate change and has come up with initiatives such as the "International Solar Alliance". Prime Minister Modi used his keynote address to speak of the biggest challenge faced by humanity. Modi invoked India's rich historical, cultural past as well as Mahatma Gandhi to say there is "enough in nature for your need; but not for your greed". Hence, the need for man and nature to coexist. Milk it, but do not destroy it.

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Speaking of coexistence, Modi also emphasised the role India plays in bringing peace to the world. Again, with much criticism regarding incidents of violence and hatred back home, Modi focused on his government's stand towards "fracture" or "violence".

Echoing the old Sanskrit adage, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", Modi tried to explain how India respects one and all when he said, "Fear or force is far away from our ethos. We do not venture or advocate violence even through words or mind, leave alone deliberate action. And in fact, violence or damage is not thought even towards nature, including trees and animals."

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From contributing to international peacekeeping forces to working towards alleviation of poverty, Modi has projected India as an emerging global power in south Asia. He also highlighted the work his administration has done towards digitisation in keeping with technological aspirations of a country such as India; bold economic reforms such as bringing in GST, FDI reforms, cutting down "red tapism"; allowing the states and Centre to work towards a better India through "competitive federalism", spelling out his mantra of "reform, perform and transform".

Finally, as a global leader he also spoke of the hypocritical stand that nations take while tackling the menace of terrorism by differentiating between "good terrorists" and "bad terrorists". He also mentioned the concerns regarding radicalisation of educated youth, a concern that faces not just India but majority nations.

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In the year 2018, Modi is beginning to reach out to the world keeping his domestic audience in mind given that this is the penultimate year of his five-year tenure and he needs the Indian public to understand his "vision" for the nation. A vision that would still need time to turn to reality. This is a PM in election mode yet again.

Last updated: January 24, 2018 | 18:56
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