Given his past record of making dramatic announcements like demonetisation and lockdown, most people were anxiously waiting for prime minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on Tuesday.

With the tension and anger building up against China, rising number of COVID cases and little being done for the revival of economy, most had expected some references to these major issues in his address.

Speculations were also rife at the choice of time – 4 pm. Many thought it might have something to do with astrology.

While few would oppose his announcement of the extension of free ration scheme for the poor by five months, his latest address would be remembered for his silence on important issues facing the nation and the use of symbolism and imagery rooted in Hinduism in what was clearly a politically motivated address.

Modi referred to the coming festival season and talked of Guru Purnima followed by the month of saavan, August 15, Raksha bandhan, Sri Krishna Janamasthami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Kati bihu, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and ending with Chhat Puja.

There is absolutely no harm in naming these festivals but his ignoring festivals like Gurpurab and Eid, which also fall during the same period, does not seem appropriate coming from the prime minister of a secular nation. After all the country has crores of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and others.

His stopping at Chhat Puja was also a dead give away with Bihar elections due in November and he knows how much the migrants, mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are angry with his government’s handling of the issue.

Modi, however, has never shown qualms about his use of Hindu symbolism. He likes to describe himself as ‘fakir’ and a ‘karmayogi’ and was ever ready to take his ‘lota’ and return to seclusion!

Just after the end of campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections last year, he had gone to a ‘goofa’ in the mountains to pray and meditate.

It is another thing that the social media had fun with his photographs given with the caption : “Monk who sold everyone’s Ferrari”.

Even when Modi made the first announcement about coronavirus, he asked people to draw a “Lakshman Rekha” outside their homes and not venture out.

Incidentally there is no explanation yet of his call to switch off lights and burn diyas or put on torch lights from mobile phones for nine minutes at nine pm on April 5.

Modi unfortunately continues to act as the prime minister of Bharatiya Janata Party rather than that of the country when it comes to using symbolism and imagery on his speeches.

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