Opinion The PM goes live
The questions are subdued and the answers studied
By the time you read,this,you would have heard the prime minister speak to TV editors and what those editors and other people thought of his replies. From the standpoint of television,the questions were pointed,precise and polite even after some unnecessary provocation from the moderator and the replies were equally polite but imprecise on details. Manmohan Singh willingly answered questions that even the moderator tried to brush aside. The answers,however,were not satisfying and you left the press conference hungry for more.
It began as a fairly robust performance. Never a fluent speaker,Dr Singh was more forceful than is his wont that or he benefited from a good sound system. He smiled,yes,he did several times,and tried to gaze directly ahead as if to look the viewer in the eye. He spoke extempore throughout,except on the ISRO-Devas deal where he chose to read out a convoluted statement.
But his replies on the 2G spectrum scam,A. Raja and coalition compromises were too carefully worded. The PM seemed often on the verge of saying more but stopped short. His studied replies and statements that in a coalition government you have to go by what the coalition partners leader wants,that he was not very happy with the irregularities (read scams),that there were weaknesses in the processes of governance,etc.,suggested a degree of helplessness. It was as if the PM was trying to be honest and that very honesty undermined him. He admitted that he was not totally in control of his government. For a PM,facing the nation on live TV,when his government is on shaky ground,this is not an image he would want to project or,is it?
Interestingly,Dr Singh chose to gently reprimand the media while acknowledging its role in exposing the scams focusing on negative features may weaken the self-confidence of India,he said. You thought,well,yes,maybe,but wasnt corruption already doing that?
The editors were subdued,except Times Nows Arnab Goswami,who was his normal,combative self. A verbal scuffle between him and the PMs media adviser Harish Khare was averted by Dr Singh taking another question. Immediately after the press conference,the editors summed up the meeting and,with understandable self-congratulation,highlighted their individual questions it is not every day that they interrogate the PM before the nation.
But they were cut short,by the BJP. No sooner had the TV studio roundtable discussions begun than BJP president Nitin Gadkari held a press conference of his own about the prime ministers press conference. A clever piece of media management. By following the PM so swiftly with their assessment of his performance,the BJP managed to share the headlines with him otherwise,breaking news would have been solely devoted to the PMs statements.
Earlier,before the PMs press conference had commenced,TV channels were gushing with self-importance. You could hear the anchors from a kilometre away. Not that they had much to offer. At 10.55 am the Times Now anchor announced it was 10.55 am and asked us to join its man outside the PMs residence. The press conference should begin at 11,right,she asked him. Yes,he replied,but let us see what happens (being a live broadcast that is precisely what we would be seeing). The editors are here,our editor is here now,he added,the PM has to come out and speak to them. Quite.
Finally,since the PM was asked about the World Cup,let us end with cricket. In this season of predictions,even the players are meant to be blessed with divine foresight. Hows this (as opposed to howzzat!)?
Question to Piyush Chawla after Indias warm-up game against Australia: Did you think you would end up with 4 for 31?
Of course,he ought to have replied,if only I could have bowled from both ends,Id have got 8 for 62. Talk about silly points in cricket.
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