It seems that Rajyavardhan Rathore is so overcome by admiration for his prime minister that sometimes he forgets that he is a Union minister and shoots straight from the lip. In June, in support of a retaliatory cross-border operation against Manipur rebels inside Myanmar, the Union minister of state for information and broadcasting had tweeted with the hashtag 56inchrocks, giving all credit to Narendra Modi’s diplomacy. He had interpreted it, further, as a warning to Pakistan and other havens of terrorist groups in the neighbourhood. Now, Rathore has invited controversy yet again by speaking in a TV interview about the possibility of covert or special operations against persons of interest to the Indian government, who have sanctuary in Pakistan. He did say that there could be a discussion only after the event, but he should have refrained from speaking on the matter at all, instead of tantalising the viewer with the possibility that under cover, plans could already be afoot.
Mere mortals have always known that rattling sabres thoughtlessly could cause accidental injuries. It is now time for ministers to consider accepting popular wisdom, if they are not to reduce the dignity of their office. This government already has to cope with an outspoken defence minister with muscular opinions. It can do without orchestral support from the I&B ministry. Rathore should have declined to rise to the bait at the end of an interview about a different issue altogether — the steps taken by the government to resolve the one rank one pension issue. He could have restricted himself to singing the praises of the prime minister, to whose commitment OROP does owe something.
