Shivraj’s ‘surgical strike’: Turns Shaurya Smarak opening into show of strength

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s face was alight with pride when he stood to speak at the ex-servicemen meet at Lal Parade ground on Friday evening in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was probably as much for pride in valor of Indian armed forces as the fact that he had yet again managed to strike an upper hand on his political opponents.

By getting Modi in Bhopal to inaugurate a ‘Shaurya Smarak’ (Valor Memorial) almost at the height of ‘surgical strike’ frenzy in nation, Shivraj managed to send a message to detractors that he was firm in his saddle with blessings from the top.

Modi and Shivraj both chanted eulogies to the defense personnel and ex-servicemen during the formal function at Lal Parade ground. Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and union ministers from MP were present.

Shivraj made announcements of hike in honorarium and facilities to the families of martyrs as well as ex-servicemen.

Modi called upon countrymen to make it a habit to stand up and show respect to defense personnel at public places to keep the morale of the forces up.

He even made the gathering promise that they would inculcate this habit.

He also said that along with forces, the people of the country would also have to be vigilant to ensure and strengthen India’s liberty.

The prime minister also highlighted that it was not only conflict time courage but humane values that made our services personnel one of the best in the world.

Following the programme at Lal Parade ground, Prime Minister Modi met Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar and later inaugurated the Shaurya Smarak at MP Nagar formally. He also toured the premises of the memorial.

Shivraj's Show

However, the two-and-half hour visit of PM Modi to Bhopal – his eighth visit to the state after becoming prime minister – was more of a show of Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Chouhan was facing some heat from some of his senior colleagues from state who did not hesitate to be critical on governance issues in state. One of the major points being played upon was the ‘unleashed’ bureaucracy and its alleged corrupt practices.

In such situation, Shivraj’s show of proximity to Modi and getting him to Bhopal at right time for right occasion, was a political master stroke that the three-time CM of Madhya Pradesh Played quite well.

Highlights of PM Modi’s speech

- Soldiers stay awake while we sleep peacefully and feel satisfied , but if we sleep while we are supposed to be awake, forces won't forgive us

- The confidence of our forces doesn't come from the weapons, it comes from 125 crore Indians standing behind them

- I have said this before, forces don't speak, they act and they came after me saying Modi doesn't do anything

- Just like our forces, our Defence Minister doesn't say anything

- I am satisfied we were able to fulfill the longstanding demand of One-Rank One-Pension

- We have taken many other steps for betterment of defense personnel and ex-servicemen

- There is a custom in many countries in the world, we don't have it yet, but we can do it

- When soldiers pass through airports or train stations, people stand up and applaud them with claps. Can’t we inculcate this habit?

- We should remember and honour our forces 24X7 It's a small thing, but it can make a great impact on a soldier's life

- We envision our soldiers in only one way – in uniform, weapons in hands, fire in their eyes, but their humane face is perhaps equally important

- Wherever there is a natural disaster, we saw it during the Badrinath Kedarnath disaster how they risked their lives to save the lives of people

- When there was a great flood in Srinagar (Kashmir) two years ago, our soldiers toiled to save the affected without discriminating or thinking that these are the people who throw stones at us, blind us, break our heads, sometimes even kill us

- But when humanism beckoned, they forgot all of that and fought with their lives to save others