Modi’s Women-Oriented Political Strategy!
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Photograph Source: Prime Minister’s Office – Government Open Data License – India
Interestingly in its war against Pakistan, India appears to have made deliberate attempt to put ladies in the forefront. Yes, this refers to two ladies from the military who, along with a male bureaucrat (Foreign Secretary Misri), were engaged in giving briefings regularly while the war lasted. One was from the Army (Col. Qureshi) and the other from Air-Force (Wing Commander Singh). Qureshi is a Muslim and Singh a Hindu. Of course, it is great to see women being given a “new” importance and that too during the phase of crisis. But, this does not silence questions being posed about this “strategy” having been exercised by Modi government. It would not have been viewed as a strategy, if women dominated the Indian military or constituted even 10 percent of its strength. They don’t add up to even a percent of soldiers in the Indian military.
There is no denying when women appear to dominate any stage-show, including that of giving briefings, they are also expected to attract more attention. One possible reason behind the ladies’ selection to give briefings on Indo-Pak war could have been thus to attract more attention at home and globally. Certainly, nothing is wrong in exercising this move. Viewing it from this angle also serves as an eye-opener to a “marketing strategy” purposefully exercised to apparently “justify” and “convince” the world about India’s approach towards the war.
Equally significant is ladies’ religious background, not from their angle, but having been probably focused on for certain reasons, primarily electoral. Assembly elections are scheduled for in a few states within a year from now in parts of which Muslim-votes are viewed as extremely significant. Though during electoral season, during his campaign, Prime Minister Modi has tried playing on “secular” card to defeat opinion held among Indian minorities about his party’s communal background, it hasn’t helped him much. It is possible, his electoral strategy banks on Qureshi’s religious background to help Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attract votes of Muslims. This probably also explains the importance accorded to Qureshi and her family on media-channels “controlled” by certain power-holders. Also, during Modi’s roadshow, earlier this week in Vadodara, Gujarat (May 26), which is Qureshi’s home town, her family members showered rose petals on him. The prime minister also met them. Well, it is difficult not to read political message being conveyed by Modi’s interaction with Qureshi’s family. Notwithstanding all the importance given to two ladies from military to give briefings, it is hoped their names are not made political use of.
Modi and his party workers have also tried to repeatedly cash on the power of Indian women voters. They have done so by offering them schemes, which will convince them to favor BJP. The party has not totally succeeded on this front. During 2024 parliamentary elections, BJP failed to win majority and had to fall back on support of its allies to form the government. It is possible, selection of two women from military to give briefings is a part of this strategy- trying to cash on women voters from a new angle. In addition, the term used for India-Pakistan war suggests the same. The Indian government has labelled it as “Operation Sindoor.” The bright red colored powder, vermillion, worn by married Hindu women in the parting of their hair is called “Sindoor.” Single women or widows do not use it. It is first applied by the Hindu male on his wife, when they get married. Usage of word “Sindoor” for India-Pak war implies Modi government’s reaction to it having been erased from hair of women widowed by terrorists, who according to Indian government were from Pakistan. This label has certainly created waves in Indian circles as
it seems to be emotionally appealing, has religious-color and is expected to appeal to men as well as women, as majority are linked with this color. Indirectly, the “religious” appeal- targeting Hindu votes cannot be missed. At the same time, since all Indians are familiar with it, emotionally the term “Sindoor” holds the same meaning for them all. The question of whether the war-cry – “Operation Sindoor” appeals to all or not is debatable. But yes, that this label is backed by strategic expectations of its appeal cannot be ignored.
Ironically, when no card appears to work, be it the case of India or Pakistan, both sides fall back on trying their time-tested strategy against the permanent enemy. This is anti-Pak card for India and anti-India card for Pakistan. But perhaps Modi is not too confident about its appeal at present or so as it seems. He is going overboard- trying “secular” as well as “religious” strategies, convincing women voters and more. He is paying extra-attention to “roaring” extra-louder than ever before in “threatening” Pakistan while addressing crowds in Indian states headed for assembly elections. He wants crowd to be convinced about the strength of Operation Sindoor. He is apparently banking on emotional-tag attached with this women-oriented rhetoric, particularly that linked with Sindoor. Interestingly, he has not yet talked about as he earlier did about his “56-inch” chest. Perhaps, he has ceased to count on its electoral appeal given its limited appeal in 2024 polls. Maybe. Sindoor does have emotional appeal for Indians but there is no guarantee that it will influence their votes, particularly that of women!
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