By Kamal Chenoy

Ever since the embarrassment over Lalit Modi related scams leading to serious public criticism of Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje, Dushyant Singh; plus the certificate imbroglio involving Smriti Irani; the Pankaja Munde tender scam; and most horrific of all the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh; all required and still require the attention of PM Narendra Modi. But he is refusing to squarely face these issues.

In none of his talks including “Mann Ki Baat” has he intervened publicly to defend his government, his party and above all the Indian political system and Constitution. More than three weeks have passed, but Modi has found time for talks in Central Asia and Russia, the latter paving the way for India’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), an important development. But India cannot be governed from abroad. At this stage, the PM must lead in an India shocked and bruised by major instances of violations of Parliamentary and political conduct. PM Modi’s studied non-intervention in India’s critical moments is completely unacceptable. It is time he intervened vigorously and led the country from within as his oath enjoins him to do.

(Kamal Chenoy is a Professor at SIS, JNU. This article is reproduced from his facebook post.)