Narendra Modi touches people through his Mann Ki Baat, leaves opposition squirming

 Using his oratory skills laced with simple story-telling technique in an easy going language, prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday tried to connect emotionally with millions of Indians via the All India Radio (AIR). Modi's
13:47 minutes radio broadcast titled "Mann Ki Baat" relayed across the length and breadth of the country with the help of AIR's 413 stations and 584 transmitters had a phenomenal outreach – 92% in terms of area and 99.20% in terms of population.

He began by greeting people on Vijayadashmi and combining it with Mahatma Gandhi's clarion call for cleanliness. He asked all listeners to join the movement and conquer filth by taking up cleaning themselves and then simultaneously roping in 9 other people. "If everyone does this simple thing, I assure you the country will soon get rid of all filth," said Modi. He chose not to bring any sort of politics during his entire radio broadcast thus leaving opposition parties without any arsenal to launch an attack.

"His technique and skill has left us with no chance to counter him. It is not that his address cannot be countered but to do so would be harakiri for any political party at this moment," said a Congress leader not willing to be identified. 

On the issue of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, the leader conceded that Modi hijacked it in such a manner that it has virtually left Congress speechless. During his address on October 2, Modi had praised Congress' Sewa Dal for contributing in cleanliness drive and had also nominated Congress MP Shahshi Tharoor as a star campaigner for the cleanliness mission.

Perhaps for the first time in AIR's history, most of the private news television channels were forced to stop their regular programmes and relay address in static format. People to seemed to like the programme. "Modiji ko sunkar achchha laga. Bina politics ko beech mein laye unhoney achchhi baatein kahin. (Felt good after hearing Modiji. He said some good things without bringing in politics)," said a paan seller who had brought a radio especially to hear the broadcast.

A few people who had gathered to listen to the radio broadcast at the paan shop also liked Modi's idea to buy at least one khadi cloth every year, his way of connecting by sharing thoughts of common people who wrote to him like Ganesh Venkatadri from Mumbai and Ganesh Pal. 

"He said important things in such a humble way that you feel proud to a part of this country. This is how a prime minister should talk and not like the earlier one who never used to speak or whenever used to speak sounded alien. I want to write to Modiji and share my idea to contain corruption," said Vivek Choudhary, resident of Dallupura resettlement colony.

Putting into practice the idea of regular radio broadcast, which he perhaps bought from American president Roosevelt, Modi is expected to speak his heart at least once or twice a month on Sunday.