I have defended Narendra Modi for over a decade. I have defended him when the entire ecosystem descended upon him after demonetisation. I defended him over Article 370, CAA, farm laws, electoral reforms and several other transformative decisions that invited unprecedented abuse and political hostility.
Not because I belong to the BJP. Not because I worship politicians. But because I genuinely believed Narendra Modi was made of sterner stuff—a leader who would never blink before political blackmail.
Today, I feel let down.
This is perhaps the first time in twelve years that I am compelled to publicly disagree with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not because of a bad policy decision. Not because of corruption allegations. But because he surrendered where he should have stood firm.
By sacrificing his Education Minister, the Modi government has not merely accepted a political demand. It has rewarded street veto over democratic mandate.
Dharmendra Pradhan was no ordinary minister. He was executing one of the most consequential reforms envisioned by this government. History textbooks were being rewritten to tell Bharat’s story from a Bharatiya perspective. The contribution of Sulba Sutras to Mathematics was finding its rightful place. The three-language policy sought to strengthen Bharatiya languages. The National Testing Agency was being structurally reformed to eliminate vulnerabilities and decentralise examinations.
These were not bureaucratic files awaiting signatures. They were instruments of intellectual decolonisation.
Naturally, powerful vested interests would resist them.
The multi-billion-dollar coaching industry had reasons to worry. Those thriving on intellectual dependency had reasons to protest. The political ecosystem which survives on perpetual outrage had reasons to manufacture fresh controversies.
But since when did Narendra Modi start surrendering to outrage factories?
What pains me most is not Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. It is the message this government has sent.
The message is simple—assemble enough protesters, paralyse public spaces, manufacture enough international headlines and eventually the government will blink.
This is dangerous.
Political blackmail never ends with one victory. It merely graduates to its next demand.
Yesterday they wanted the Education Minister’s resignation. Today they are demanding action against police personnel and withdrawal of cases against those accused of violence. Tomorrow they may demand the resignation of another minister. One day they may even seek Narendra Modi’s resignation himself.
Will the government oblige then too?
Appeasement has never satisfied agitators. It merely emboldens them.
Ironically, Narendra Modi himself built his political career fighting precisely such politics.
For years, BJP supporters proudly projected the Modi-Amit Shah combine as modern-day practitioners of Chanakya Neeti—leaders possessing political courage and strategic clarity. We were repeatedly told that Bharat now possesses perhaps its strongest National Security architecture under Ajit Doval’s stewardship. If that is indeed true, why should an elected government fear a handful of agitators?
Governments possessing massive mandates do not retreat because a few thousand individuals gather on the streets. They enforce the law.
If violence was committed, prosecute the guilty. If foreign elements attempted interference, investigate them thoroughly. If there was unlawful activity, let Bharatiya laws deal with it ruthlessly. But why sacrifice your own reform agenda?
I refuse to believe that a government enjoying the support of hundreds of millions of Indians was left with no option but retreat.
Narendra Modi did not become Bharat’s most successful Prime Minister by compromising whenever political storms appeared on the horizon. He became Modi because he fought those storms.
That is precisely why his supporters are shocked today.
For the first time, I find Modi appearing more rattled than his political opponents.
Perhaps his political advisers believe this tactical retreat will bring peace. I respectfully disagree. Political history teaches us exactly the opposite. Retreat invites pursuit.
The opposition has understood one thing today—it is possible to make Narendra Modi blink.
That discovery may prove costlier than Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation itself.
Governments are not tested when they enjoy applause. They are tested when they are asked to stand alone against manufactured outrage.
Narendra Modi failed that test this time.
I remain a nationalist. I continue to believe Bharat is fortunate to have witnessed transformational governance over the last decade. My criticism, therefore, comes not from political hostility but from deep disappointment.
Supporters are not cheerleaders. Their duty is not blind applause but honest criticism when they believe their leader has erred.
This government had the numbers. It had the mandate. More importantly, it had the moral authority to stand firm.
Unfortunately, it chose to blink.
And that, for me, makes this a Black Saturday in Narendra Modi’s otherwise remarkable political journey.
