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Pranab, Ansari hail PM's steps on economy

Last Updated 26 May 2017, 20:45 IST

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed three years in office on Friday, President Pranab Mukherjee said he is one of the most effective communicators who has given a new direction to India’s economy.

“No doubt in the contemporary period, Modi is one of the most effective communicators, and perhaps can be compared with other illustrious prime ministers like Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi who communicated on their principles, on their ideas accepting the parliamentary form of government and particularly to have a secular Constitution,” Mukherjee said.

The President said that one cannot expect to lead millions of people without having the capacity to be a good communicator.

‘Moving steadfast’

“Indian economy is moving steadfast. The prime minister has given a new direction, no doubt. Various initiatives which he has taken clearly indicate the onward movement of India,” he said.

Mukherjee was speaking at an event in Rashtrapati Bhavan after receiving the first copy of two books on Modi from Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Mukherjee said the subjects chosen by Modi for his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ affect the lives of a billion people.

Vice President Hamid Ansari said that Mann Ki Baat is an ingenious and influential communication platform created by Modi. He said leaders of men and women necessarily feel the need to communicate with their followers in order to get the message across, generate enthusiasm and repel doubts.

“Semantics differentiates between an orator and a demagogue; both speak to persuade, both play on emotions. The difference is often subjective and depends on the trust reposed by the audience,” said Ansari.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley said merely giving interviews to half a dozen television anchors or addressing a ritual of a press conference in Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan was not the art of communication.

“They are merely carriers of a message. Do you have the ability to go above their heads and talk to the people directly?” said Jaitley, adding that Modi used radio as a medium to talk to the people directly. “I think the prime minister spotted the strength of the radio and the strength was not merely in communication.”

Sumitra Mahajan said, “Mann Ki Baat is very popular. Mann Ki Baat is a two-way medium of interaction... the issues raised are very relevant that can connect widely.”

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(Published 26 May 2017, 20:45 IST)

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