Those not favourably disposed toward the Prime Minister would probably endorse Mr Rahul Gandhi’s criticism that Mr Narendra Modi overdoes his publicity effort, and cannot spend even a few minutes away from the publicity seeking that underlines his pet slogans that run from Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas through Beti Bachao, Beti Padao to the current hit-parade topper centred on what is now Mumkin. Slick sloganeering does pay dividends, as did Indira Gandhi’s Garibi Hatao, particularly at the polling booth since most voters are swayed by populist emotion. It is, however, a different story when the audience is more discerning ~ Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs has just castigated the MEA for failing to sell to the international community the success of the IAF strike on the JeM’s terror camp at Balakot. Needless to ask which matters more in the larger context ~ Mr Modi’s personal image, or the projection of an Indian “masterpiece” to the world. Time that the MEA understands the Prime Minister’s tendency to slam as anti-national, or seditionist, everyone who asks a “tough” question carries little weight beyond the country. Maybe not even domestically, because the BJP has consistently blurred the distinction between party and government. Not just at an official level but on TV too: all the representatives the BJP fields at the studios ~ which channels and anchors deem the crucibles where national policies are formulated ~ arrogate unto themselves the role of “defender of the faith”. An inability to laugh at themselves is their visa to the small-screen.

The MEA and Air Force have done a really shoddy PR job in recent days. So much so that leading international newspapers seem to be going along with Pakistan that little damage was inflicted at Balakot ~ even the Standing Committee has called for making public the damage assessment report. There have been a couple of Press briefings at which terse statements were read out, no questions taken, a mere statement might have sufficed. Even the “Indian angle” on the return of the IAF pilot was botched up. Nobody was around to explain the established procedure or if that was followed, why there was what was seen as a protracted delay… Did the government think the media was “captive” and would feast on the crumbs it offered? Only the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar was willing to communicate, and he was hardly in the picture. Contrast that with what another BJP government did during the Kargil conflict ~ no surprise that the Colonel who presented the media much of the Army’s accomplishments rose to become its Chief.

There are lessons to be learnt, the quicker the better. The present conflict is far from over: do the external affairs and defence ministries need to ask Mr Modi to help them fight the contemporary “perception war”?