Amid raging pandemic, Modi govt prepares to celebrate 2nd anniversary with deluge of promotional articles

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Modi government is preparing to celebrate second year anniversary of their second term. The Press Information Bureau has sent out letters to secretaries of all the ministries asking them to compile achievements of the Modi government beginning from May 30, 2019, till date. The government completes the second year of its second term on May 30, 2021

The letter dated April 16 reached the departments a few days later and the letter stated that the task had to be completed within a short span of time. The Press information Bureau has requested the secretaries to provide the PIB with a brief write-up of maximum two pages. The write-up was to be e-mailed to the PIB by April 20, 2021, but several ministries are yet to send it as most of the chief secretaries have been quarantined for COVID-19.

“The write-up has to be self-contained and no annexures may be attached on the achievements of your ministry in the past two years of this government. The write-up may also be provided to the PIB Officer attached to your ministry, who will be in touch with your office regarding the same,” stated the letter from PIB.

“A few ministries have sent the write-ups and all of this will be used to publish articles in several newspapers as soon as May begins. We have been tasked with listing out achievements of this government. The propaganda being run by this government is non-stop. We have been tasked with sending not just pointers but articles. These will then be published in newspapers,” said a government official.

Several BJP officials have said that the celebrations would be low-profile and most of this would be digital affairs. “There will be articles on the work done by the government especially during the pandemic. Our vaccination drive was successful, and we will highlight that and it will be online,” said a BJP functionary.

In reality, India has been able to vaccinate only 1.4% of its population since January 16, 2021, according to the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Centre. The United States has vaccinated 26.5% of its population, the United Kingdom 15.9%, Brazil 4.3% and Mexico 3.5 %.

India administered 89,86,391 doses between April 18 and April 21. At the same rate, the nation would have administered 1.79 crore doses by the end of this week, indicating a shortage in vaccine. Almost 2 crore doses were administered between April 10 and April 17. In the week before that, more than 2.3 crore doses were given.

Last year, on the first anniversary of the second term, the Modi government focused on the COVID-19 lockdown and the Rs 20 crore economic package. All big state units held at least two virtual rallies and smaller units held one. Last year, the party had said in a communication that the year was full of achievements, listing nullification of Article 370, Ayodhya verdict and the law against triple talaq among its successes.

The party has asked its members to inform local citizens about Modi government's work to combat COVID-19 and told them to carry a letter penned by the prime minister about his resolve to make India 'Atmanirbhar’. These virtual celebrations were carried out when thousands of migrant workers had set out on foot back to their villages unable to cope with the completely unplanned lockdown. By May 2020, India was facing its worst economic crisis, joblessness and rising poverty levels.

Last year’s BJP communication had described PM Modi as the world’s “most popular leader”, which is now debatable under the present COVID-19 circumstances in the country.