Sardar Patel Memorial lecture: NSA Ajit Doval reflects BJP’s fear of Opposition unity

The fear of losing power has now started haunting the Modi government, and it has started sensing the possibility of a coalition government in the next Lok Sabha elections.

That is why possibly, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval speaking at Sardar Patel Memorial lecture said that the country needs a strong, stable and decisive government for the next 10 years, the weak coalition may be harmful for the country.

NSA Ajit Doval fears that it would be detrimental for the country if the coalition government comes to power.

“India needs a strong, stable and decisive government for the next 10 years. Weak coalition will be bad for India,” he said, adding that India wants to become a big power then our economy should also grow bigger.

If the NSA points out the weaknesses of coalition governments, then it indicates that a strong Opposition alliance can oust the Modi government in the next Lok Sabha election.

Besides, Ajit Doval throwing light on the economy also reflects that the current economic situation of the country has become a major cause of worry for the government and it is unable to find a way to assuage the situation.

Pointing towards the spying of the now-former director of CBI and the ongoing turmoil in the top investigative agency - CBI, Doval clarified that these agencies are meant for guarding the country and not for merely acting as the puppet of the leaders.

He said, “We are not governed by the representatives of the people, but the laws framed by them. So, the rule of the law is very important.”

Doval also advocated the role of private sector in economy. He said, “See how China's Alibaba and others have become big companies, how much Chinese govt has supported them. We want the Indian pvt sector companies should perform and promote Indian strategic interest”.

It is important to note here that Alibaba has more than half the stake in e-wallet company Paytm. In November 2016, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, in a matter of a few hours, Paytm had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi in full page advertisements published at the front pages of all national newspapers. It was only after demonetisation that the business of Paytm grew faster.

Possibly keeping note-ban in mind Doval said, “The populist measures shouldn't take precedence over national requirements. It is a temptation that is you take the thing or you refrain from doing the thing which is in the national interest. But probably for a short time, they may cause some pain to the people,” he added.

Without mentioning the controversy over Rafale deal, Ajit Doval said in his speech that the policy of the present government is to acquire hundred per cent technological transfer in the purchase of defense equipment.

Interestingly, though Ajit Doval is the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister but plays an important role in every significant decision of the government. Recently when the issue of the resignation of Minister of state, External Affairs, MJ Akbar rose in context of #MeToo movement, it was none other than Ajit Doval who worked as an intermediary for the exchange of messages. Ajit Doval had met MJ Akbar just a day before Akbar resigned.

In October this year, the Modi government appointed Ajit Doval the head of the Strategic Policy Group, which plays a key role in the government's policy formation. Earlier, this group was headed by the cabinet secretary.

This group was formed in 1999 and its objective was to help the National Security Council, on external, internal and economic security issues. The Modi government issued a notification on September 11, and through this notification the National Security Adviser was made the head of this group. This notification was published in October 8 Gazette too .