This is something that has been in the air for quite some time about the schism between PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the later suffering from some very critical ailment. Many tweets and news video clips did rounds in social media even in the last couple of days.

Shah on Saturday (May 9, 2020) released a statement saying that “rumors about his ill health are wrong.” He further stated that he was “completely healthy” and is not suffering from any disease.

Actually the recent tweet by one independent journalist and political activist Vijaylakshmi Nadar about Shah was not only in a bad taste but also surpassed every limit of journalistic ethics and civic decency when she tweeted wishing his illness to end conclusively and that is something she wants to celebrate. There were many cohorts to Nadar.

It goes on with PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah falling apart and Shah might be divested from Union Home ministry anytime the PM finds suitable. This speculation has been rife for long and even faces stepping into the shoes of Shah have been discussed in social media and by Youtubers who named from Nitin Gadkari to Ajit Doval to Yogi Adityanath to many other for the coveted post.

To put it in perspective, the entire media fraternity failed to get even inkling of the news that S Jaishankar will be inducted in the cabinet as an external affairs minister in Modi’s second term as PM. So when will cabinet reshuffle happen and who all will be the new ministers and if Shah will be replaced is known to only and only Modi. There should not be any confusion about it.

Now, one must understand that Modi-Shah stayed together in their thick and thin and the most important aspect of their long-lasting understanding has been that Shah never crossed Modi’s path and did that much only whatever was asked him to do. So differences emerging between them is nothing more than speculation and wishful thinking of Modi-Shah detractors who are checkmated by duo’s moves.

Though, there are certain arguments that endorse their differences like he became more popular after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A and passage of triple talaq bill in Parliament. Both the leaders were not on the same page as far as NRC is concerned and spoke in different voices on the issue. Moreover, the passage of CAA has brought to Shah in the league of Sardar Patel rather some say he will go down in the history books as the best home ministers the country ever had.

Hold on! Shah was made to stay at former Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s Ashok Road residence on Modi’s intervention, he was made general secretary of the party with the blessings of Modi and brought to the government from the party as he knew that only he can execute his plans without any if and but and in toto with Rajnath Singh’s tenure proving to be a complete dud as Home Minister.

Amid all these talks, some activities are visible as generally, Shah avoids even informal interaction with media unless it is mandated, necessary, and asked by his high command (Modi). Ever since speculation about his ill health started doing round, his picture about meeting with Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh delegation was released in media and also he expressed his concern and grief about laborers behind mowed down by the goods train and now his statement.

He is working till late at night every day. So one caution that must be mentioned that sometimes eerie silence like this leads to some storm herein some political storm!

(By Vinod Kumar Shukla & Rakesh Ranjan)