Oratory risks sounding dull in the absence of substance. The prime minister’s Independence Day speech was, as usual, all fire and brimstone but offered precious little by way of freshness. Thus, the nation had to hear Narendra Modi rant, once again, on corruption and appeasement: all of which, it seems, is the fault of rival political parties. That the Bharatiya Janata Party is not afflicted by these warts is an egregious claim to make. In Karnataka, Mr Modi’s party got booted out because of its greasy palms. The BJP’s willingness to embrace tainted politicians is also well-documented: many of the defectors to the BJP allegedly switch sides to escape the scrutiny of investigative agencies whose gaze remains fixed on the Opposition. Had the Indian media not been spineless, the myth of Mr Modi ridding India of the scourge of corruption would have been dismantled by now. Tellingly, the prime minister also harped on his other pet theme: appeasement. This has been a potent element in Mr Modi’s demonising of welfare, especially for minorities, in the public discourse.
Mr Modi also claimed that his politics is based on the mantra of ‘perform, reform and transform’. Here too, the proverbial shadow falls between word and deed. India’s performance under his watch, especially on economic and social indicators such as joblessness, price rise, and communal amity, has left a lot to be desired. Reform, too, is in peril; the return of protectionism in trade is but one recent example. But Mr Modi cannot be faulted for claiming to have transformed India — he has undoubtedly led the republic’s charge towards majoritarianism.

That Mr Modi used his address to the nation on an occasion as solemn as Independence Day to virtually canvass for the forthcoming general elections does not come as a surprise. The prime minister often exploits public occasions for political ends. This speech — apparently not quite his last as Mr Modi has predicted his return to power — provides the contours of the template that he and his party are likely to employ as the elections draw near. Much of the rhetoric would be a mix of distortion, tall claims and polarisation. The question is this: can the Opposition convince the electorate about the licences that Mr Modi takes with the truth? The outcome of the election may well depend on that.