Extempore? Modi's maiden I-Day speech stirs curiosity

GWALIOR, India - Aug. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- NEW DELHI: Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak extempore on Independence Day? This is the talking point in the Capital's power circles.

With just a day left for the important speech, there is a growing feeling in the ruling party circles that the PM should not compromise his spontaneity to the discipline of a scripted speech and stick to his natural self.

Modi, who is known to be a good orator, can speak at length without notes and shift between issues effortlessly. He is also able to ensure that there is cohesion in his thoughts and that he connects with the audience.

Sources said the flow and spontaneity may be lost if he gives in to the teleprompter. They cite the example of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose silken oratory helped the party grow in areas where it had marginal presence. Vajpayee too lost his touch and settled for the staid and dour scripted speech once he joined the government. His speeches on Independence Day and at the United Nations did not match up to his potential as a good orator.

Sources said the PM's speech may focus on concerns and priorities of the government and may, largely, avoid getting into the specifics of too many projects and focus only on a few. This will mark a shift from the previous speeches which got bogged down in details.

Modi is likely to focus on plan and programmes which have been either announced by him previously , were unveiled in the 2014-15 Union Budget or are in the pipeline. Sources said he is likely to touch upon financial inclusion and the 'Beti bacho, Beti Padhao' programme — two schemes which are clearly very close to his governance strategy. Financial inclusion is also set to figure in the address.