A Nation Addressed, A Democracy Diminished
When a Prime Minister addresses the nation, the expectation is not merely of communication, but of constitutional sobriety. Such moments are meant to transcend partisan divides, offering clarity, reassurance, and statesmanship. Narendra Modi’s 29-minute televised address on April 18, 2026, delivered in the aftermath of the government’s failure to pass the Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Bills, did precisely the opposite.
By Hasnain Naqvi