Loco Pilot Modi: Real Development or Reel Politics?

In a country where unemployment, inflation, and border tensions persist, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to don the uniform of a loco pilot for a photo-op at the inauguration of a locomotive factory in Dahod, Gujarat. The video, complete with staged smiles and clueless gear-pulling, was widely circulated on social media. But one must ask: is this what leadership looks like in 2025—posing for cameras while real issues burn?

Reel Politics Over Real Priorities?

Why does the Prime Minister have time to shoot dramatic Instagram reels but no time to visit the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where civilians are caught in crossfire due to cross-border shelling? Instead of standing with victims or holding ground-level meetings, he’s busy producing viral content.

And what’s with the obsession with optics? From washing the feet of sanitation workers to riding in submarines, the pattern is clear: showmanship over substance. Is India being governed by a leader or a marketing campaign?

Make in India or Made in China?

Modi preaches “Vocal for Local,” urging citizens to stop importing idols and goods from China. Yet, days later, the UP government, under BJP rule, announces a Chinese footwear giant will invest in Kanpur and Agra, bringing in 10 lakh jobs. Isn’t this a direct contradiction to the PM’s so-called self-reliance crusade? If Chinese companies are welcome in BJP-run states, is “Atmanirbhar Bharat” just another slogan?

Is the Government Mocking Indian Youth and Aspirants?

Modi’s acting as a loco pilot would’ve been comic relief if it weren’t so insulting. Becoming a real loco pilot in India requires education, training, certification, and clearing tough exams. So what message is being sent to the country’s struggling youth, who are desperately preparing for government jobs? That leadership is about acting, not earning? That positions are about power, not merit?

And let's not forget: BJP MPs are busy inaugurating carrom boards while millions of educated youth sit jobless. Is this the grand “New India” we were promised?

Lies, PR, and Hypocrisy

The railway minister called the new locomotive a “moving data center.” Seriously? This “innovation” exists in basic electric vehicles. Is this what India’s technological advancement has come to—rebranding known facts and selling them as Modi’s “vision”?

Meanwhile, when BJP leaders visit Muslim countries like Kuwait, they behave with silence and respect, but at home, they oversee divisive campaigns targeting mosques and minorities. Why this double standard? Are BJP’s values just props that change with the stage?

Copyright Hypocrisy and Propaganda Machinery

Modi’s video was uploaded to his YouTube channel. Ironically, while ordinary content creators are slapped with copyright strikes for using even a few seconds of footage, the Prime Minister’s entire video—possibly filled with reused elements—is given a pass. Why? Is the law different for those in power?

And who exactly is scripting these PR stunts? If Modi’s team is so obsessed with content creation, maybe they should admit they’re running a media studio, not a government.

The Final Question: Who Is India’s Government Really Serving?

Modi’s speeches about producing local goods, boycotting China, and creating jobs sound hollow when policies and actions suggest otherwise. If Make in India is working, why are we still importing essentials? If the economy is booming, why is unemployment still rising? If development is real, why do we need so much drama to prove it?

India needs answers, not actors. Vision, not videos. A driver of change—not a loco pilot for reels.