Political Diary
New Delhi,
15 August, 2017
Modi Model of Freedom
KARENGE, AKHIR KAB?
By Poonam I Kaushish
Circa 1942: Karenge ya marenge, Gandhi’s slogan
that inspired millions to join the Quit India movement against British rule in
August 1942.
Circa 2017: Karenge aur kar ke rahenge, Modi’s twist
to evoke patriotism and pledge to free the country of communalism, casteism and
corruption and create a ‘new India’ by 2022 on the Quit India movement’s 75th
anniversary. Succinctly, “I mean business.”
Bluff and bluster or
genuine espousal of a new narrative of change and nationalism, either which way
it seems to have touched a chord with an aspirational India impatient for an
end to elitism, cronyism, dynastic politics, corruption, favouritism etc
Sure, Modi has
successfully cast himself as the hero of this new storyline: a tough,
no-nonsense leader who is not afraid to take on anybody, whether it is the
corrupt, the “anti-national” or foreign enemies and reform the system. Certainly,
he has saturated airwaves, with his relentless onslaught of ushering in acche din asserting that “people have
become active partners in governance as there is mutual trust between the
Government and the people.” Sic.
Really? Has he
brought about inclusiveness, made minorities comfortable and won their
confidence? Not if we go by ex-Vice President Hamid Ansari version of “enhanced
apprehensions of insecurity amongst segments of our citizen body, particularly
Dalits, Muslims and Christians”, at the National Law School in Bengaluru.
Predictably, an angry
Modi retaliated “there was some restlessness within you….but from today you
will not face that crisis. You now have the joy of being liberated, and the
opportunity to work, think and speak according to your core beliefs”.
Yet, there is
political disquiet over the Prime Minister’s failure to curb his fringe rabid
Hindutva brigands who espouse communal polarization. This has corroded
inter-community relations, to an extent where discrimination against the
minority community seems to be par for the course. Whereby, a spate of recent
lynching marks a dangerous political trend of mob violence and intolerance
towards minorities bordering on a narcissist Hindu phobia.
If this trend goes
unchecked society will get dangerously fragmented. Time the BJP considers a ban
on divisive politics because if not corrected immediately the day is not far
the country would be marked unsafe for people of ‘other’ religions who are
attacked for simply worshipping a different god.
On the external front
NaMo macho-muscular foreign policy is being tested by a belligerent China on
the Eastern front as the face-off at Doklam continues and a recalcitrant
Pakistan and its terrorists’ army in the West. Ties are fast hitting rock
bottom as the climate of suspicion grows thicker thanks to the “trust deficit” with
both. And as long as this deficit is there, India-China-Pak will continue to
engage in shadow-boxing, the intensity of which may vary from time to time.
Modi’s assertiveness
would need all the wisdom and restraint to ensure he remains in the driver’s
seat. Knowing that staying ahead is the name of the game he cannot afford to
take any chances with what constitutes India’s national security and strategic
interests in the context of evolving regional and global security environment and pursue them doggedly.
Economically, demonetisation
was akin to a scene from a Rajnikant action film where a strong hero
establishes his macho credentials by doing something spectacular. However, not
only has it dealt a major liquidity blow there’s been a significant drop in
production, manufacturing, sales and employment.
Alongside, the
mid-year Economic Survey underscores achieving 6.75-7.5% growth is a pipedream
due to appreciating rupee, farm loan waivers and transitionary challenges from
implementing GST. Adding to Government’s woes a recent RBI report avers notebandi had negative and disruptive
effects.
Specially against the
background of a Finance Ministry report which suggests only a very small
fraction of illegal wealth was stored in cash and its effectiveness was
limited. Merely changing currency notes would not curb corruption without
systemic reforms of bureaucratic, legal, and regulatory frameworks
Of course, it has
helped Modi thanks to a good political campaign of a beefy leader committed to
controlling corruption to alleviate the poor from the rich’s tyranny who were more inconvenienced than them,
thereby giving them sadistic satisfaction.
Once done and dusted,
NaMo showed up in UP and with great
panache asserted, “I fight corruption and promise you development”. Resulting
in the BJP’s electoral sweep and expanding footprint in the North-East. Thereby,
ensuring Modi is master of all he surveys. He continues to astride the tiger
called India trampling all who come in his way and further shrunk space for his
rivals.
Undeniably, in this
“battle of ideologies for a new India” the Opposition, has not only lost real
time but also emblematically overtaken and out-smarted by a restless
over-active Saffron Parivar. Thereby marking a paradigm shift whereby the top
four Constitutional positions President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Lok
Sabha Speaker are from the Sangh stable and tutored on its ideological
moorings.
A Saffron quadruple
heralding a new political model: The Sangh Model to Power crafted to grab
power, debilitate the Opposition and pursue Modi’s governance agenda in the run
up to the 2019 elections. Whereby, all four in coordinated conjunction would
ensure that governance is fast-tracked with two years to go for general
elections.
Indeed, UP’s win reflects
a change of course for the Modi-Shah BJP from its traditional Brahmin-Bania
vote base to emerge as a champion of the ‘Bahujan
samaj’. This outreach is not only to woo the Mahadalits, OBC’s tribals etc
which constitutes 20% of the population and garner votes but a signal that the
Saffron Parivar intends to expand its share pan India's political map.
Yet, in this 24X7
digital age and competitive politics given the all-round public cynicism about
our netas and the continued erosion
of Constitutional institutions, it is vital NaMo adheres to the spirit of the Constitution,
rather than its letter and acts as the nation’s “conscience-keeper” along-with
balancing the ever-growing inherent contradiction within. He needs to address
basics vital to India’s healthy growth and purge caste, creed, regional and
linguistic identities.
With half of India’s population in the 18-35 age
bracket the aspirational levels of a young democracy has changed dramatically.
No longer are old clichés, Styrofoam promises and histrionics palatable. All
demand an Obama-like “Yes we can” politics. Today, the Prime Minister can be complacent about the
Modi Model of Power but it will not be roses all the way as there are never any
full stops in politics.
In a world of post-truth and post-ideology
politicking, there is the stirrings of new politics. Time has come for our netas to turn a new page and invest in
its citizens, their education, health and future. An intent generation is
unlikely to remain content in a scenario where a Modi-led Government does not
create jobs or contain rural distress.
Undoubtedly, NaMo stirring speech from the
ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort urging people to revel in the “feel-good factor”
has ignited a new chingari but at the
same time he should remember promises and outcomes have to match. True, he and his
Government can blame the Opposition, natural calamities etc if the outcomes
don’t look good and claim credit when they do.
But in the long term
it is imperative Modi realizes that no amount of good luck can cover the lack
of substantive achievements. People
like
happy endings and are waiting for acche din to arrive. After all, we
Indians deserve a lot better. ----- INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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