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Modi Model of Freedom: KARENGE, AKHIR KAB?, By Poonam I Kaushish, 1 August, 2017 Print E-mail

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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