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Delhi, 24 April 2024
BJP’s Corruption Mantra
WILL IT WIN POPULAR SUPPORT?
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
The
first phase of polling over,it’s getting increasingly interesting to watch how
far BJP and its star campaigner Prime Minister Modi will go to press the corruption
button against the opposition, particularly the Congress. His crusade against
corruption which he’s been emphasising at various election meetings across the country
has apparently evoked cheers among the crowds,though targeting the Opposition
leaders only would be viewed as ‘political vendetta’ sharpened this election
season.
Importantly,
a recent interview with Asianet Newswas well utilised by Modi to flog
the issue and give it some credence by focussing on the performance of the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) before and after 2014, since NDA came to power. He
said: “Until 2014, under PMLA, only 1,800 cases were registered. In the last 10
years, 4,700 cases have been registered." And while assets worth
only ₹5,000 crore were attached until 2014, this figure has surged to
over ₹1 lakh crore in the past decade.
Moreover,
the Prime Minister stated that before 2014, ED had seized only ₹34 lakh in
cash, while under our government it has seized more than ₹2,200 crore in
cash. “Imagine, if this money was invested in welfare schemes for the poor, how
many people would have benefited, how many opportunities could have been
created for the youth”.
Modi acknowledged
that such "exemplary work" is bound to cause problems for some
individuals and entities. Taking a swipe at opposition parties critical of the
ED's actions, he remarked, "And for the same reason, they are engaged in
abusing Modi day and night. He further accused the opposition of "weaving
dreams by calculating on paper," while asserting that his government has
transcended mere dreams and delivered on guarantees.
It may
be interesting to note according to Modi only 3 per cent of the cases being
probed by the ED are of politicians though, however, around 90 per cent of
these are politicians from the Opposition parties. In response the INDIA bloc
points out to BJP’s scam of electoral bonds as well as the disproportionate
action against the opposition leaders in contrast to those who switched sides,
joined the BJP, or allied with it. It has for example hit out at the closure of
the corruption case against NCP leader, Praful Patel after he along with
some others joined the BJP-led alliance.
However,
an important question arises what will be done with the money seized by the ED?
Will it be used for the welfare of the poor or in building infrastructure that
is used mainly by the rich and the upper middle-income sections? As Modi himself
maintained, if the money seized is invested in welfare schemes, monitored
strictly at the grass-root level, there would be considerable improvement in
the lives of the poor and the underprivileged.
While
analysts are busy assessing how much the corruption issue will impact the
possibility of Modi returning to power for the third term, some other
developments need to be analysed. Firstly, whether BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, which
builds on Modi’s vision of India becoming a developed country by 2047 through
acceleration of infrastructure creation in diverse ways such as expansion of
bullet train network, launch of ‘new age’ trains and modern airports,
construction of more expressways apart from developing the country into a
global manufacturing powerhouse, would impress the masses.
Though
all these are mostly related to business activities, thereare points that have
been aimed at the poor: (i) free ration to be continued for five years, (ii)
free drinking water in all villages, towns and cities and (iii) free
electricity to poor households under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. But
these get diminished in comparison to the charge of corruption levelled against
the rivals. Even the resolve of creating more IITs, IIMs AIIMS and making available
affordable houses for the middle-class by lowering construction and
registration costs and strengthening RERA does not really touch the lower
echelons of society.
Considering
the need to focus on the poor and marginalised sections and create jobs and
opportunities, the political parties need to talk about changing strategy if brought
to power where national income and wealth should not be concentrated by 5 or 10
per cent of the population. Besides, what about imposing a one per cent wealth
tax to fund education and health in backward regions where lower castes and the
extremely poor struggle for existence, as suggested by several experts and also
by Oxfam.
The
issues no doubt will attract a sizeable section of voters, though as days pass
analysts are of the opinion that Modi’s run will not be as easy as it was
thought at the initial stages. As has been advocated by most political
analysts, the pro-business attitude of Modi and his party has been well
manifest with the opposition criticising him for the government’s failure to
deliver on its past promises. Congress is flogging the point: “What
happened to the promise of two crore jobs annually, doubling farmers’ income,
giving MSP as per the formula of the Swaminathan commission, depositing Rs 15
lakh in every account”.
However,
it remains to be said that infrastructure development which has been moving at
a fast pace under the present dispensation is no doubt noteworthy. Moreover,
indigenisation has led to spurt in business of organisations like Hindustan
Aeronautics ltd. {HAL}, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE),
RVNL, IRCON etc. and it is expected that in the third term, the pace would
continue unhindered.
At the
same time, what needs attention is more funds for welfare and a rural focus to
the new government’s plans and programmes. Education and health have to be
taken up by the government in the right spirit with adequate funds so that the
backward districts are not devoid of functional health centres, higher
secondary schools and colleges. This must be the primary focus of the next Modi
government, if it comes back to power.
It is
here that Modi’s chief adversary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, through his
yatras across the country has highlighted --the problems of the common man in
the light of rising prices and costs of living. The situation is obviously more
pathetic in rural areas. Rahul’s simple style of message may have an impact to
a select section, specially the educated ones, but Modi’s over-powering
rhetoric and mannerisms with the strong cadre base of the BJP clearly putsBJP in
an advantageous position.
Finally,
the present policy of authoritarianism, spread of hate and bigotry and lack of
civility, compassion and fellow feeling among individuals due to perversion and
jealousy in society has to change. BJP has been critical of parivarvadbut
authoritarianism, as being increasingly feared,is not healthy for a vibrant
society. There’s need for correction, particularly in public life as country’s social
fabric and relationships between individuals and communities are unfortunately
steadily eroding.----INFA
(Copyright, India news & Feature Alliance
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