And so it’s a wrap-up! The conclusion to one of the most dramatic and ostensibly the most sensational elections in the democratic world. Elections may be over but the fervor has not yet died down. The ostentation of show of strength by the political parties during the elections still rings in the ears of many. The 17th Lok Sabha elections were unprecedented. Because while the opposition chorused on the issues of unemployment, weak economy, agrarian distress, demonetization, GST and a host of other issues. The ruling dispensation for the first time chose to fight on the issues of terrorism, national security, and hyped nationalism! The Congress led by its president Rahul Gandhi rallied on the Rafale Deal accusing PM Modi of giving 30K Crore to Anil Ambani. Rahul’s jibe at PM Modi ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ almost became the de-facto slogan of the opposition parties. This further prompted PM Modi to prefix Chowkidar to his name which was follow suit by his Council of Ministers as well as supporters.
This election witnessed an interesting turn of events in the history of Indian Elections. While it could not be confirmed about the number of candidates who contested from Varanasi, the seat of PM Modi. The reports from as early as March 2019 published by the Economic Times indicated that 111 Farmers from Tamil Nadu willing contest against PM Modi in his home turf. Another similar story was published by the Times of India in April that 150 Turmeric Farmers from Telangana will contest against PM Modi. All these were the result of utter frustration against the Modi government for failing to address the plight of the farmers. The Hindu further published breaking news about the decision of the sacked BSF Jawan to contest against PM Modi. Tej Bahadur Yadav was dismissed from service in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the poor quality of food served to the Jawans. Although Tej Bahadur’s nomination was canceled by the ECI. In a short period of time, he could garner the support of the people leaving behind an indelible mark in Indian Politics. Twitterati made a comparison between the Fake and Real Chowkidar referring to PM Modi as the Fake Chowkidar.
The pliable Medias played a more vigorous role than the year 2014 to espouse the BJP’s campaign but it proved futile. The widespread public dissatisfaction overshadowed the hyped Modi Wave. Though the BJP’s strength seemed to be limited to its traditional stronghold in the Hindi heartland. The build-up to the growing discontentment against the present regime started way back in 2014, the year Narendra Modi was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India. The first nail on the coffin came shortly after Narendra Modi took over the Government when it changed the ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ Scheme which was started by the UPA-II in 2013 to ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’. The Modi Government with the help of state-sponsored media publicized it in such a way to make it look like his Government has actually introduced a new scheme. Thereafter, it continued on a name changing spree changing the names of up to 33 schemes introduced by the earlier Government. Prominent of which is ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ earlier known as ‘National Girl Child Day Programme’ started in 2008, ‘Make in India’ earlier known as ‘National Manufacturing Policy’ started in 2011, ‘Digital India’ earlier known as ‘National eGovernance plan’ started in 2006 etc. The same year Mr. Modi was sworn in, his Govt. changed ‘Christmas’ the most revered day of the Christians to ‘Good Governance Day’. After which again they changed ‘Good Friday’ to ‘Digital India Day’. All these were done with complete disregard to the sentiments of the Christian community and were executed meticulously to further the agenda of the RSS i.e ‘Hindu Rashtra’.
By the end of February 2019, Mr. Modi had made a record 93 Foreign Nation (including repeated visits) trips in just 5 years drawing equal to his predecessor Mr. Man Mohan Singh who made the same number of trips during his 10 years in office. On one such trip to France in 2015, Mr. Modi made a rather controversial inter-governmental agreement, more popularly known as the ‘Rafale Deal’. What sparked the controversy is rather obvious. In 2012, the then UPA II had finalized to purchase 126 fighter jets from Rafale (18 in fly-away condition and 108 to be manufactured in India by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). The fighter jets were negotiated at a price of Rs.570 Crore per jets. However, Mr. Modi struck a new deal overriding the previous deal at a price of Rs. 1670 Crore per jets. As per the new deal, India would get 36 fighter jets in fly-away condition. What was more surprising is that the Reliance Defense Limited of Anil Ambani which was incorporated only on 28 March, 2015 was preferred over HAL. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardahn Singh Rathore stated that the Government has spent Rs. 5245 crores on Publicity alone. This is inclusive of the vague flaunting of life-size Modi’s pictures across India. In an unprecedented and undeniably the worst political blunder in the history of India, Mr. Modi announced the ‘Demonetisation’ on the night of 8 December 2016. This was followed by months of unrest over the whole of India. Common people were the most affected who were seen in long queues under the sweltering sun. All its tall claims to curb terrorism, curb black money and bring back black money stashed in the Swiss Bank and deposit 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen were swept under the rug after the RBI in its annual report made it clear that 99.3% of the demonetized currency has returned to the banking system. When the people were somehow recovering from the losses caused by Demonetisation, the Modi Government in a hasty decision introduced the ‘GST’ or the Gabbar Singh Tax in the words of Rahul Gandhi on July 2017. The small businesses and traders which were badly hit by demonitisation was further suppressed by the GST. The complicated tax slabs which were changed several times after its implementation added more misery to the already aggrieved people. The irony is while it was in opposition, the BJP had fiercely opposed the implementation of GST and Aadhar. There was no remorse however from any of the BJP functionaries instead they gloated on their vain achievement led by PM Modi.
The Planning Commission of India which was formed on 15 March 1950 was replaced by Niti Aayog on 1 January, 2015 by the Modi Government. The BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh which was installed post demonitisation saw Ajay Singh Bisht aka Yogi Adityanath the Chief Minister of UP following the footsteps of its master Modi. The names of Historical cities such as ‘Allahabad’ was changed to ‘Prayagraj’ and ‘Faizabad’ to ‘Ayodhya’. The age-old Railway Station ‘Mughal Sarai’ was changed to ‘Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’. The Yogi Administration didn’t stop there. It introduced a rather questionable moral policing squad by the name of Anti-Romeo Squad which needs no explanation. The Gaurakshaks continued to have free hand under the careful watch of the district administration. Ambulance and PG Hostel for Cows saw a steep rise in the Hindi Heartland. In the name of protecting their ‘Gau Mata’, the fringe elements have turned it into more of an organized business involving several high profile persons. Journalist Niranjan Takle reveals how an extortion network run by Bajrang Dal people extorts money from cattle traders. It was reported that for letting go a cow truck they extort Rs 15000 while a buffalo truck is passed after collecting Rs. 6500. According to The Wire, as many as 20 lynching were reported across India between the year 2015-2017 and the victims were all from the minority community. In an Interview by The Quint, Lakhan Yadav, a Gau Rakshak of VHP made a startling revelation “If Someone is taking a cow to be slaughtered, kill him then and there. We can worry about the law later”. All these are being carried out under the garb of nationalism with logistics from those in power.
So many promises made by the BJP are yet to be fulfilled even though its 5-year term has come to an end. The prices of essential commodities are higher than in 2014 and before. The prices of crude oil have decreased drastically in the international market but the fuel prices in India continue to soar higher and higher. The BJP’s promise of Rs 40 per Dollar continues to remain a vague promise. In fact, the BJP in its last 5 years could not really do anything it promised in its manifesto. The contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 was tabled in the Lok Sabha to fulfill its 2014 Manifesto (quote) ‘India shall remain a natural home for persecuted Hindus and they shall be welcome to seek refuge here’) (unquote) Page 40 of the BJP Manifesto under the heading ‘Foreign Relations- Nation First, Universal Brotherhood'. However, it was thwarted by the opposition led by the Congress in the Rajya Sabha.
And so that's the recapitulation of Modi Sarkar which came to power promising to deliver the ambiguous 'Vikas'. Everything and anything the BJP leaders said before 2014 was all rhetoric and not to be taken seriously. They have taken the country for a ride which took years of toil and dedication to build the institutions which are the foundations of this country which was sabotaged by the BJP led by Mr. Narendra Modi in just 5 years. Whether BJP comes back to power or not on 23rd May,2019. That the people of India have decided but it will take a long time to come out of the mess created by the BJP. I hope with time it will be well.
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