Albert Colaco
Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, it seems to have put on the back burner its promise to the electorate to focus on development, good governance and eradication of corruption. Rather, it appears that it’s obsessed with implementing the divisive agenda of its parent and boss, the RSS.
The agenda includes packing the academic institutions with its own men, posting RSS guys in the ministries of information & broadcasting, social welfare etc and even cultural and art bodies. This has already begun. The BJP govts in Haryana and Maharashtra have banned slaughter of bulls and bullocks and sale of beef over night, putting tens of thousands out of work and depriving millions especially among the poor of an affordable source of food.
Repeatedly, ministers in the Narendra Modi government have been voicing their demand for a total all-India ban on cow slaughter. What they don’t seem to know is that that power vests with the state governments and not with the Central government. While most states have banned cow slaughter in deference to the wishes of a majority, many states permit slaughter of bulls and bullocks.
Now the BJP government wants to impose total ban on cow slaughter including its progeny. Instead of focusing on industrial development of the country and stamping out corruption, the BJP seems obsessed with issues that concern only a fringe minority.
Ministers in the Modi government are speaking of embarking on a programme to provide free fodder for cows post-lactation. Farmers are being told to keep the old cows post-lactation and free grass would be provided by the state for their maintenance, unmindful of the huge burden imposed upon the poor farmers in terms of scant resources including space and burden of tending to old cows.
Holy cow! BJP seems to have been elected for the welfare of cows as this seems to weigh more on its mind than the welfare of citizens. The saffron brigade seems to be running the government by remote control. Whatever happened to Modi’s promise of less government and better governance? Was it only a smokescreen to fool the people and then unveil the real agenda after coming to power?
However, in some states governed by the BJP like Goa it has adopted a pragmatic approach by not stopping beef supply and sale, considering the minorities number a third of the population and seven of its MLA are Catholic.
But on the whole, its main pre-occupation seems to be cows. Even the Home Minister, Rajnath Singh seems unduly concerned about cows instead of protecting citizens from Pakistan attacks at the border. If he is so concerned, why does he not resign as HM and take up farming to look after cows instead of pontificating?.
Millions of our citizens suffer from malnutrition and other malaise and many go to sleep on empty stomachs Millions have no shelter. Yet, instead of trying to improve their lot in life, the likes of Rajnath Singh waste their time in indulging in populist gimmicks to please their ideological masters. He has stated that government is planning to increase the grant for setting up goshala (cowsheds) from the present Rs 22 lakhs upwards!
