Citizens are accustomed to hear promises and assurances made by politicians during elections. They even digest the same knowing them to be false. Election period is a war time and it is but natural to engage in competitive guarantees to woo the electorate. People are known to condone even the unpardonable trading of filth and dirty tricks of politicians. Engineering defections and mergers through the power of the purse could be excused as a political game. Keeping the mouth on high volume in matters of corruption and admitting the charge sheeted politicians, offering party tickets and later plum ministries could be covered under the pretext of smart political management. However, citizens expect the government and the ministers to share true information and factual data at least on issues of vital importance and matters which significantly affect their lives. It just cannot be outright lies one after the other graduating into rotten liars.
Following the nation-wide opposition to CAA-NRC, the BJP ministers at Centre and States are dishing out falsehoods. The Yediyurappa government in Karnataka was one of the first States to announce NRC. It has already set up a detention centre. The same government rolled back the decision. The Chief Minister of Goa says that NRC may not be required in Goa. India’s Home Minister says three different things in one breathe. On the floor of the Lok Sabha there is a clear statement declaring the intent to prepare NRC to “detect and deport every infiltrator (ghuspethiye) from our motherland”. There is another report from HM that NRC has not figured in government discussions. At the same time, the HM does not rule out a pan-India NRC.
The Prime Minister in a public speech announces that no work has started on NRC and not a word has been uttered on NRC! Some TV channels who have totally surrendered to the right-wing virus title it as the end of the debate and the protest of the opposition parties as an outrage. With an ‘emphatic no’ from eleven CMs and no clear positive signs from NDA partners, the ministers including the PM is probably doing a moderation exercise to puncture the opposition. The truth of the sudden midnight demonetisation of 2016 has still remained an enigma. There are no official feedback studies to corroborate the salutary impact except the sporadic lies from ministers. The proposed NRC is disenfranchisement of citizenship. Every citizen of India would gain the lost citizenship only when it is brought on the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
In a bid to outwit the opposition, the government has come out with the NRC wine in the new bottle of National Population Register (NPR). The HM sells the idea that NPR has no links with NRC, though in reality it has the same trappings. Another minister is on record in Parliament stating that the government has decided to create a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) based on information under NPR. The PM uses every public meeting to remind the people that the nation is in danger and the nation has to be saved in a bid to justify CAA-NRC and the government’s crackdown on political opponents and their detention.
Coming nearer home, we have the Goa Chief Minister consistently communicating lies on every issue. What needs to be admired is the confident body language on every occasion. In orals it is always a distinction where the CM has an answer to every issue without batting an eye-lid. Whether it was the stricken naphtha-laden vessel or the finances of the State, it was a different story every time. It is very difficult for the people to discern the truth in respect of the current status and future of Goa’s lifeline Mhadei and the Kalasa-Bhanduri project of Karnataka.
On the heels of by-elections in Karnataka, and largely to hoodwink the Karnataka electorate the MoEFCC gave its no-objection for the construction work on the project despite knowing full well that the issue has not finally concluded with the tribunal and the Supreme Court. The Goa CM did not find it grave and allowed the Environment Minister and his political party sufficient time to milk the elections. The CM kept Goa and Goans on false and fake assurances. Once the same letter was ‘kept in abeyance’ by the Environment Ministry, the CM along with his cabinet team spoke the lie that it is the same thing as withdrawal of the consent. In reality, abeyance means that the authorisation is ‘not being used or cannot be used at present and the same is kept pending’ whereas withdrawal is the cancellation of the legal NOC. The Environment Minister through another communication to Karnataka on the Kalasa-Bhanduri project has almost nullified the assurances given to Goa and put Karnataka in an advantageous position. To this, the Goa CM once again brushes off the gravity with claim that Karnataka will never get forest and wildlife permission. The same stories of lies were fed in respect of restarting of mining operations and recovery from illegal mining activity. Finally, the government is preparing the ground for establishment of a mining corporation.
Communicating lies on significant issues is a misguided thrill. The greater danger is when liars do not blink their eyes and maintain straight eye contact. Such mastery comes through drill, training and practice. People need to be wise to see through this art.
(The writer is an
educationist and political commentator)
