Congratulations to PM Modi for leading his party to a landslide victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections. It is heartening to note that he modified his 2014 slogan “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”. This signifies that despite winning hands down he has his ear to the ground. The newly elected MP Gautam Gambhir used this slogan to make a point that criminal incidents are unacceptable. In his second term, one wishes him well and hopes he is able to keep the far right under control. Something he was seemingly was not able to do in round one.
As a fan of Modi at the start of 2014, one felt let down given the expectations built up. The implementation of GST was a big achievement and a boom to honest tax payers. Now firmly in the saddle, we can expect consolidation of the gains and some tweaking to make the system more robust. There is no possibility or desire to have a single rate for GST as it is not feasible in India.
Ease of doing business and Make in India are surely going to get a fillip, for the last year most things were on the back burner as the PM went in to election mode. There was a thrust on welfare schemes, now it will be back to business. The Sensex seemed to echo this expectation.
The less said about demonetisation, the better. Initially one felt it was a great step to counter black money. However, with nearly 100% notes back in the bank means it was a disaster, and a very costly one at that. There was a positive fallout, increase in the numbers filing tax returns and more digital payments. This thrust against black money hopefully will continue.
Corruption, has seen not a single high profile conviction, it takes time given our justice system. So hopefully in this term PM Modi and his team will translate the elections speeches on corruption into actual convictions and arrests. A big ask and very difficult one to implement. Talking is cheaper and easier. Another reason that corruption cases do not make headway is because the situation is used as a handle to keep the corrupt in check. Many who had cases have been mysteriously declared clean once they tie up with the ruling dispensation. If this is not true then only actions will speak louder than denial. It is now up to PM Modi to lead from the front on the war against corruption.
While agreeing that our security forces need better protection against terrorists and their hands should be freed to act so that others think many times before doing anything against the State, its people and its infrastructure. The action should be countrywide. A stone thrower in any State must be acted against equally and strongly so that stone throwing or attacking security forces or policemen becomes a thing of the past. So one has liberty to protest but not damage life or limb within the framework of the constitution. The PM cannot be held responsible for every unfortunate incident nor expected to tweet about it.
Swachh Bharat and making the country ODF (Open Defecation Free) is a huge idea and despite a lot of effort and money pumped into this though process, a lot more has to be done. One area is education of citizens. How often have we seen a train pull in to a clean station and within minutes garbage is thrown out of the window, or a fancy car roll down its window and have a pamper thrown out, surely often enough. Maybe the central government should have a sentinel app to catch and educate such people and surprisingly it is the educated ones that lack civic sense. This programme too will see a massive thrust and it is the need of the hour.
Citizens of India showing a mirror to elected representatives or government about issues concerning themselves or city or policy should not be treated as anti-national. Any opposition was considered against India and not against the political party, or policy. We look forward to the government building VISHWAS in this area.
Coming to opposition there is not much left. The Congress MP from South Goa is talking about Dhirios, so much for being clued in and what we can expect going forward. The by elections in Goa also proved that ideology is dead, candidates who jumped from one party to another were elected, proving politics of defection is a working solution. The Congress is bankrupt in the ideas department and that can be seen in the choice of candidates, instead of fielding new faces they went in for cast offs or disgruntled candidates of other parties.
Can politicians be expected to keep their promises? Just like we have to all move beyond the 15 lakhs. It was an election promise and not repeated this time as it had served its purpose. We have the Panjim by-poll winner promising removal of casinos from the Mandovi river in 100 days. As if to cock a snoop at him, a new casino was inaugurated a few days after his election victory. Will casinos see the next election from the river? The casino bigwigs are betting on there being no change. Let us wait and watch.
Wish PM Modi and his team a successful tenure where the key elements of our great constitution Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are upheld while we move to an era of more prosperity, peace and safety for all Indians. Jai Hind.
(The author prefers to write rather than chat in a balcao)
