When the people are organised with absolute power in great numbers, programmed with the same ideas and way of living and wants to impose it on others then it is a new kind of Democracy. Our unity in diversity is jeopardized by fear of discrimination and mob violence. Elections legitimise the position of the mob which only grows in strength due to greed and the baser instincts of man. The phenomena of politicians being elected, then shamelessly crossing over to remain in power, who cannot be trusted by parties, packing them away in remote five-star resorts to prevent poaching is a blatant indication of power and pelf becoming the overriding religion. The same people garland their criminals when out on bail and controlled and biased enforcement agencies which have been put in place are guided by their master’s voice, not conscience or the law which they help subvert!
The BJP is accepting tainted politicians and defectors with welcome arms and garlands. In Goa the GFP and Independents that in fact were responsible for the survival of the BJP, were thrown out as inconvenient! The electorate also the BJP loyalists and cadre feel betrayed. What went on in Karnataka is another example. Democracy which is discussion and debate is replaced by strong arm tactics. The widely reported Kanwar Yatra openly permitted flouting of laws by devotees/ authorities and Unnao rape case illegalities are shocking. With a partisan police, we have umpteen examples of what the law will take its course means. A politico religious power can be fanatically the most dangerous!
The formidable BJP/RSS organisation has introduced Yogis and Sadvis into the government and built a loyal cadre vote bank. No matter how tainted the person chosen maybe, elections will see victory in huge numbers for the chosen one. People in water famine Tamil Nadu are kept waiting for hours at the emergency water container train organised because a minister wants to inaugurate water distribution at an auspicious time! Yet this is a nation that has planned Chandrayaan-2 mission to the moon and wants to become a super power admired by the world! Modi 1.0 slogan was “Sab Ke Saath, Sab Ka Vikas”. This did not stop Gaurakshas freely operating, lynchings and communal insensitive statements by politicians. We now have Modi 2.0 with the added “Sab Ka Vishwas”. There appears to be a sustained planned attack on citizen’s freedom and enforcement agencies abusing their powers. The Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of journalist Prashant Kanojie who was illegally arrested and jailed for hurting the sentiments of Yogi Adityanath, calling it “a glaring case of deprivation of liberty”. This malaise will not stop and fear instilled in anyone who dare criticise/ have a suggestion/ humor or opinion at variance with those in power, unless the Courts along with ordering immediate release, prescribes exemplary consequences for those breaking the law and depriving the media or any citizen of their precious freedom. Intellectuals, celebrities, secular forces opinions are derided as sickular, Luytens, Khan Market types and denounced with equivalent contra opinions!
We are told that Modi 2.0 is brimming with ideas and setting fantastic targets for all the people’s benefit. The people keep suffering, especially the minorities, the poor, uneducated and working class who are rendered powerless or cannot cope. Here haste makes waste! This also frustrates needed ease of doing business. Rahul Bajaj, Narayan Murthy, Kiran Majumdar, Adi Godrej, Chairmen of L&T and HDFC cautioning Modinomics dismissed as “pessimistic”! There is a method in the madness. Economics, jobs etc pales into insignificance with surgical strike 2.0 revoking Article 370 and bifurcating Kashmir into Union Territories, creating history by achieving one India, boldly righting the wrongs of all the previous governments! A decisive, strong authoritarian and well disciplined government requires optimistic go getting people.
However, I visit banks, post offices, government offices where there is digitisation but no reliable infrastructure! Delays, come tomorrow, server is down etc. A very large chunk of people have suffered with Modi 1.0 promises. Demonetisation and badly implemented GST had caused chaos. The leather industry, MSMEs was hit and thousands of jobs lost. Technology and skills required are rapidly changing. Facts are existence of vast income disparities! We continually find flooding and pot holed roads every year, people disappearing down open drains, buildings falling down, malnourished children dying, deadly crimes termed as stray incidents, stray cattle etc! I would request the government to stop living in denial and action people’s feedback without rubbishing them all the time. People are more interested in security of life and limb, lower prices and their hard earned money safe in the bank, the basics of civic sense, law and justice in freedom. VIP culture is thriving and there is little respect for the citizen. We want to see transparency and accountability. The government is throwing good money after bad and says it is proceeding to bake a bigger pie and then only all can hope to get a slice. Are we going the Chinese and Pakistan way? The government used its brute majority among others to amend and dilute the RTI Act quickly by simply ignoring the citizen and the Opposition, converting the CIC into another caged parrot. We will only get information on a need to know basis. Big brother knows what is good for us! Are we building “Sab Ka Vishwas”?
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in Porvorim)
