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One Year After Demonetisation: BJP Still Mounting New Goalposts

We, the people of India, today observe the first anniversary of an enormous tragedy that caused widespread distress and suffering to 125 crore Indians. The unwitting, thoughtless, unplanned and mismanaged decision of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi – completely driven by personal ambitions thrusted upon 125 Crore Indians has resulted in an ‘Economic Disaster of Monumental Proportions’. The Narendra Modi Government has launched a no holds barred publicity blitzkrieg to convert the entire debate of demonetisation into binaries of ‘Black Money vs White Money’, but the reality on the ground is that there is insurmountable pain and anguish. 


PM Narendra Modi inflicted a ‘Scam of the Century’ at the expense of our countrymen by this reckless decision. The BJP indulged in organized loot and legalized plunder while the common people of India were forced to queue outside banks and ATM’s. Today, we recall those unsung, unspoken and undocumented people who lost their lives when PM Modi conducted this gigantic social experiment to traumatize them. While the back bone of India’s Economy – the Informal Sector which consists of crores of farmers, daily wage earners, migrants, labourers, craftsmen, street vendors, small traders was devastated by this one ‘Tughlaqi Farmaan’ by – the BJP converted crores of its ill gotten money into ‘legal tender’. 


Demonetisation displayed a brazen display of utter disdain by the Modi Government for Institutions. The reputation of the Reserve Bank of India was shattered into pieces. One man’s adventurism writ large as an unplanned, ill prepared Government and administration took upon itself to implement this huge exercise. Not less than 135 notifications and orders were passed and rules were changed by the minute to enforce the will of one person, while the citizens suffered. 


None of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met. To promote a less-cash economy, coercive steps like demonetisation were ineffective. The Cash in Circulation after one year is close to 90% of previous levels. The fact that more than 99% of the demonetised currency came back into the banking system, has punctured the government’s claims. There are also widespread reports of the rich converting their black money into white while the poor suffered. 

Where has the Black Money gone?

RBI Report reflects that out of 15.44 lakh crore money in circulation at the time of demonetisation on November 8, 2016; Rs 15.28 lakh crore have been received back. It means that only Rs 16,000 crore did not come back, so far. 
On the contrary, Prime Minister and Finance Minister had claimed that demonetisation would result in non-deposit of Rs 3-5 lakh crore of black money. On December 10, 2016; Attorney General, Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that “The Government expects Rs 10 or 11 lakh crore out of a total of Rs 15 lakh crore.
Will Modi ji answer as to where has the black money gone, as almost the entire money has been re-deposited?

Where is the ‘Fake Currency’? – Is it Another ‘Jumla’?

PM Modi had announced that detecting fake currency notes was the logic behind demonetisation. Even Finance Ministry in its press release dated 8th November, 2016 had stated detecting fake currency as the reason for demonetisation.


RBI Report has revealed the falsehood of this claim also. Out of 15.28 lakh crore currencies received back, only Rs41 crore currency was found to be fake i.e. 0.0013%. Once 99.998% currency has been found to be genuine, and then the entire logic given by Prime Minister has utterly failed.
Fake Currency in shape of the new Rs 500/Rs 2000 notes has already been detected. In one case, children were caught photocopying and circulating the new Rs 2000 note. 

Has Terrorism & Naxalism been curbed?

Another reason given by Prime Minister Modi for demonetisation was stoppage of terrorism and Naxalism. Facts belie this claim also. Post-demonetisation, there have been 50 major terror incidents in J&K alone, in which 80Jawanshave been martyred and 51 civilians killed.
Also, there have been 17 major naxal attacks after demonetisation, in which 69 security personnel were martyred and 86 civilians killed. What is the logic of Prime Minister’s claim is un-understandable in view of these figures? 

Cost of printing ‘New Currency’ is more than ‘Savings’- Proves the folly of Demonetisation

RBI Report says that only 16,000 crore was not deposited back. RBI Report further reveals that a sum of Rs.25,391 crore was spent on printing/logistics of New notes. Will Modi ji tell the logic of spending 25,391 crore rupees to save 16,000 crore rupees?

Has India moved towards a ‘Digital Economy’? 

Last reason given by PM Modi was promotion of digital transaction in the economy. Even this logic appears to have failed. In November, 2016 (prior to demonetisation), value of digital transactions in our economy was 94 lakh crore. Post-demonetisation in July 2017, value of digital transactions was 104 lakh crore i.e. a mere jump of 10 lakh crore over pre-demonetisation period. 


Truth is that the biggest increase in digital transactions happened during Congress-rule. Between 2011-12 to 2012-13, digital transactions jumped by 53%. Between 2012-13 to 2013-14, digital transactions again increased by 49%. This data completely defeats the assertions of the Prime Minister.


Has ‘Black Money’ been seized? 

PM Modi and FM Jaitley have been brandishing that since November 2016 upto May 2017, a total Rs 17,526 Crore has been detected as ‘Undisclosed Income’. They forget to mention that 5 times more ‘Black Money’ was unearthed by Congress-UPA in the last two years of the Congress Government. (As seen below).

As we witnessed hundreds of stories of distress and sufferings, the Government kept changing goalposts to project a positive narrative. Now the BJP spokespersons and propaganda machinery is now mounting new goalposts. 


Firstly it is claiming that ‘Formalization of the economy’ by increase in the tax payer’s base. This is factually wrong. According to the Finance Ministry’s Annual Report, the year-to-year growth in the number of tax payers in 2016-17 was 26% (with demonetisation), which is less than 27.6% during 2015-16 (without demonetisation). The Modi Government changed the very definition of the ‘tax base’ and ‘new tax payers added’ through the CBDT, on the recommendation of the Avadhesh Kumar Mishra Committee. As per the new definition, ‘new tax payer added’ are all ‘persons from whom the TDS/TCS deductions are made’. Thus, BJP’s claim that more people are now under the tax net is as manufactured as its GDP numbers based on changing the criteria altogether.


Secondly, PM Modi recently claimed, in an election rally, that since India’s ‘Cash to GDP ratio’ has fallen substantially, we have less cash in the system and corruption has gone down. PM forgot to mention that ‘currency in circulation’ is back to pre-demonetization level. 15.45 lakh crore were demonetized but ‘ new currency in circulation’ is back at 16 lakh crore. Some simple facts puncture the story further. As on March 31, 2017, the cash to GDP ratio had stood at 8.8 per cent, while in June 2017, it increased a shade higher to 9.9 percent as compared to pre-demonetisation cash to GDP ratio of 12.2 per cent. What the Government is not telling is the simple fact that if the economic activity slows down, the growth in currency in circulation is bound to plunge. For the period of three months ending March 2017 and June 2017, the non-government part of the GDP (which forms around 90 per cent of the GDP) has grown by a little over 4 per cent. Further, the Reserve Bank of India tells us that India’s Cash to GDP ratio is now close to countries like Germany and France. But if we take the example of another developed country like Japan which has the highest cash to GDP ratio at 19.4 per cent, then will it mean that Japan has wide spread corruption? Answer is simply no. Even as per the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2016, Japan is the twentieth least corrupt country in the world. Unfortunately, India stands at the 79th position, despite having much lower cash to GDP ratio.

Third ‘Jumla’ which is being parroted by BJP leaders is that ‘interest rates for loans’ have seen a substantial decline. This is hogwash. BJP Government has actually targeted the country’s ‘Saving Rates’. Since 2014, BJP has made atleast 8 revisions in the interest rates for various saving schemes including Savings Bank Rate, Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. When there are no savings, then reduction of ‘interest rates for loans’ will be meaningless.


For example, Government’s principal bank i.e. State Bank of India (SBI) slashed saving bank interest rates from 4% to 3.5%. Saving Accounts in SBI are currently estimated at 37 crore with a deposit of 9.4 lakh crores. If there is a reduction of 0.5% in interest rate, there is a direct loss of Rs.4,700 crore annually to the 37 crore account holders. Couple this with the multiple charges being levied on ATM, Bank and Digital transactions; this has burned deep holes in the pockets of ordinary citizens.

Fourthly, we are being lectured on ‘loot’. This is preposterous. In September, 2016; bank deposits in scheduled banks saw an additional increase of Rs. 5,88,600 lakh crore. Out of this, fixed deposits made between 1st September to 15th September, 2016 alone were over Rs.3 lakh crore. Does it not prove advance knowledge of the decision of demonetisation and conversion of money?


Lastly, The BJP Government is claiming that now it has now obtained the ‘addresses’ of those who deposited 99% of the demonetized currency in banks. This is the biggest lie. Had it been the case, BJP Government had complete 365 days and all means to trace these addresses. Not even a single FIR has been registered against such people. Merely floating mismatched figures in the media only reflects a ‘shoot & scoot’ strategy. There is not a single document in public domain which names these tax evaders. Why is PM Modi lying ? 

Demonetisation has turned out to be the biggest scam of independent India. Examples are many:-

(i) Kolkata Unit of BJP was caught depositing Rs.500/Rs.1000 notes running into Rs.3 crore on the day of demonetisation in A/c No. 554510034. Despite repeated demands, BJP and RSS have not made public details of money deposited between Ist March, 2016 and 8th November, 2016 in its bank accounts across the country.


(ii) In the run-up to decision of demonetisation, BJP and RSS purchased properties running into hundreds of crores across the country. Congress has released details of 8 properties valuing Rs.3.41 crore in Bihar and 18 properties in Odisha. Actual market value of these properties is much higher. Despite this, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have refused to make public the details of properties purchased by BJP/RSS in last one year. Does it not prove that BJP had advance knowledge of the decision of demonetisation and was converting its black money into assets immediately before demonetisation?


(iii) In September, 2016; bank deposits in scheduled banks saw an additional increase of Rs.5,88,600 lakh crore. Out of this, fixed deposits made between Ist September to 15th September, 2016 alone were over Rs.3 lakh crore. Does it not prove advance knowledge of the decision of demonetisation and conversion of money? Modi government has been unable to explain it nor has made public names of everyone, who had deposited Rs.25 lakh or more.

(iv) Shockingly and just before demonetization on 08-09-2016, cash of Rs.3 crore was seized from a Maruti Swift Car bearing Regn. No. HR-26AR-9662 at Indira Puram, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The two occupants of the car, Sidharth Shukla and Anoop Aggarwal claimed that the money belonged to them and they were taking it to Lucknow. Ghaziabad City BJP President, Ashok Monga reached the Police Station and certified on a letter pad that the money was being ‘sent by BJP Central Office to BJP State Office in Lucknow’. Will Modiji and Amit Shah answer the source as also the reason for transferring the money in stashes of cash just before demonetisation instead of a digital transfer, which they are promoting? 
As ordinary people languish in bank lines for days together to withdraw their own money, a parallel ‘black market’ flourishes in converting black money into white by charging a commission upto 30% as also sale and trading of new currency notes with the tacit approval of Modi government. Important issue is that role of none of the BJP leaders involved has been investigated.
(a) BJP National President, Amit Shah is a Director of Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, Ahmedabad. As much as Rs.500 crore were deposited in this bank within 3 days of demonetisation. Why has Amit Shah not been investigated?

(b) BJP Maharashtra Minister, Pankaja Munde and her sister & BJP MP, Pritam Munde are owners of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank. In a raid, a sum of Rs.10 crore in old notes and Rs.10 lakh in the new currency of Rs.2000 were recovered. Why have they not been investigated?


(c) Mahesh Shah of Ahmedabad, Gujarat made a declaration of Rs.13,860 crore in the voluntary income disclosure scheme. He later resiles. As he was giving a TV interview disclosing names of politicians and bureaucrats, he was taken away by Income Tax authorities. Former Gujarat CM, Sureshbhai Mehta has openly spoken about links of Mahesh Shah with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Why have they not been investigated?

(d) Ramesh Gowda, an associate of Karnataka BJP leader & former Minister, G. Janardan Reddy, committed suicide and left behind a suicide note stating conversion of Rs.100 crore of black money by the BJP leader.


(e) Cash worth Rs.91.50 lakh was recovered from the car of BJP Minister for Cooperation, Subhash Desmukh in Maharashtra.


(f) A number of BJP leaders were caught with stashes of cash. Sanjiv Kamboj, co-Convener of Legal Cell of BJP in Punjab put up photographs on social media with wads of new Rs.2000 currency notes. Manish Sharma, a BJP leader from West Bengal, close to a Union Minister, was caught with Rs.33 lakh of new currency notes. In Salem, Tamil Nadu; Arun, a BJP Youth Wing leader, was caught with new currency notes worth Rs.20.55 lakh. BJP leader, Sushil Vaswani was raided in Madhya Pradesh and a lot of ill-gotten money was recovered.

व्यक्तिगत वाहवाही लूटना ही था नोटबंदी का असली उद्देश्य : मोदी

लगा के आग शहर को, ये बादशाह ने कहा

उठा है दिल में तमाशे का आज शौक़ बहुत

झुका के सर को सभी शाह-परस्त बोल उठे

हुज़ूर शौक़ सलामत रहे, शहर और बहुत !

इस लेख के उपलिखित शीर्षक को पढ़ कर घबराइए नहीं, क्योंकि यह एक व्यंग्य है, पर यही नोटबंदी की सच्चाई भी है। प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने ऐसी सत्यपूर्ण ज़िम्मेदारी कभी नहीं ली, पर “दिल को बहलाने को ‘ ग़ालिब ‘ ये ख्याल अच्छा है…. !” नोटबंदी द्वारा मोदी जी ने जनता को जिस तरह से सताया है, उस महा-धोखे की भरपाई, इतिहास में शायद ही कोई कर सके। जिस तरह से मोहम्मद बिन तुग़लक़ अपनी सनक भरी योजनाओं के लिए जनता के हितों से खिलवाड़ करता था , उसी तरह प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने भारत की 125 करोड़ जनता को नोटबंदी के आनन – फ़ानन भरे फैसले से सस्ती राजनैतिक वाहवाही बटोरने के लिए ठग लिया है। नोटबंदी के बाद तो अब सनकी मोहम्मद बिन तुग़लक़ भी सोच रहा होगा कि उससे बड़ा सनकी अब भारत की धरती पर अवतरित हो गया है !

रिज़र्व बैंक ऑफ इंडिया की वार्षिक रिपोर्ट ने अब बिलकुल साफ़ कर दिया है कि नोटबंदी के पश्चात भारतवासियों ने अपना सारा पैसा (99%) नगदी व्यवस्था में वापस कर दिया है।  नोटबंदी के कारण ₹15.45 लाख करोड़ का नगद अमान्य घोषित हुआ था, पर भारत के नागरिकों ने उसमे से ₹15.28 लाख करोड़ की राशि लौटा दी।  यानी मात्र ₹16000 करोड़ ही आर्थिकतंत्र में वापस ना आ सके। समझने वाली बात यह है कि इन ₹16000 करोड़ को खोजने के लिए भाजपा सरकार ने अपना पूरा सरकारी तंत्र झोक दिया। कुल ₹25391 करोड़ तो सिर्फ संचालन और नए नोट छापने में ही लग गए। किसी भी पाँचवी कक्षा के बच्चे से भी अगर हम इस साधारण गणित का उत्तर पूछेंगे तो वह इसको नुक्सान ही बताएगा। 8 नवंबर , 2016 की रात जब महान शक्तिशाली, राजनैतिक सूझ-बूझ से ओत-प्रोत, प्रशासकीय अनुभव से लैस मोदी जी ने यह सपने में भी नहीं सोचा होगा, कि जब वह नोटबंदी का यह ‘विशालकाय हवन’ संपन्न करेंगे तो इसका परिणाम इतना उल्टा निकलेगा ।

नोटबंदी का सबसे बड़ा झूठ तो प्रधानमंत्री जी ने लाल क़िले की प्राचीर से इस साल बोल दिया था। उन्होंने ना पचने वाला एक ऐसा सफ़ेद झूठ इतनी बेबाक़ तरीके से बोला की ‘झूठ’ पर अध्ययन करने वाले बड़े-बड़े मनोवैज्ञानिक और पेशेवर चिकित्सक भी शरमा जाए। उन्होंने यह दावा किया कि नोटबंदी के बाद, ₹3 लाख करोड़ अर्थव्यवस्था में लौट आये है ! अब ₹16000 करोड़ के आधिकारिक खुलासे के बाद, मोदी जी अभी तक मौन हैं । और उनके वित्तमंत्री जेटली जी फिर एक अच्छे विधिशास्त्र के विद्यार्थी की तरह कानूनी तर्क -वितर्क दिए जा रहें हैं ।

नोटबंदी को लेकर सरकार के प्रवक्ता समय-समय पर, वस्तुस्थिति के मुताबिक़ अपने लक्ष्य और उद्देश्य एक लटकन (पेंडुलम) के मुताबिक झुलाते रहे, और देश की 125 करोड़ जनता इस तमाशे को झेलती रही।  8 नवंबर , 2016 को रात्रि के 8 बजकर 20 मिनट पर जब नोटबंदी का भूचाल हमारे ऊपर गिरा, तब इसका उद्देश्य – काले धन को ख़त्म करना व नकली नोटों से चल रहे आतंकवाद और नक्सलवाद के विनाशकारी धंधे की कब्र खोदना था।  नोटबंदी से ना काला धन ख़त्म हुआ और न ही नकली नोट, ना आतंकवाद का घिनौना चेहरा और न ही नक्सलवाद की साजिशें ! गौर फरमाने वाली बात है की नोटबंदी के बात यह है कि नवम्बर 2016 के बाद हुई 36 बड़े आतंकवाद हमलों में, जम्मू-कश्मीर में अकेले, 46 लोगों की जान चली गयी और 58 जवानों ने अपने प्राणों की आहुति दी । इस फ़ैसले के बाद हुए 13 घातक नक्सली हमलों में 81 लोगो की जाने गयी व 69 जवान शहीद हो गए। 

नोटबंदी की कथा का एक और अध्याय यह है कि ,उसके लागू होने के कुछ ही हफ़्तों बाद, भाजपा की गिरगिट-रूपी सरकार ने यह कहा कि यह ‘महान कार्य ‘ उसने  देश “कैश लेस” बनाने के लिए किया, जिससे की ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा लोग अपने डेबिट-क्रेडिट कार्ड और टेक्नोलॉजी के अन्य माध्यमों से भुक्तान कर सके।  ‘डिजिटल इंडिया’ को प्रोत्साहन देना तो सिर्फ एक बहाना साबित हुआ है, असल में नोटबंदी की भीषण विफलता को जो बचाना था।  रिज़र्व बैंक की वार्षिक रिपोर्ट ने इस दावे का भी पर्दाफ़ाश कर दिया।  रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक ‘डिजिटल ट्रांज़ैक्शन्स ‘ दिसंबर 2016 के महीने पर तो बढ़ें पर मार्च 2017 के आते आते वही पुराने स्तर पर आ गिरे। ज़ाहिर है की नोटबंदी के दौरान तो लोगो ने अपने कार्ड और मोबाइल भुगतान के माध्यमों का इस्तेमाल किया, क्योंकि नगद कम था, पर इतने प्रचार भरे ‘डीजी धन मेलों ‘ और ‘भीम ऐप ‘ होने के बावजूद – खरे नगद पर से अपना नाता नहीं तोड़ा !

मोदी जी की महान सरकार ने फिर भी हार नहीं मानी। उन्होंने कहा की नोटबंदी का एक और लक्ष्य है- ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा लोगो को  संगठित क्षेत्र की मुख्यधारा में लाकर टैक्स का फैलाव बढ़वाना।  यह भी अच्छा मज़ाक है , सी ऐ जी की रिपोर्ट ही इस दावे का भंडाफोड़ करती है।  सरकार कह रही है की इस साल अगस्त तक 2.82 करोड़ लोगो ने आयकर विभाग को अपना कर दाखिल किया, पर  हाल ही की सी ऐ जी की रिपोर्ट  में कहा गया है की पिछले साल (2015-16) इससे अधिक- 3.98 करोड़ लोगो ने आयकर विभाग को अपना कर दाखिल किया था। 

नोटबंदी न सिर्फ एक आर्थिक त्रासदी है अपितु एक सामाजिक त्रासदी भी है। देश की अर्थव्यवस्था में 90 % योगदान देने वाला अनौपचारिक-असंगठित क्षेत्र नोटबंदी से सबसे ज़्यादा प्रभावित हुआ था।  किसानों के पास नयी फसल बोने के पैसे नहीं थे, ग्रामीण भारत में हाहाकार मचा हुआ था।  गलियों  में  सामान बेचने वाले, फेरीवाले, रेहड़ी पटरी वाले, खाने-पीने  के  खोमचे , बढ़ई, नाई, धोबी , कारीगर, बिजली कारीगर, रिपेयरमैन, प्लंबर, पोर्टर एवं अन्य कारीगर, कपड़े के व्यापारी, किराना दुकान मालिक, बेकरी, सब्जीवाले और  सब्जी के व्यापारी, अनाज के व्यापारी और विक्रेता, छोटे  व्यापारी एवं दुकानदार आदि सभी इस फैसले से प्रभावित हुए थे।  100 से अधिक लोगों की लाइनों में लगकर जान चली गयी थी- वह चाहे  तनावग्रस्त अवस्था में दिल का दौरा पड़ने से हुई हो या अस्पतालों में भर्ती रोगियों को समय पर उपचार न मिलने की वजह से हुई हो ! इन सब परिवारों को भाजपा सरकार ने मुआवज़ा देना तो दूर संसद में शोक संवेदनाये भी नहीं प्रदान की। 

पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ मनमोहन सिंह  ने संसद में कहा था की नोटबंदी “संगठित लूट” और “कानूनी डाका” है , जिससे की हमारी आर्थिक व्यवस्था को बड़ा धक्का लगेगा।  आज डॉ मनमोहन सिंह की वह बात सच हो गयी क्योंकि भारत की आर्थिक गति अब मंद पड़ गयी है।इसका ज़िम्मेदार केवल एक व्यक्ति ही है क्योंकि उसने अपने व्यक्तिगत विकास के लिए देश को आर्थिक बर्बादी की राह पर छोड़ दिया है।  

A New Narrative set by the Congress can still save India

निंदक नियरे राखिए, ऑंगन कुटी छवाय।
बिन पानी, साबुन बिना, निर्मल करे सुभाय।।

– कबीरदास

The commentators and influencers in this country have started writing the epitaph of the Congress party. They have all the right to believe so because since past three years or so, the electoral fortunes of the party have seriously dithered, after the miserable defeat of 2014. Their intense speculation about the future of the Grand Old Party is something which passionate flag bearers like me cannot discount, but are profoundly anguished with. The Liberals are angry at us. But we need to convert that anger into love. I am a Congressman and will remain a Congress party admirer even if I am the last man standing, although I shall do everything within my means to prevent that ‘last man’ scenario.

I know I may be painting a negative picture and some of you who will read you will definitely mock my assessment. Some of you will also question my locus-standi for writing this- since I am also part of that very system, albeit a very small part in which the Congress system works, I am responsible too. And Yes I am.  But, considering that I am an eternal optimist, I shall always say, that even though the initial comment of this writing will force you to doubt my assessment, I shall always yearn that such an eventuality shall never come.

Congress will remain strong and Congress will overcome its present problems. We shall again redeem India and will not let it slip to the darkness. Our ideals and ideology is rock solid and our commitment for Secularism is unflinching. Compassion, brotherhood, love and respect are the pillars which install the foundation of our basis.

A lot is being written and a lot is being said. Yes, there are a lot of inherent flaws with which our inner party system works, but there are innumerable positives also.

The honeymoon period of the Modi Government saw the Congress party believing that since it is the largest and natural political force of governance and the BJP lacks the ability to solidly govern and administer, it will never be able to live up to the expectations of people. This has actually led to its complacency and turning it into a reactive force. “Jab yeh galitiya karenge, abhi nahi toh 5-10 saal baad humara waqt aayega” (When they will make mistakes, not today, but eventually after 5-10 years we will be back in power) was the drawing room chatter of every Congressmen.

Then came a period, where the superficial layers which gloss the BJP’s incompetence began to peel off.  Failures, after failures with time- But at the most the Congress acted as a reactionary force, failing to capitalize the blunders of the ruling dispensation. The single biggest mistake which critics and admirers alike will admit that the Congress party in the UPA era failed to build its cadre, especially in states, where it was weak. An opposition needs a robust and a committed worker. The Congress is a mass based party and not a cadre based one, yet it has certain unique organizational strengths, which it could have tapped into. Its frontals are more or less defunct and at the most have become extremely sycophantic in nature- with almost no vision or plan of action.

Three years now into the dark ages of the Modi Government, where the BJP is using every trick in the political book to expand its hungry fangs to annihilate India, the Congress is making last ditch attempts to somehow foster an opposition unity, without much success. The Nitish Kumar fiasco may have its opportunistic and political strokes, and broad ones indeed, yet the Congress has to somehow take its share of blame too. I know, I will again be accused of crossing the Lakshman Rekha (Red Line) while I try to objectively put forth this assessment, but acceptance of failures, is the first stepping stone to success.

I have been hinting and posting on Social Media, since long, that the Congress needs a positive agenda. A solid, implementable narrative and a new vision to take along those committed liberal voters who still believe in those ideals on which the edifice our Constitution was laid. Time and again, I have come to this conclusion that only a positive narrative can resurrect the Congress.

For starters, we should look at our own 2014 Manifesto. This 45 page document should be our Magna Carta to attack and question the BJP. It will give us more credibility because we shall not be merely criticizing the policies, but also put forth a positive policy solution. “Had the Congress been in power, there were the 5 steps it would have taken to solve agrarian distress”. “These are the steps that the Congress party would have taken to create more jobs”.

It is not that the Congress party is not taking steps to revamp its organizational structure. Election process will complete this year and a new team is slowly and steadily been set up. New General Secretary in-charges for states are being appointed. The Communications department of the party is seeing new faces and a newer strategy for the same is in place now. Research and Social Media wings have also been refurbished and are working with new vigour. Yes, we lack in Media Management, and that needs to be proactively dealt with.  A large section of media has become the mouthpiece for the BJP, and the Congress needs to find an alternate for the same. There are several deficiencies too, which are well known. These need to be resolved.

The voter connect is only possible when you gather small constituencies of groups together and target your liberal supporters. Laziness, complacency and arrogance should be done away with. A strong ideological resolve is needed so as solidify your support base. We all know what ails the Congress party, we also have some solutions.

No political party that has a closed system and secretive in nature can function in a vibrant democracy. We have to open the doors for the converted and to the swing ones.

The Congress should aim for opposition unity, but that does not mean that it can tie up with any political party which is ideologically not at the same page as the Congress. We have seen that in West Bengal and in Uttar Pradesh. Let us not repeat that. The Congress should try and build consensus, but if that is not possible, just leave these regional parties to fend for themselves. We should stop pandering to them. Let us built our own identity, we were successful because we had one. We should not leave it. Opposition unity is good for short term goals, but in the long term, we should strive for our own National space. In states, where we are dependent on regional satraps, we have only declined. Even if we win one seat, it should be on our own.

If we do not implement a positive agenda and restructure ourselves, then even our forefathers, who so painstakingly built this country, will not forgive us for sending India to the dark ages.

All the views expressed in the article by the author are strictly personal.

How the BJP is blundering on India’s ‘China Policy’

Five decades ago, on October 7, 1966, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had openly asserted at the press conference on October 7, 1966 that India was committed to protect Bhutan from China. Today, a serious situation is developing at Doklam (also called Donglang), which is part of Bhutan, but is also claimed by China. It is located at a tri-junction of India, Tibet and Bhutan and is close to the 14000 feet high Nathu La pass, through which China has blocked this year’s Kailash Mansoravar Yatra, which was much hyped by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as ‘his government’s gift of a second route for millions of Shiva Bhakts.’

A very delicate and extremely serious situation is developing at the Chinese boundary adjoining Sikkim. A month long standoff between the Indian Army and the Chinese Army has taken place- this is the longest standoff between India and China in last 55 years (since 1962) According to media reports, China has destroyed 2 bunkers of the Indian Army at Doklam plateau. There are two key Chinese objectives in initiating the Doklam standoff. First, it seems to be testing India’s resolve to stand by its long cherished friend Bhutan and secondly, China is fostering an aggressive attitude towards the delicate and strategic ‘Chicken Neck’ which connects the rest of India to the northeast.

Since the day, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi swung in a “Jhoola” and relished “Dhokla” in Ahmadabad, Gujarat with his Chinese counterpart, China has time and again proceeded to break the land boundary agreement which the then Congress-UPA Government had entered into in 2005 and later signed by both the heads of the state in 2013.

1)    Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas, signed in April 2005 and

2)    Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in October 2013,

Also, India has underlined that the two Governments had in 2012 reached agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries. Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding.We must not forget the fact that Chinese incursions have continuously increased under the BJP Government.

1.    In the past 45 days, 120 Chinese Incursions have taken place, while 240 such incursions have taken place till this month in 2017.
2.    The much hyped second route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nathu La stopped suddenly by China has dealt a severe blow to India’s diplomatic image. Despite the Chinese Army destroying the facilities built for the Indian pilgrims, the BJP Government did not pay any heed to the miseries of the pilgrims, till they started posting videos and pictures of the Chinese Army’s destroying them. The stoic silence and inaction by the BJP Government is for all of us to see.

3.    On June 4, 2017: Two Chinese Army choppers violated the Indian airspace, by hovering over Chamoli district. On previous occasions, Chinese helicopters had entered 4.5 kilometres into Indian territory, an area that China claims as its own in Barahoti ,Uttarakhand
4.    Border disputes with China have again reached center stage with repeated breaches and incursions by the Chinese forces along the international border; However, in March , this year – the MoS  Defence in a written reply to the Parliament says that there were “No Chinese Incursions, Only Transgressions”
5.    Earlier Home Minister, Rajnath Singh has said, that “Chinese Intrusion are only Perception”.

There have been multiple occasions where this BJP Government has failed to secure India’s National Interests, viz-a-viz China:
1.    China vetoes declaration of Masood Azhar as an ‘international terrorist’ under Pakistan’s pressure
2.    China blocks India’s membership of ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group’ asking for parity with rogue Pakistan.
3.    China opposes India’s membership of UN Security Council.

4.    On Dec 19, 2016; Russia extended support to China-Pak Economic Corridor & expressed intent to connect it with Eurasian Economic Union.
5.   China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worth $54 billion built through PoK/Balochistan connecting Gwadar Port in Arabian Sea to China with base for Chinese submarines- Does it not compromise India’s Sovereign right over POK & affect our strategic interests?
6.    China renames six places in Arunachal Pradesh on its official map.
7.    Nepal accusing the Government of India of interference in its domestic matters.
8.    Sri Lankan Government refusing to sign the comprehensive Economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with India. China-sponsored infrastructure developments in neighboring Sri Lanka offer an instructive lesson. Numerous infrastructure projects, negotiated in secret by the former Sri Lankan government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, saddled the Sri Lankan treasury with debts to China estimated at some $8 billion. Sri Lanka cannot repay what it owes, so it has negotiated a debt-for-equity swap of the Hambantota Port project.
9.    India is feeling increasingly isolated on its stand with respect to the grandiose One Belt, One Road (OBOR) imitative by China, which hosted Russian President, Vladimir Putin as its chief guest. The general perception amongst experts is that India could have been a part of the initial meetings and then shown its strident opposition to China and Pakistan constructing road through Gilgit-Baltistan- an integral part of India.

China has exponentially expanded strategic, economic & defense partnerships with Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. This maximalist position of China to encircle India and cramp its strategic space has been highlighted time and again by strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney.


It is pertinent to note that, during PM Modi’s recent visit to the United States, he did not raise any issue which affected India-China relations. Be it China stalling India’s entry into the NSG or China blocking Masood Azhar’s name to be declared as a ‘global terrorist. 


The UPA- Congress Govt approved the raising of ‘Mountain Strike Corps’ along the China border with 90,274 additional soldiers at a cost of Rs 64,678 Crore . After the  BJP came to power, it has put this project into deep freezer. This Mountain Strike Corps could have been useful in today’s standoff, but the BJP has lost this opportunity.

This is what happens when you appoint either a ‘Reluctant’ Defence Minister or a ‘Part Time’ Defence Minister.

The Nationalism Charade

“Jingoism, racism, fear, religious fundamentalism: these are the ways of appealing to people if you’re trying to organize a mass base of support for policies that are really intended to crush them.”
– Noam Chomsky

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. At the end of its half term, the Narendra Modi Government may be still cruising steadily in perception, but in reality the people of India have lost faith in this Government. Rapid signs of disillusionment are being witnessed on ground, in conversations with people and in the nature of the discourse. To its credit (or discredit), the Bharatiya Janata Party is aggressively fighting this perception battle with 3 M’s – the management of the media, the management of events and the management of opinion. The economy is in crises, foreign policy is confusing, reforms are stagnant and governance is diminishing. Devoid of any ideas, to keep the momentum of perception, the BJP has now adopted ‘Nationalism’ as the primary tool to set the agenda of the discourse.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has embarked on a nationwide Tiranga Yatra. Union Ministers and MP’s have criss-crossed the entire country, with party workers riding on bikes, many a time seriously violating road safety rules. These party workers, mostly RSS cadre who are accustomed to fly a Bhagva Jhanda (saffron flag) are flaunting large Tricolours shouting slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai“. These workers might not have ever imagined that this day would ever come in their lives when the BJP flag or the Sangh flag will be replaced by the National flag. After all their political ancestors always taught them that this was the India’s flag was the ‘Congress flag’ which the Indian National Congress cunningly (sic) imposed on India. This is the reason why the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) never raised the National flag at its headquarters till 2002- precisely for 52 years after independence.


The Hindu mahasabha (the original avatar of the RSS) despised the National Flag. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is on record that any challenge to the National Flag by the Hindutva Right wing elements will not be tolerated.
The RSS want to somehow impose its boxed bigoted ideology of Majoritarianism into the circular ideology of India and its people who believe in Inclusiveness. 


When the regressive statements of Hindutvavaadis didn’t cut any ice, when the RSS got encircled in the tolerance debate by majority of right thinking people of this country, when the likes of ‘Love Jihad’ failed, when attempts to foil a ‘National’ vs ‘Anti-National’ debate surrounding JNU and other universities failed, the Sangh Parivar is now latching on to this debate of Nationalism. 


Narendra Modi in his recent speech to party workers thundered that “No political party in India has sacrificed as much as the BJP”(sic) . He said that “Nationalists are with the BJP” and BJP stands for Nationalism. Nationalism is the political card which the BJP seems to be waiving these days. In reality, it is not Nationalism, but Jingoism. BJP wants to create a disquisition, wherein it is seen as the most strident political force on nation state issues. The PM’s uncalculated Baluchistan gambit is also an element to bind this discourse. All this is being planned and managed in order to escape the real questions of governance. 


However, the people of India are unperturbed. The common man on ground is more concerned about whether he will be able to earn for his family, provide them with basic daily needs and fight the daily battles of sustenance. Who cares about ‘Nationalism’? They worry about the Rs 200/kg Daal and the soaring prices of vegetables. They worry about the education of their children and whether they would be able to afford the medical bills of their parents. Their spirit of nationalism ends there. 


The BJP’s game plan does not end here. The Hindu Right has always been devoid of credible icons. In the past 30 years, no political party in India has been able to form a single party government at the centre. 2014 elections have provided this golden opportunity of a brute majority to the BJP. The BJP is exploiting this chance like no other. It is virtually robbing the Congress (known for its exemplary role in the Freedom Struggle) of its icons and of its legacy.


First they came for Sardar Patel, when they announced building of that mammoth statue in Gujarat. Then they came for Mahatma Gandhi. The way Gandhi ji is being potrayed in the Swachh Bharat campaign is for the world to see. 100 years of Gandhi ji’s Champaran Satyagraha is being observed by the Government next year. Then they came for Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Dalit plank of the BJP might not be working because of the upper caste Hindutva hegemony prevalent in their rank and file, but the BJP is trying hard to appropriate Babasaheb and play the backwards card. Now they are even coming for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. They officially celebrated 125 birth anniversary of Nehru and the Tiranga Yatra even has banners carrying his portraits. In fact, the Government is also celebrating the 125 year Birth Anniversary of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (known as the frontier Gandhi) this year. History records all of them as Congressmen. Period. 
Jingoism is only one part of the reality. The other one is to instil fear at local level. Vigilantism has become the order of the day. It is not just limited to the menace of Gaurakshaks and the Bajrang Dal activists or the beef controversy; it has now reincarnated itself into every aspect of our lives. The nanny state is trying hard with its official and unofficial dictates’ – what should we eat, what should we wear, what should we see and even what should we speak. Those who do not conform to the state or its vigilantes are branded as ‘Anti-Nationals’. The recent cases of actress turned politician Divya Spandana, the proclamation by the Culture Minister on skirts and the Sanskari Censor Board’s antics are few of the hundreds of examples in which fear of the nanny state has entered in our lives. 
Two decades ago, the BJP adopted Religious Fundamentalism as its core ideology in the form of Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan; now when it has reaped the political benefits of the same; it has adopted Jingoism in the form of Nationalism and Fear to rule the masses. 


This is the unfortunate truth. 

Not just Gandhi for a cleaner India!

Sanitation and Simplicity

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a great begining and a welcome one.

October 2, is the most auspicious occassion to start a sanitation drive. Gandhi ji’s concept of Gram Swaraj includes sanitation as a major pillar. Gandhi ji not only believed in cleanliness, but also simplicity.

Gandhiji wrote on 17-12-1942, how simplicity helped healthy living:

“. . . Many households are so packed with all sorts of unnecessary decorations and furniture which one can very well do without, that a simple living man will feel suffocated in those surroundings. They are nothing but means of harbouring dust, bacteria and insects. . . I meant to say is that my desire to be in tune with the infinite has saved me from many complications in life. It led not merely to simplicity of household and dress but all round simplicity in the mode of my life..”

His RSS background aside, Modi ji paid a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in  his just concluded visit to the United States. Modi ji was given a “rock star welcome” in the US, our media gushed and our TV screens beamed. He had certainly taken over Madison Square Garden with all his pomp and show. Perhaps, he should also read about Gandhi ji’s simplicity. Reportedly, Modi ji took 40 new suits to the US designed by top designers Troy Costa.

Mahatma Gandhi in one of his rare interviews, when asked about his attire replies in the most natural and simple manner

nterviewer: Will you go attired in native Indian dress, or will you go in European dress?

Gandhi ji: I shall certainly not be found be in European dress

Interviewer: If the king of England invited to dinner in Buckingham palace, you would go in your customary Indian dress?

Gandhi ji: In any other dress, I should be in most difficult state, because I would be artificial.

This was Gandhi ji’s simplicity.

The Inspiration 

Who came first- Egg or the Chicken? Modi ji came first to take credit of both. 

There is a joke going around on Twitter these days!

After taking credit for the Mars Mission, INS Vikramaditya, Jammu-Katra train, PSLV’s, Big power projects and so on, Our PM’s quest of taking credit for the work done by the previous government, doesn’t end here.

He will now take credit for the previous government’s Total Sanitation Campaign too – Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. Its goal was to achieve 100% access to sanitation for all rural households by 2022

It is important to know that UPA was the only government in modern India to create a separate ministry of Sanitation and allocate a separate budget for it. The minister for which belonged to Modi ji’s Gujarat. Sadly,  we would never ever credit them for this. Everyone is going hammer and tongs about Modi ji’s vision for “Swachh Bharat”.

The Past Record

Let us also look at Modi ji’s previous record as a Gujarat Chief Minister for 12 years, when it comes to delivery

a) While the Gujarat government had said in a report to the central drinking water and sanitation ministry that 82% of its rural population was covered by sanitation in 2011-12, the 2011 Census data showed only 34% of rural Gujarat was covered by sanitation!

b) Gujarat’s record in terms of the improvement in sanitation coverage between 2001 & 2011 is worse than most major States of India, including poorer States. Gujarat ranks 13th behind states like Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Sikkim, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland.

c) Also, if we look at the pictures of the much publicized Sabarmati river, one is not impressed by the sanitation levels.

d) Lastly, Vapi in Gujarat is the most polluted city in India. It seems Modi ji could do little to change its status.

It seems Modi ji’s record in keeping Gujarat clean, has not been very successful.

We want a Clean India 

In the current scenario, most of the our big towns and cities have municipal corporations governed by BJP- whether its Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore. Yet, our cities are full of filth.

We cannot squarely blame the BJP for the filth, it is for us to blame ourselves. Charity begins at home, and we should take upon ourselves as citizens to see that we do not litter in our public places.

Not only we need Gandhi ji for a cleaner India, we need ourselves too!

Happy Gandhi Jayanti ! 

Achhe Bhashan Ane Wale Hai, Achhe Din?

A Counter Point to PM Narendra Modi’s First Independence Day Speech

Pratap Bhanu Mehta tells us that Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech did not lean upon authority or pedigree. With due respect to him, I would like to humbly disagree with that conclusion. It leaned entirely on authority and past.

Narendra Modi while starting his speech paid respects and “gratitude to all those previous governments and ex-Prime Ministers who have endeavoured to take our present day India to such heights and have added to the country’s glory”

If he is not leaning on the past, the pedigree then what else it is. Trying to sound like a statesmen, he invokes the legacy of every former Prime Minister, every government and builds and authority around it. In his 2013, speech Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh named the former Prime Ministers who contributed to building the nation. So there is nothing new in what the present incumbent said.

Narendra Modi never fails to praise himself and his ‘pedigree’. Just like his election speeches he invokes his own ‘pedigree’ of humble origins.

Sample this : “Today a boy from small town, a poor family has got the opportunity to pay homage to the tri-colour of India at the ramparts of Lal Quila (Red Fort)”

Another One: “I am an outsider for Delhi, I am not a native of Delhi. I have no idea about the administration and working of this place. I have been quite isolated from the elite class of this place…”

Emphasizing your own humble origins and calling yourself as an outsider while taking a jibe at ‘Delhi’s elite’ is certainly not invoking pedigree.

During the election campaign, replicas of Lal Quila (Red Fort) were often used as backdrops and many a times he was gifted by huge models of this Mughal architecture’s masterpiece by his supporters.

The Prime Minister called himself a servant of the people. But that line is not original. He simply imitated India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘First Servant of the Indian People’ speech. It was his first broadcast to the nation on August 15, 1947

“Fellow Countrymen, it has been my privilege to serve India and the cause of India’s freedom for many years. Today I address you for the first time officially as the First Servant of the Indian people, pledged to their service and their betterment. I am here because you willed it so and I remain here so long as you choose to honour me with your confidence” – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

While it was praiseworthy that a Prime Minister was talking about building ‘National character’ on a ‘National festival’, his own actions have been less than far from being ideal. While preaching idealism, Modi forgot that his party’s president has at least 15 criminal cases against him including charges of snooping and fake encounters. It is also important to note that the Prime Minister himself is facing charges of involvement in Gujarat 2002. Those people who believe that Supreme Court has given him the much publicized ‘Clean Chit’ are mistaken. Supreme Court only appointed SIT which gave its report – based on which Metropolitan court of Ahmedabad found ‘no prosecutable evidence’ against him. Therefore his actions are far from ideal and hardly inspire any ‘National Character’.

It is very heartening to know that the Modi is concerned about rapes and violence against women. His poignant points about the society and the hypocrisy of the parents for not questioning their sons and only questioning their daughters would be welcome even by his worst critics. Albeit, his critics have every right to ask him about his own stand on rape accused ministers in his government. Nihal Chand , a prominent face in the Council of Ministers is facing charges of involvement in a heinous gangrape. Charity begins at home, Mr. Prime Minister. Will Modi set an example by removing his rape accused minister?

Modi in his speech emphasized the benefits of ‘Non Violence’. Even made a strong point on how Maoists and terrorists should shed the path of violence. I felt proud that the Prime Minister of my country is talking the correct thing, even though the Narendra Modi as a person and a Chief Minister of a state could not perform his constitutional duty of stalling the grave communal violence of Gujarat 2002. Neither could he stop the dozen fake encounters against ‘innocents’ in his own state.

Actions speak louder than words. Let me ask Mr. Modi one simple question. Why are Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangee released on bail, 45 days after your government took charge? Are they not accused of violence? Why is Sanjeev Baliyan- the accused of Muzaffarnagar communal violence -a member of your ministry?

Mr. Modi requested fellow countrymen for a moratorium of 10 years on communal incidents of violence. It is a welcome statement by itself. But if you dig deep and see its connotations, it has various layers to it. Does that mean that Mr. Modi wants to continue the violence after 10 years? That is an illogical, naïve conclusion- but a probable one. The more pertinent one is what Mr. Modi has done to calm down the simmering situation in Uttar Pradesh. More than 600 incidents of communal violence have taken place since the Modi government came to power. 60% of incidents have taken place near to those 10 constituencies where Assembly bye-elections are due later this year. BJP swept Uttar Pradesh and must have some answers on who is spreading the violence there. History records it that no communal tension in this country took place without the involvement of Narendra Modi’s parent organisation the –RSS. This is true at least in the post-independence scenario.

Welcoming is the fact that our PM is concerned about financial inclusion. ‘Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched. This was a scheme which was entirely started by the previous UPA government. It was called ‘Swabhimaan’ then. Launched in 2011, it provided for banking facilities in rural and remote areas. From 2004 to 2012, more than 33 Crore individual bank accounts have been opened in India. This was possible by schemes like this. Mr. Modi knows its potential so he changed the name of the scheme and added his stamp of “Pradhanmantri” on it.

There are numerous initiatives of the UPA government which has been simply refurbished. His emphasis on Skill Development for youth, has been already taken care when the UPA launched the National Skill Development Mission. There is already a National Skill Development Corporation (on PPP basis) which has made the process simpler and more targeted.

When he talks of ‘Digital India’ and ‘Broadband for Villages, not just for the elite’; that too had already been implemented by the UPA.

Only 4.75 Million people were provided with broadband and internet services in 2004. But till 2012, 485.86 Million use those.

Similarly the name of ‘Pradhanmantri Aadarsh Gram Yojana’ to build ‘Model Villages’ have been renamed as ‘Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana’.

Mr. Modi emphasizes on cleanliness and sanitation. UPA started a massive sanitation drive called ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan’. Mr. Modi is just renaming that into “Swach Bharat Abhiyan”. Budgetary provisions of Rs 1000 Crore were made for the same.

These things are very mundane, and make this piece a little boring too, but each of these points need to be covered in order to highlight that Mr. Modi and his government is offering nothing new in his vision for India.

It is astounding to know that Mr. Modi did not mention anything about curbing Corruption, did not say a word about repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan and incursions from China.

Not a single syllable on Price Rise

Lastly, it is important to point out that Mr. Modi did not use the much-publicized phrase of “Achhe Din” in his speech, not even once.

Surely, “Achhe Bhashan” are here to stay.

यह लेख हिन्दी में यहाँ पढ़ें – http://countryawake.blogspot.in/2014/08/blog-post.html