The winds have started blowing the other way. The pendulum of politics is swinging to a different side. A glimmer of hope and change is gradually taking form and unravelling from the gloom and darkness which had gripped the nation by narrow domestic walls.
When the Congress party attained its worst ever tally in the last Lok Sabha elections, as part of the small set up of the Digital Media War Room, dejected and saddened – we cried. We were a group of 20 odd people just trying to somehow sail our small and dilapidated boat against a phenomenon called the ‘Modi Wave’. Or as one of our seniors had curiously described us as a ‘small bunch of labourers, shouting unheard slogans infront of an MNC; which had a thousand times more access to resources than we had’. But we never gave up hope. I still keep that hope. On May 16, 2014- in the earlier few hours, frantically scrolling through the Election Commission’s website and somehow clutching at last straws to compare some loosing margins, we were shattered. We knew we would lose- but we did not imagine in our wildest dreams that we would lose so badly. It was a moment of truth for me and for each one of us. We did not still, lose hope. We posted a ‘Thank You’ message from the official party page and thanked the voters that the party got almost 11 Crore votes (10.69 Crores to be precise) in the Lok Sabha elections. Just two days into the defeat, I did write this, reflecting on what went wrong.
In the next one month or so, we thought- that now since it is a battle between David and the Goliath – we should just keep pricking the BJP with issues that matter to the people. Choosing our fights, picking up small manageable battles and hurting our political opponents –inch by inch when they failed to deliver on their promises and live up to the expectations of the people. A time will come that this humongous ‘Goliath’ infront of us shall politically collapse. As an aside, I do want to add that, we in the Congress’ ideology do not think of “BJP Mukt Bharat’- we, unlike the BJP-RSS, do not practice negative politics and we know that India is a thriving vibrant Democracy that we have built and nurtured and we do not want to weaken its values. We want a billion ideas to flourish in India.
This tactics of taking baby steps to secure the future of our people by questioning the BJP- time and again- repeating the same messages- again and again- has now weakened the BJP. We still don’t know to what extent. We still don’t know whether it is the just the Congress which is responsible for it or is it someone else. We are still not sure if BJP’s lofty promises and absolute non-performance is responsible for it. We still do not know whether a bunch of collective factors are responsible for it. But something very large is building up against the BJP. In the words of Harish Khare, who recently wrote an interesting piece saying ‘A Million Mutinies are taking place…” Yes, I agree that umpteen uprisings are certainly taking place in India and that is certainly reflective of the present discourse.
I am no astrologer and I can’t predict future. I do not know how this will pan out. Politics changes in days. To repeat that oft repeated cliché- ‘a week is a long time in politics’- I do not know what is in store for the Congress or for the BJP in 2019. But I do know one thing- People of India are increasingly getting fed up by this Modi Government.
There is a deep sense of betrayal in every stratum of the society. More and more, it is looking that no one is incharge in this Government, as if it is running on an auto pilot. No one better than a hardcore Congress person like me could feel this stagnation, because we use to experience the same at the last couple of years of the UPA. But there was a difference. The clear difference is that, the UPA’s downfall was not only its own making, but also a concerted effort, laced with heavy propaganda machinery on ground as well as off ground, by the BJP-RSS, sometimes camouflaging them into an “India Against Corruption’, in order to deliberately shatter the UPA. In contrast, although yes, a million mutinies are taking place- none of them are being fanned by the Congress in a manner that was done by the RSS during UPA period.
Farmers are unhappy, distressed and marching on the streets. Economy is in dire straits- there are no jobs for our youth and a virus of ‘paper leaks’ to deliberately jeopardize their career is being abetted by elements of the Sangh Parivar, in active collision with the ABVP created ‘Exam Mafia’. Law and Order of the country- and specially the BJP ruled states is in deep turmoil. Rapes and gruesome, unspeakable and unthinkable crimes against women are rising by the day and the BJP is only indulging in whataboutery. Bank Loot Scams of colossal proportions have completely wrecked and paralyzed our Banking systems. Institutions, such as the Parliament, Judiciary and even the Election Commission are being systematically denigrated. Internal Security is clearly endangered with daily attacks on our security installations that have never happened before. Foreign policy is directionless and has destroyed relations that were carefully built over decades. Dalits are being subjected to barbaric atrocities and their rights are being diluted by getting legal stamps. An atmosphere is being consciously created to start a debate on Reservations- that will provide some solace to BJP’s core upper caste supporters, since they are disillusioned and dejected by policies like the flawed GST, cutting of savings rate, midnight knocking at the door by the tax men and finishing trade and businesses.
Cronysim is flourishing. Forest dwellers and Tribal are being told that they now no more have any rights on their natural resources. States are angry because they are not being provided with adequate economic share. None of the schemes that Modi launched or advertised have yielded any results. Infact Modi Government has absolutely nothing to show.
This is not the Congress’ creation. Infact, we have been just about successful in highlighting some major issues. And we have improved our Communication. Everything is Modi Government’s own undoing or doing. Demonetisation was not a Congress’ idea. A Flawed seven tax rate GST was not a Congress idea. Paralyzing the Banks by taking over RBI’s powers was not Congress’ plan. Facilitating the escape of Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, MehulChoksi and Jatin Mehta was not the Congress’ doing? Daily increase of petrol-diesel prices and earning a windfall of Rs 7.5 Lakh Crore in 3.5 years without helping the common people was not a Congress’ deed. Promising 100 SMART Cities and a Bullet Train, without improving basic infrastructure was not Congress ‘assurance. Buying only 36 Rafale jets in thrice the price, by neglecting experienced PSU and opting for a crony friend is not the Congress’ doing. Lynching people on what they eat, was certainly not Congress’ plan of action.
Flip-Flop and Saree-Shawl-Dinner diplomacy with Pakistan and vacuous U turns on China and Doklam and enabling the latter’s presence at that region was not a Congress’ ‘misadventure’. Showing ‘Laal Aankh’ and ’56 Inch Chest’ to China and Pakistan was not Congress’ boastful rant. Promising to bring Black Money worth 80 Lakh Crores and depositing 15 Lakh in every Bank Account was not Congress’ promise to the nation. Although Congress did present a ‘White Paper on Black Money’ during UPA and showed BJP the mirror of truth that real ‘Black Money’ resides in India. Interfering in the Judiciary and threatening the Media by calling them ‘Bazaroo’ & ‘Presstitutes’ is not Congress’ agenda. And it is only the BJP who gave us the slogan of “Achhe Din’ and later called it a ‘Jumla’!
So what has Congress party done as an opposition till now? Are they only banking on BJP’s failures? Or do they also have a plan for 2019?
Since we know these things and one may read that here, I would like to just to recap in brief- The first success of Congress party as an opposition came in when the Land Acquisition Act was not amended by the Modi. From ‘Suit Boot Ki Sarkar; to ‘Fair & Lovely Scheme’ to ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’, ‘Shah-Zyada’ to ‘Shourya Gatha’ to now ‘Bas Ek Aur Saal’ – Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ensured that the Modi Government is cornered on a plethora of issues like crony capitalism, black money, corruption, agrarian distress, shady defence deals and much more. In the past four months or so, whenever you see there is injustice or wherever you see that the Government is abysmally failing to deliver or is maintaining a studied silence- You see a Congress party intervention. The latest is the spontaneous Candle Light Vigil on April 13th at India Gate, in the backdrop of series of gruesome rape cases and BJP’s support of rapists; where Nirbhaya’s parents also participated.
The Congress now seems to be carving a vision for 2019.A month ago, I had the privilege to attend the two-day Congress Plenary Session.There were many firsts. The empty stage bereft of lounging leaders. The ‘never-before’ feature of panel discussions on ‘Media’, ‘Social Justice’ & ‘Vision 2030’. The ambiance. Stadium decorated with Congress symbols, rather than leaders. An exhibition gallery with rare portraits, that reminded us of our past. A programme hosted by the young. A TV friendly stage with LED screens and so on. All this has been already noticed, extensively commented and written about, but in all this, people did not miss the message.
The message from the 84th Congress Plenary was crystal clear. The Congress party has “done it before” and “shall do it again”. Pardon the exaggeration, but it is a tradition, which no other political party in the world has ever followed. A tradition of ushering ‘Change’. Every decade and sometimes in between, the Indian National Congress with absolute flexibility tries to adapt itself with the times and the growing aspirations of the Indians. It remains the same, infact it has been time and again been berated as a ‘status-quoist’ party; (sometimes even by its own supporters) but those who have observed and followed its working since decades, can certainly vouch that every Plenary session, there is a nuanced approach to recast, reform, revitalize, reorganize, reconstruct and reorient. This innate message of ‘Change is NOW’ may have been understated in some of the speeches, but was razor sharp and extremely precise in Congress President, Rahul Gandhi’s speech.
Every Resolution adopted in the Plenary- be it the Political, Economic or on Agriculture & Employment or be it the resolution adopted on Foreign Policy issues- Each had a set of concrete suggestions and an implementable agenda for the future. Three important policy interventions for the future that the Congress party would implement came out distinctly. First, to create jobs– by encouraging manufacturing units and skill development institutes based on the uniqueness of that very district. The Economic Resolution clearly reads that “The Indian National Congress resolves to win back economic freedom for India’s entrepreneurs, especially the micro, small and medium business persons, protect them from harassment and provide a stable business environment.” Second, to solve the procurement issues of the farmers and smoothen the supply chain- Congress party promised a huge network of food parks. Third, to put quality emphasis on higher education, Congress will open institutes of excellence like the IIT’s, IIM’s, IISC’s etc in every district.
Certainly, change is in the air, it’s just a matter of one year now
I would start this piece of writing with a disclaimer – that I am an eternal optimist. It does not however mean that when the Congress party snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, my heart doesn’t bleed. It does.
Politics means pragmatism. It requires a ‘matter-of-fact-treatment’. It’s the ability to know the reality- the writing on the wall. In the recent defeats in the Northeast, the Congress party very well knew the writing on the wall and the severe constraints it is facing. It definitely knew that, its political organizations in the North East desperately required a Central spine. It also knew that the BJP- RSS is working overtime and dubious methods to usurp power in these states and it also knew that it is not doing any justice to its local leaders, whatsoever. The Congress left its leaders in the Northeast to fend for themselves- not because it wants to, but because it was forced to. It did whatever best it could do in the current circumstances.
Some unknown faces of the newly created and refurbished departments in the party belatedly did camp in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, but they were not able to clean up the rot. Colleagues who I know personally, travelled extensively, tried to pump in some oxygen in the organization, highlighted some issues to the Centre- even though it was a small and fresh beginning, yet it was an important one. Had they not do it, we would have been much below those 21 seats in Meghalaya or some key state leaders would have deserted us in other states. Yet, the overall picture one sees is that of apathy and disinterest.
So what was the prime reason for this apathy? There are multiple reasons. The first and foremost is the cleanup exercise which is going in the Central unit. The weeding out of non-performers and the status quoists, enabling a generational change and revamping of a new organization is the most important task for the Central leadership as of now. If we do not have an organization, fresh faces and hardworking leaders- we cannot build a new future. Sometimes you have to start on a clean slate and that is what happening, in a gradual, albeit calibrated manner. In an organized which is so entrenched and obsessed with its past (and rightly so) one needs to balance out all age groups and regions and representatives. The recently announced groups and sub groups for the AICC plenary session, give us a peak in this process. More radical decisions need to be followed and we would certainly see a change post March.
Lack of resources and logistics is the biggest problem the Congress party is facing. People may mock me for this assessment, but that is the grim reality. It is unable to furnish even basic campaign materials for local polls like the recent Uttar Pradesh local body elections, where a former Congress Minister of State lost mayoral elections. Not every candidate or every elected representative possesses the means to fight elections, especially in an increasingly competitive political space where propaganda off all shades and hues and on all platforms matter a lost. Nowhere, here am I attempting to find a convenient alibi for the Congress’ defeat in these recent polls. Yes lack of resources and logistics is only one of the factors. There are many more.
Another reason is that, some of the leaders responsible for these states have already given up the fight even before they entered one. Some who did attempt to give one were the young ones. They were brought in very late in the day in order to somehow rescue the situation, but their hands were tied because of constant interference by the older and more senior leaders.
The key to win elections is to have an agenda and to package in a way that it should appeal to your voters. I have repeatedly underlined this extremely important issue in my earlier pieces. It is high time that the Congress spelt its vision for India in the backdrop of the current political scenario. At the cost of repeating myself again, I am again quoting from a previous piece which I had written in July 2017.
‘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”.
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.’
Certainly some heads need to be rolled given the complete disaster which took place in the North East. Certainly, we should stick to our own Centrist ideology and not make ideological compromises by aligning with the Left or Non-Centrist parties and certainly we need a vision for 2019. The clock is ticking and we have very less time.
All the views expressed in the article by the author are strictly personal.
Every year, the President of India outlines the Central Government’s policies, programmes and achievements by addressing both houses of the Parliament in the beginning of the year. This speech which is basically approved by the Cabinet is the agenda of the Government for the year.
I examine how the Modi Government’s so called achievements and announcements are far from the reality.
President’s Address: It is our collective responsibility to pay a befitting tribute to Pujya Bapu by making the country Swachh by 2019 when we celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Reality: We all want our country clean, and the Congress-UPA had started the process by launching the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in 2012 under the aegis of the Total Sanitation Campaign, but Modi Government renamed it to Swachh Bharat Mission.
· The Swachh Bharat Mission aimed at building 12Cr toilets by October 2, 2019- But almost 3.5 years after it has launched – Only 50% of toilets ie 6.12 Crore toilets in Rural India[1] and 37 Lakh toilets in Urban India[2] have been built. With just one year left, How will the Govt be able to achieve its target?
· A study by the UN Special Rapporteur Leo Heller highlights that only 33% of the toilets built are sustainably safe, while the rest are barely useable. Additionally, the lack of proper plumbing to provide clean water and the removal of waste and excrement makes this a pointless piece of infrastructure that is fit for only one thing, Modi Ji’s photo ops[3] · An RTI reveals that Swachh Bharat spent a whopping Rs 530 crore on publicity in three years – but little on grassroots awareness[4]· In this year’s Budget (2018-19) –there is a 7% cut in allocation for the Swachh Bharat Mission budget from 2017-18’s revised estimates[5]
President’s Address: ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ has empowered these poor women to enjoy equal rights with their privileged counterparts thereby addressing a hitherto ignored aspect of social justice. So far, under this scheme, over 3 crore 30 lakh cooking gas connections have been provided.
Reality:
19 months after the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched, the scheme is achieving its targets magnificently. It is, however, failing in its objective of persuading households to stop using firewood and traditional biomass fuels that have the potential to cause respiratory diseases.
Under the scheme, the government provides a subsidy of Rs 1,600 to government-owned oil manufacturing companies for every free LPG gas connection that they install in poor rural households without one. This subsidy is intended to cover the security fee for the cylinder and the fitting charges. The beneficiary has to buy her own cooking stove. To reduce the burden, the scheme allows beneficiaries to pay for the stove and the first refill in monthly installments. However, the cost of all subsequent refills has to be borne by the beneficiary household. This is where the scheme is failing.[1]
While the number of LPG connections across India has increased by an impressive 16.26% since the scheme was launched, the use of gas cylinders increased by only 9.83%. This is even lower than the rate recorded in 2014-’15, when the scheme did not exist
This difference between the increase in the number of connections and the sale of cylinders is a consequence of the fact that many people with new connections are not buying refilled cylinders after their first one runs out A Comptroller and Auditor General’s report notes that in 2015-’16, households with LPG connections were using an average of 6.27 cylinders in a year. But after the scheme was launched, the number of cylinders used on average had come down to 5.6, the data shows
President’s Address:My Government has tabled a Bill on Triple Talaq in Parliament.
Reality: The Indian National Congress has always believed that the issue of ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ i.e. Talaq-e-biddat is about ‘gender justice’ and ‘gender equity’. INC has always maintained that anything prejudicial to Muslim Women like instant triple talaq is inherently unsustainable.We were the first political party to hold a press conference welcoming the Supreme Court’s judgment on ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ as a victory for the rights of Muslim women. In fact, it was a Congress leader, Salman Khurshid, who was appointed as the Amicus Curiae to assist the court in arriving at this decision. It was another Congress leader, Manish Tewari, who represented the woman petitioner in the case.
The Congress will support any and every law abolishing ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ i.e. Talaq-e-biddat. However any such law must be tested on the touchstone of the Supreme Court’s decision. Any proposed law must comprehensively protect the rights of Muslim women who are the victims of this unconstitutional practice. Rights and Welfare of Women & Children must be protected at any Cost. Legislation must ensure Safeguarding of Rights of Women to a life of Dignity with adequate subsistence allowance. BJP and Narendra Modi failed to provide justice to Muslim Women on ‘Instant Triple Talaq’. It was the Supreme Court which quashed ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ as ‘Illegal’.
Lack of Commitment to the cause of Women on part of BJP is apparent from the failure to pass the Women Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Some of the shortcomings of the proposed law are
1. ‘Subsistence Allowance’ neither ‘defined’, nor the amount ‘quantified’ in the proposed legislation. 2. Why should onus of proving ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ be on ‘Women’? Why can’t this law then envisage a ‘presumption in favour of the woman’ putting the onus of proof on the ‘husband’ to establish that ‘Instant Triple Talaq’ was not pronounced by him? 3. Who would ensure payment of ‘Maintenance’ and/or ‘Subsistence Allowance’ to women and children if husband is in jail for 3 years?
President’s Address: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme. Seeing its positive results, the scheme has been extended from 161 districts to 640 districts.
Reality: For all the hoopla over “Beti Bachao Beti Padao” (BBBP), the Economic Survey says that there are still 20 lakh girl children that go missing every year. The Modi Government’s outlay of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” Scheme for 161 Districts was just Rs 200 Crore for the year 2017-18. Now the allocation has been raised to Rs 280 CroreThat means each district under the scheme was provided on an average just Rs 2.3 Crore. How will the ‘Beti’ benefit from this meagre budget? Was it only meant for advertisements? President’s Address:Under the ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’, so far, about 31 crore bank accounts have been opened for the poorReality: 24.3 Cr accounts were opened by the previous Congress-UPA Government under the Financial Inclusion scheme called ‘Swabhiman’. All that the Prime Minister and his Government has done is renamed and carried forward our ‘Swabhiman’ scheme as ‘Jana Dhana Scheme’.The number of Jan Dhan accounts opened under the BJP stands approximately at 12.13 crore.
The government told Parliament on Feb 3, 2018 that around 50 lakh Jan Dhan accounts have been closed till December 20, 2017. At least 50% of the accounts being in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
President’s Address:Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana’, about 10 crore loans have been sanctioned so far and more than Rs. 4 lakh crore worth of loans have been disbursed.
Reality: · Loans by MFI’s and Banks is an old scheme which is existing since the 1990’s and has been rebranded by the BJP as ‘MUDRA’ · The average size of the Mudra loan is Rs 43,000. This is tokenism and will not create even one job. More Mudra loans will mean more tokenism, but no additional jobs.
· Around 17 Lakh companies were opened till December 2017, out of those 5.37 Lakh Companies have been closed till now.
President’s Address:The highest priority of my Government is to remove various difficulties faced by farmers and to raise their standard of living.My Government is committed to doubling of farmers’ income by 2022.
Reality: · Agriculture Growth under Modi Govt in past 4 years has been the lowest since Economic Reform began. It is just 1.9% (from 2014-15 to 2017-18) whereas under Congress UPA, Agriculture Grow at an average of 4.2%. · The promise of doubling Farm Incomes by 2022 is another Jumla. At this speed of Growth, the Income of Farmers will be doubled by the year 2052. · The committee that they had recently formed to look into doubling farmers’ incomes – the Ashok Dalwai committee – had basically said that Rs 6.4 lakh crore investment is needed for this. But in this year’s Budget, the allocation has increased by Rs 4,845 crore. So this is a clear-cut indicator that incomes aren’t going to double anytime soon. · Suddenly, Shri Modi remembers the Swaminathan Report on Cost +50%MSP. Truth is for crops; their increase still is lesser than that of UPA. (Refer to attached table) · Besides, Rs 2000 crore for e-markets and Rs 500 crore for Operation Green (whenever the Cabinet will approve the schemes) amount to a pittance. · One needs clarity on whether promise of the MSP at 50% above cost is based on C2, comprehensive cost, or A2, the paid out cost. If they are talking of 50% increase over comprehensive cost, that would require, in paddy, an increase of about 45% in the MSP. Which is far far from truth? If they are talking about A2, then more than 50% of that is already in place. So then what are they talking about?
President’s Address: Under ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, farmers are being provided affordable and simple crop insurance services. During 2017, under Rabi & Kharif crops, 5 crore 71 lakh farmers were provided protective coverage under this scheme.
Reality: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, projected by the Modi Government as a ‘game changer’ scheme for farmers have only benefited select private entities. Till April 2017, insurance companies collected a gross premium of Rs 17,185 crore, against claims of only Rs 6,808 crore, ensuring a profit of almost Rs 10,376 crore. This means, through this, for every season – certain private entities chosen by the Government profit by a whopping Rs 10000 Cr at the expense of the farmers!
President’s Address:My Government is providing electricity connections to 4 crore poor people under the “Saubhagya” Yojana.
Reality: Congress-UPA provided Free Electricity to Poor Households from Day 1- Look at the difference here. Modi ji’s Saubhagya only repackaged!
· UPA-2 gave free electricity connections to 39,59,091 more BPL households than the Modi government did in its first year. That is 521.36% higher. In the second year, the difference is more stark – 44,44,211 more BPL households. · The UPA government had connected 1,08,280 villages to the grid between 2005-06 and 2013-14, compared to 14,528 villages by the NDA from 2014 to 2017. That means on an average, the UPA electrified 12,030 villages per year, while the NDA government has electrified 4,842 – less than half the UPA’s average.
President’s Address:To ensure availability of two square meals to every poor person, effective enforcement of National Food Security Act is necessary.
Reality: The Supreme Court today in July, 2017 had said the National Food Security Act 2013 has not been implemented properly, and it is a “pity” that a legislation enacted by parliament for citizens’ benefit was kept on the “back-burner” by various states.
President’s Address:Constitution Amendment Bill to provide Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Reality: The ruling BJP could not muster adequate numbers to thwart Opposition designs to a politically significant Constitutional Amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha in August 2017 The lack of numbers forced the government to drop a crucial clause from the bill granting constitutional status to the National Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC). The Opposition had moved amendments, which were passed by its 74 votes against the NDA’s 52. It resulted in an unprecedented situation, as a clause, for which an amendment is passed by a simple majority, cannot become part of a Constitution Amendment Bill. It requires a two-third majority of those present in the House.
President’s Address:Minimum Support Price of several forest produce collected by the tribal people has been increased.
Reality: According to the recently presented Budget, of the Rs. 100 crore allocated to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), only Rs. 25 crore was spent. The MSP for MFP scheme was launched in 2013-14. It aimed at improving the financial condition of forest-dwelling communities living in the country. The importance of such a scheme can be gauged by the fact that the Planning Commission accounted MFPs for 20 to 40 per cent of the income of these communities. While the scheme was started with a sum of Rs. 967.28 crore as Central Government share and Rs. 249.50 crore as the states’ share in 2013, over the years, the funds have continuously dwindled along with its utilisation.
President’s Address: With a sensitive approach towards providing housing with availability of water-electricity-toilet facility to all, my Government is targeting to provide a house to every poor and homeless household by the year 2022.Over the last three and a half years, more than 93 lakh houses have been constructed by the Government in rural and urban areas.
Reality: From 2004-2013, the Congress-UPA constructed 224.37 Lakh Houses, which is an average of almost 25 Lakh Houses per year for Rural poor. On the other hand, if we look at the official figures of the Modi Government, despite changing its name to PM Gramin Awaas Yojana Only 1.7 Lakh houses constructed in the past three years, which is an average of just about 56,600 houses per year.
The Rajiv Awaas Yojana which was conceptualized in 2009, and became a Centrally Sponsored Scheme only in 2013 provided affordable housing for Urban Poor. In the last year of UPA (2013-14) – 1.17 Lakh houses sanctioned and completed. Modi Government changed its name to PM Awaas Yojana (Urban) Modi Government promised 2 Crore houses till 2022, but could only construct 17 Lakh houses (till March 2017)- with this speed, it will take 600 odd years to reach the 2 Crore mark!
President’s Address:A new ‘National Health Policy’ has been formulated by my Government for providing better and affordable healthcare facilities to the poor and middle class.
Reality: • Modi Government did not spend a Single Rupee on Health Insurance (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana) in 2015-16 • For 2016-17, it allocated Rs 1500 Crore in the Budget for the Scheme but only spent Rs 724 Crore in that year. Rest Rs 776 Crore was unspent. • For 2017-18, Modi Government allocated Rs 1000 Cr in the Budget for the Scheme, but only spent Rs 471 Crore in that year. • Which means Modi Government has only spent Rs 1195 Crore in the past 4 years on Health Insurance and this year it has allocated Rs 2000Cr for the grand “50Cr Beneficiary Scheme?” • Media Reports indicate that 21 Crore BPL beneficiaries out of the 26.97 Crore Beneficiaries did not receive any Health Insurance, last year.
President’s Address:My Government is committed to strengthening and modernising School and Higher Education system in the country.
Reality:
Lowest share of Budget for HRD Ministry since 2014-15- It is 0.23 percentage-point decline over 2017-18 · The recent All India Higher Education Survey 2016-17 have shown only marginal improvement in enrolment. The country’s Gross Enrolment Ratio or GER in higher education has registered a marginal increase of 0.7% from 24.5% in 2015-16 to 25.2% in 2016-17. Despite BJP boasting its privatisation model higher education enrolment has not seen a major improvement. India aims to achieve a GER of 30% by 2020. This is much behind China, which, currently, boasts an enrolment ratio of 43.39%. USA’s GER is 85.8% and Pakistan’s is 9.93%.
President’s Address:Our country is the youngest among all nations in the world. My Government is implementing programmes like Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill India Mission, Mudra Yojana to provide self-employment to the youth and to enable them to fulfill their dreams.
Reality: The government is wasting our country’s demographic dividend and turning into a potential demographic disaster. The major flagship schemes have not shown any results. The youth in India are standing in queues for jobs. According to the ASER report 2017, only 5% of the rural youth only are taking some form of vocational training. This is ironical considering the BJP’s key promise was the allocation of Rs. 400 crores for Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion programme (SANKALP) to train over 3.5 crore youth. Besides, Rs. 2000 crore has been promised for Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) to improve the quality of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). None of this expenditure has shown any level of desired results. As of January 2018, data shows 30% of Indians are neither employed nor are part of any skill training Stand-up India: Same Rhetoric
Only 48,778 loans have been given to the 2.8 lakh intended beneficiaries as of December 2017. Out of these beneficiaries the number of ST women borrowers are just 2,084. Only 6% of banks have given loans to Dalits or Adivasis, and less than 25% to a woman. RTI reply suggests that between April 5, 2016 and September 24, 2017, only 6% of the 1.3 lakh bank branches in the country have provided Stand Up India loans to SC or ST individuals. President’s Address:My Government has increased the minimum wage of workers by more than 40 per cent
Reality:
No increase in allocation of MGNREGA which is a vehicle to create employment in this country for the poor. This year, only 39 days was provided by the Government and rural wages which are supposed to be paid within 15 days, are now pending since 1.5 years.
The Economic Survey noted, that Rural wages decelerated just before the kharif season. This was because sowing of seeds has been lower in both kharif and rabi seasons thus reducing the demand for labour.
The most disappointing part of the budget is the cut in the outlays on major schemes for 2018-19. Some important schemes that will get constant or reduced outlays are: MGNREGA, PMAY, National Drinking Water Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, National Health Mission, Midday Meals Scheme, and Interest Subsidy for Short Term Farm Credit, Northeastern Investment Promotion, Price Stabilisation Fund and Gram Jyoti Yojana. The FM will have much to explain when Parliament debates the Budget next week.
President’s Address:Railways remain the main mode of transport even today and that is why investment in Railways for capacity development and modernization is being enhanced continuouslyReality: · Railways remains the most neglected Ministry under Modi Govt- BJP has deliberately diminished the status of Indian Railways· Railway Ministry has failed to provide managerial leadership, ‘Safety’, ‘Security’ and ‘Speed’ of Railways is in dire straits!
President’s Address:My Government has formulated a new Metro Rail Policy which lays emphasis on ‘last mile connectivity’. Presently, Metro work is in progress in 11 cities of the country.Reality: · Congress-UPA built Metro Rail in as many as these 12 cities and Cleared in another 6! How many did BJP Build?
President’s Address:Recently, my Government has approved an ambitious programme for development of highways namely ‘Bharatmala’. A provision of Rs. 5 lakh 35 thousand crore has been made for this.
Reality: ‘Bharatmala’ Project stated to bring Rs 5.35 Lakh Crore is completely debt driven with total burden on people of India. Its breakup is -:
President’s Address:In Mizoram, a Hydro Electric Power Project constructed at a cost of Rs. 913 crore has been dedicated to the nation recently.Shillong –Tura road project was dedicated to the people last year in December. This road will improve connectivity in the entire North-East region. Last year, the longest river-bridge of the country- Dhola-Sadiyaa- was also dedicated to the nation. This bridge has reduced distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 165 kilometers.
Reality: All these projects were started by Congress-UPA, and only inaugurated by Shri Modi. President’s Address:Terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu & Kashmir is directly related to cross-border infiltration. With better coordination, our Army, Para-Military Forces and Jammu-Kashmir Police are giving a befitting response to the perpetrators.Reality:
WESTERN BORDER 1. Since May 26, 2014, during Modi Government- In the last 44 months, nearly 340 personnel of our brave security forces have been martyred and 195 civilians have died in Jammu and Kashmir alone. Ceasefire Violations are at a all time high. 160 Ceasefire Violations since the beginning of the year. 2. Ceasefire Violations from across the border in the past 44 months of the Modi Government has increased by an alarming 500%, when we compare it by the last 44 months of the Congress-UPA Government. 3. There have been 134 reported Ceasefire Violations along the IB and LOC by Pakistan in in January alone. 4. IAF’s Fighter Fleet has fallen to a record low of 32 Squadrons against the Air Force demand of 45 Squadrons i.e lowest in last 10 years. 5. Armed Forces have shortage of officers- Army has a gap of 7,679 officers is 15.38% of the required number. The Navy has a gap of 1,434 or 12.12% officers (compared to the authorized strength). While the Air Force has a significant shortage of airmen.This gap of 15,5357 airmen amounts to 10.77% of the required number. (Defence Minister’s Statement in Lok Sabha | 27 December, 2017) President’s Address:The policy related to Strategic Partnership in Defence Manufacturing sector has also been given a final shape. This will encourage maximum participation of private sector in the manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment and would provide a fillip to employment generation.
Reality:
In this Budget, Defence Sector gets 1.58% of the GDP, Lowest allocation since 1962. President’s Address:Due to the successful diplomatic efforts of my Government, there has been a new found respect for India.Reality: 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 Pak’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 in the Arabian Sea with Chinese Naval Base?
6. The Ministry of External Affair’s vacuous statement recently, does not say a word about the alleged construction of military infrastructure by Chinese Army as depicted in satellite imagery produced in the recent media reports. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s reported justification of the construction of infrastructure and the reported reaction by the MEA that “India is maintaining constant vigil and using established mechanisms” is only adding to the confusion. The Modi Government cannot have multiple stands on the Chinese misadventure. It will only harm India’s Interests. Congress Government had approved raising of ‘Mountain Strike Corps’ along the China border with 90,274 additional soldiers at a cost of Rs 64,678. Under Modi Government, it still lies in the lurch.
7. Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines are regularly making forays into Indian Ocean and Strategic Experts have continuously pointed out the ‘String of Pearls’ which China is attempting in the Indian Ocean by leveraging its influence on India’s neighbours like Sri Lanka Maldives, Bangladesh etc. by building strategic bases at Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Chittagong port in Bangladesh besides extensive maritime facilities in Maldives.
President’s Address:India’s growth rate remained impressive despite global economic slow-down. During the first quarter of 2016-17
Reality: · Modi Govt fails to achieve its Fiscal Deficit target, this year. They had set a Fiscal Deficit Target of 3.2% but they have breached it and this year’s Fiscal Target is said to be 3.5%- which is worrying. · GDP Growth is 4 Year low – despite new method of calculation · Manufacturing Growth is 3 Month low in January (Today’s Papers)· Industrial GVA growth has declined from 9.8 per cent in 2015-16 to 6.8 per cent in 2016-17 to 2.7 per cent in 2017-18. · Budget 2017-18 predicted a GDP Growth of 7.5% for 2017-18. FM has turned out to be more than a full percentage point off the mark! · Inflation is 15 month low. Food inflation has gone up to 5% overall in December 2017 from just 2% in December 2016.
President’s Address:With a view to resolving the problems of citizens, my Government has accorded priority to simplification of procedures. As a result of these efforts of my Government, India has moved up from 142nd to 100th rank in the Ease of Doing Business ranking of the World Bank.
Reality: Giving credence to the theory that the World Bank’s popular ease of doing business (EODB) ranking is not credible and accurate, its chief economist Paul Romer has announced to recalculate the national rankings of business competitiveness going back to at least four years.
Romer’s statement that the national ranking of ease of doing business would be carried for last four years, could have a notable impact on India as its ranking jumped from 140 in 2014 to 100 in 2018.
President’s Address: Our fight against corruption continues.
Reality: Modi ji has kept absolutely mum on the following
1.Vyapam Scam
2. ‘Shah-Zaada Model’ : BJP’s National President, Shri Amit Shah & son, Shri Jay Shah
As we celebrate Our Constitution and the immense contribution of the pillars of our National Movement, we should reflect upon the times we live in. We are witnessing a state sponsored inequality manifesting itself in stark differences of income, societal status and access to resources of the state. An unprecedented attack on the deprived at large by relentless vigilantism, whose single point agenda is to fuel and play upon the existing societal divisions for their own vested interests. This has created unbearable agrarian distress for the rural hinterland and unacceptable economic disparities.
In recent times, Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has always reflected and believed that there are two Indias. In the last few years, the divide between these two very different India has been systematically exacerbated by a state which wants to keep this inequity alive. Lack of opportunities for the young is the single biggest causality of this phenomenon. Entrepreneurship of ordinary traders and small businesses are under a cloud on account of control by a handful of monoliths. Arbitrary policies have only added to their wounds.
Since the state is focusing its energies on building a propaganda machinery that seeks to disunite the socio-political fabric, it is unable to concentrate fully on important areas like National Security and securing our borders and coast lines.
To overcome these challenges, the Congress party is the only organization that can provide a harmonizing vision. The way forward lies in neutralizing our vast demographic dividend, channelizing the entire energy of the country in productivity, job creation and creating sync between the farmer, trader and the market with adequate revenue generation; which benefits all not one.Technology driven innovation and exploration, which is accessible to all is a vital tool in this transformation.
Expansion of the economy in a manner where the benefits percolates downstream in a more equitable manner rather than accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few should be the primary focus. Transparency and accountability should be the foundation on which this renewal will rest.Restoration of Institutional integrity is a key to this onward march. Respecting the integrity of our natural resources, forests and wildlife is as important as responding to human needs.
The Indian National Congress’s ideology is painted on a huge canvas that covers the entire humanity. The Congress party’s ideals are engrained in the well-being and advancement of the people of India and the establishment in India, by peaceful and constitutional means, in which there is equality of opportunity of political, economic and social rights and which aims at world peace and fellowship. Since thousands of years, this has been the bedrock of India’s philosophy. This has been the basis of Our Constitution too.
Let the instrumentalities of state work in convergence rather than in confusion.
Let cohesion, not confrontation be the cardinal policy of the state.
Let compassion, not conflict be the central principle of governance.
Let cumulation of ideas, not command of a selected few be the final celebration of democracy.
With these thoughts, I wish you all, A Very Happy Republic Day!
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.
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।
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.
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.
“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.
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!
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
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