Bharatiya Janta Party, the largest party in terms of membership is proving to be the best washing machine. It doesn’t only wash the image but also the sins committed by corrupt and criminal leaders – shouldn’t it be called the best washing machine?
BJP boasts about its various steps towards social measures and development but a closer look raises suspicion whether it is development or only failed promises?
It is a matter of fact that in most of the states in India, caste plays an important role. But it seems that BJP has given it a new feature, the Hindu-Muslim feeling with an added spice of controversies on sensitive issues. BJP has a long list of failed schemes, like the Ujjwala scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Namami Gange plan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, MSP to farmers and smart cities, etc.
People are so involved in religious controversies that no one can see that India is not only facing job cut, low GDP, inflation, mob lynching, and hate politics but India’s influence has also deteriorated diplomatically in Asia, despite PM Modi’s continuous tours.
Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives have snubbed India many times on those issues on which they never confronted India earlier. Nobody wants to see what image India has in the international media but they are more interested in fake news of a political party’s IT cell.
Why has BJP gained the tag of a washing machine? Because of its modus operandi, the moment someone with any sort of criminal or corruption charges joins BJP, they are considered a saint. BJP talks about connecting with the common man, but the disinterest of BJP in providing minimum support price to farmers properly is very apparent. The government has not done anything concrete to stop farmer suicides and widespread poverty.
Amit Shah talks about no VIP culture by their politicians and no use of beacon lights by any of their leaders but it seems paradoxical when he travels with a cavalcade of 50 cars with all the traffic blocked for him. In that case, what’s the difference the absence of light can make?
The price rise has broken the backbone of the middle class, it doesn’t stop with 2-3 items but the list is very long and something is added to it daily, the latest being the price of milk which has increased ₹2-3 per litre. Whether it is the Delhi Metro or the Indian Railways, prices have surged without any improvement of service. In railways, a ‘dynamic fare’ on trains like Shatabdi and Rajdhani is levied on the ground. Whoever is traveling on this train can afford it. But is it justifiable that a taxpayer has to pay extra just because they are choosing a better train without any extra services?
Many times, common people also use such trains because of a shortage of berths in other trains. Many times, we can see that price of these train tickets is more than flight tickets on the same route.
The use of foul language and fights below the belt are common for BJP leaders because of their illiteracy or arrogance. Leaders like Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan who don’t have any grassroot level experience in politics hold good positions in the BJP and their knowledge about their constituency and national policies has been exposed many times. In a recent report, it came to light that the BJP politicians have the most cases for the crime against women but they talk about moral policing and the Romeo squad!
If we go on fighting like this over politically motivated communal issues, then the day is not far when again people will ask for division or reservation for a particular religion on the first-class coach of a train and again, a Gandhi will be required to eliminate this just like he did it in South Africa.
Mob lynching and moral policing is a new law and order issue which needs to be stopped by bringing stronger laws, but the irony is that the Saffron Party is not doing anything to stop it.
Draconian laws are being used against those who oppose regressive politics. It seems that many times communal or patriotic issues are being created out of the blue just to deviate people from the real issues of jobs, a sinking economy, women safety, and law and order. If people engage in such propaganda, then election agendas will also be based on such fake issues and no one will ask questions on real issues.
But, in reality, what matters are basic issues related to daily life. In a country where a farmer has to resort to suicide because of poverty, a discussion on bullet trains seems very cruel. In India, crores of people sleep hungry and in the winter, many die because of no shelter. In that country, when the PM changes his suit 5 times a day, it looks very odd.
The government has launched many schemes which look interesting and successful, but the truth is harsh. The cut in the education budget and continuous crimes against women makes the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme exist only on papers. The Namami Gange project and Smart City schemes look stagnant, and the Ayushman Bharat health scheme is very limited.
No doubt the centre has controlled the media very smartly. Most media houses have become the mouthpiece of BJP because of many reasons, such as the influence of I&B ministry, fear of coercive action and need of advertisement by media houses. The weakening of institutions is known to all, the use of Enforcement Directorate, CBI and income tax to control voices is now a common game. Whatever the government wants to do, it does by parliamentary amendments and ordinances and misuses agencies to counter the voices of all those who oppose it.
Not to forget how the BJP legalised foreign funding when the rules were creating obstacles. The recent issue of Professor Firoz Khan at BHU who has had to offer his resignation from the Sanskrit faculty because of his religion, shows the cultivation of hate among people and students. Earlier, Dr Kafil Khan’s victimisation and his case also make this issue very clear. Mob lynching and cow vigilantes are a blot on our society where women, farmers and the poor are under continuous threat.
A fresh case of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) looks a part of this political game only where non-Muslim refugees are welcomed to get citizenship and become voters and hence change the voter equation in many states. Also, it forces us to think: has the government brought this amendment to save non-Muslims and non-Muslim refugees from the NRC? A nationwide protest is going on against CAA, however, any violent protest can’t be accepted and there is always a legal way to handle any situation in our country. People should take legal recourse or can peacefully protest if they have any grievance but an attack on police officials is not only illegal but also immoral. Also, harm to public or private property is simply unacceptable.
Having said that, it is also important that the government should not treat the protesters and students like criminals. The recent way of handling the student protesters of AMU, Jamia, JNU, even Delhi University, as well as students of West Bengal is a bad example of how to treat the youth of a country. Whether it is Jadavpur or JNU, if you treat your youth like criminals and slap cases of sedition, then it will affect the young generation of our country only! Shutting down the city, banning the internet or lathi charging can not stop the people from raising their voice against illegality.
In Assam, Manipur and other states, even in Patna, the way the police manhandled the protesters is simply unacceptable. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, it is not like that the mouthpiece of the right-wing has the sole right to freedom of expression, and everyone in opposition must remain silent in the name of reasonable restriction, because under reasonable restriction, people have reasonable right to speak.
It’s time that the centre remembers its promise to establish courts for speedy trials, women’s security, jobs, inflation control, a stronger currency and pollution control. And it’s high time that people rise above petty politics, understand government-sponsored agendas and talk about the basic needs of livelihood.
Also, we need to understand the thin line of difference between patriotism and government-sponsored patriotism, because the common mass of our country is very patriotic and secular which believes in democracy. We know the importance of nationalism and freedom because of our history. The way we achieved our freedom and its relevance in history is testament that we know the power of non-violent protest and appreciate the habit of asking questions. The people need to have a good memory of every political party’s agenda, because short memories will always affect them badly.