The 2014 general election is one of the milestones in Indian political history. It will have long lasting effects on Indian political discourse. For the first time in independent India a "right wing" party came to the power with absolute majority. India lacks ideology based political discourse. It points towards under-development of political philosophy. Today's politics is by and large legacy of freedom struggle which was dominated by Congress. After independence Congress projected itself as "centrist" atleast in terms of economic policy by adopting mixed economy. Post liberalization economic policy of the nation and that of Congress tilted towards capitalism. Further with rise of BJP the party with "right wing" ideology at national level, Congress transformed into anti-right wing party. It became the party with economic policies away from left and political ideology towards left. It supported united front government in 1996-97 also formed the government with support of left parties with common minimum programme in 2004. 2004 marriage of congress and left parties marked the convergence of centre and left . Due to Congress-Left dominance, elites with similar ideologies occupied significant space in intelligentsia. Perception had been created that right wing ideology is communal, retrograde, divisive etc. This caused right-wing inclined people refraining from publicly acknowledging themselves. Further damage was done by extreme right wing organisations committing sporadic incidences of violence. Though extreme leftist violence like naxalism failed to malign left, sporadic violence by extreme right maligned image of right wing considerably. Media had significant role in this discourse.
With Narendra Modi rising to national level Right wing got new direction. Mr Modi as someone who publicly acknowledged his ideology, almost whole of right wing rallied behind him. Further his development oriented and proven results in Gujarat made added to his followings. Though main stream media still adverse towards BJP and Modi, social media played significant role in propagating Modiji's image. His image of right wing progressive development oriented leader increased BJP seats from speculated range of 170-180 to 282. But public acknowledgement of of being Right still less prevalent. Perception of right wing needs to be improved. Many nations have right wing governments and they are working reasonably good. There is no significant difference between economic policies of NDA and UPA. Both are for open economy with tinge of social welfare. Only difference is that NDA is yet to fall into traps of populism. Populism is mixture of appeasement and poor economics. Indiscriminate subsidies, loan waiver, reservations, freebies etc are contribute to populism. However bad for health of economics, it has been the most successful in terms of electoral gains. Most of regional parties in India are surviving on the oxygen of populism. Delhi and Bihar assembly elections prove that reforms are not welcome but populism is.
With regime change, elites were also to change. Efforts have been made to prove current government as extreme Right. Erstwhile elites and irresponsible behaviour of main stream media has been main culprits. First it was propaganda of "Attacks" on churches with a message that current government was attacking minorities. It was not mere co-incidence that such incidences were at peak at around assembly elections. Detailed investigations revealed that such incidences were in nature of theft, some as trivial as cricket ball going inside churches and there was no significant rise in such incidences when compared year on year basis. Whatever be the truth, damage had been done. Further Ghar Wapsi and love Jehad blown out of proportion with single agenda to deride the Right. Conversions are going on daily in our nation, then it was not understandable why Ghar Wapsi was made such a big issue.
Second half of 2015 was very important for BJP. First Bihar assembly elections were due, which were significant for BJP to increase its tally in RS. Secondly positive environment for doing business was to be consolidated. Further for permanent seat in UNSC India has to convince the world that it was complying with modern ideas of secularism, liberty etc. Politics is much of perception game let it be domestic or international. "Church attack" like propaganda was more than expected in such scenario. Every person has certain political ideology and as said before many on intelligentsia of left-congress era belonged to anti-Right group. Award Wapasi was started by the writer who has close family links with royal family of congress. This fact strengthens the suspicion that this propaganda was politically motivated. Also few of "intelligentsia" of award wapsi gang had campaigned against Mr Modi during elections. It leaves no doubt over political motivation of the whole exercise.
Three incidences cited by "intelligentsia" to support claims of intolerance are Kalburgi murder, Dadri incidence and Hariyana Dalit children's burning. First two happened in non-BJP ruled states and law and order is State subject under our constitution. Therefore major chunk of accountability lies with state governments. Further in Hariyana case, forensic investigations have revealed that fire was from within the house. Also prompt action has been taken in all the three cases. Data suggests that there has been no significant increase in violent crimes/communal crimes after NDA coming to power. Also none of the "intelligentsia" of "rising intolerance" gang have been harmed. Further they cite Beef Ban forgetting that beef ban is nothing new, Constitution has called foe taking steps to ban salughter of cows and milch animals and the same has been done in many states. Therefore all claims of rising intolerance seem to be hollow without substance. This gang has gone to extent with equating RSS with IS and India with Hindu Taliban. If differential behaviour of these people in aftermath of 1984 genocide, 1989 bhagalpur massacre, multiple terrorist attacks, innumerable Fatwas issued, etc are compared with their stand today, hypocrisy will be ashamed of.
Further after failing to substantiate claims of rising intolerance these people cite freedom speech and personal opinion, conveniently forgetting that defamation is one of the grounds of reasonable restriction on such freedom. By calling the nation "intolerant" you are defaming the government of the day, insulting Indians who are living peacefully. Now award wapsi has ceased, claims of intolerance are on decline for two reasons- first BJP has lost Bihar (Objective achieved) and Paris attacks (Now people know what intolerance is).
The moral of story is that nurturing of "intelligentsia" to make them politically biased is the worst thing a government can do. Political parties will come and go, but government and governance is continuous process. Media as fourth pillar of democracy should be responsible in reporting. Finally truth will prevail- India has been the most tolerant place ever in the history. There is no place where such diversity exists is evidence of our tolerance.
With Narendra Modi rising to national level Right wing got new direction. Mr Modi as someone who publicly acknowledged his ideology, almost whole of right wing rallied behind him. Further his development oriented and proven results in Gujarat made added to his followings. Though main stream media still adverse towards BJP and Modi, social media played significant role in propagating Modiji's image. His image of right wing progressive development oriented leader increased BJP seats from speculated range of 170-180 to 282. But public acknowledgement of of being Right still less prevalent. Perception of right wing needs to be improved. Many nations have right wing governments and they are working reasonably good. There is no significant difference between economic policies of NDA and UPA. Both are for open economy with tinge of social welfare. Only difference is that NDA is yet to fall into traps of populism. Populism is mixture of appeasement and poor economics. Indiscriminate subsidies, loan waiver, reservations, freebies etc are contribute to populism. However bad for health of economics, it has been the most successful in terms of electoral gains. Most of regional parties in India are surviving on the oxygen of populism. Delhi and Bihar assembly elections prove that reforms are not welcome but populism is.
With regime change, elites were also to change. Efforts have been made to prove current government as extreme Right. Erstwhile elites and irresponsible behaviour of main stream media has been main culprits. First it was propaganda of "Attacks" on churches with a message that current government was attacking minorities. It was not mere co-incidence that such incidences were at peak at around assembly elections. Detailed investigations revealed that such incidences were in nature of theft, some as trivial as cricket ball going inside churches and there was no significant rise in such incidences when compared year on year basis. Whatever be the truth, damage had been done. Further Ghar Wapsi and love Jehad blown out of proportion with single agenda to deride the Right. Conversions are going on daily in our nation, then it was not understandable why Ghar Wapsi was made such a big issue.
Second half of 2015 was very important for BJP. First Bihar assembly elections were due, which were significant for BJP to increase its tally in RS. Secondly positive environment for doing business was to be consolidated. Further for permanent seat in UNSC India has to convince the world that it was complying with modern ideas of secularism, liberty etc. Politics is much of perception game let it be domestic or international. "Church attack" like propaganda was more than expected in such scenario. Every person has certain political ideology and as said before many on intelligentsia of left-congress era belonged to anti-Right group. Award Wapasi was started by the writer who has close family links with royal family of congress. This fact strengthens the suspicion that this propaganda was politically motivated. Also few of "intelligentsia" of award wapsi gang had campaigned against Mr Modi during elections. It leaves no doubt over political motivation of the whole exercise.
Three incidences cited by "intelligentsia" to support claims of intolerance are Kalburgi murder, Dadri incidence and Hariyana Dalit children's burning. First two happened in non-BJP ruled states and law and order is State subject under our constitution. Therefore major chunk of accountability lies with state governments. Further in Hariyana case, forensic investigations have revealed that fire was from within the house. Also prompt action has been taken in all the three cases. Data suggests that there has been no significant increase in violent crimes/communal crimes after NDA coming to power. Also none of the "intelligentsia" of "rising intolerance" gang have been harmed. Further they cite Beef Ban forgetting that beef ban is nothing new, Constitution has called foe taking steps to ban salughter of cows and milch animals and the same has been done in many states. Therefore all claims of rising intolerance seem to be hollow without substance. This gang has gone to extent with equating RSS with IS and India with Hindu Taliban. If differential behaviour of these people in aftermath of 1984 genocide, 1989 bhagalpur massacre, multiple terrorist attacks, innumerable Fatwas issued, etc are compared with their stand today, hypocrisy will be ashamed of.
Further after failing to substantiate claims of rising intolerance these people cite freedom speech and personal opinion, conveniently forgetting that defamation is one of the grounds of reasonable restriction on such freedom. By calling the nation "intolerant" you are defaming the government of the day, insulting Indians who are living peacefully. Now award wapsi has ceased, claims of intolerance are on decline for two reasons- first BJP has lost Bihar (Objective achieved) and Paris attacks (Now people know what intolerance is).
The moral of story is that nurturing of "intelligentsia" to make them politically biased is the worst thing a government can do. Political parties will come and go, but government and governance is continuous process. Media as fourth pillar of democracy should be responsible in reporting. Finally truth will prevail- India has been the most tolerant place ever in the history. There is no place where such diversity exists is evidence of our tolerance.
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