Modi’s ‘suit-boot sarkar’

Statements by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are not the only barometer to gauge the failures of Modi government since sufficient corroborating evidence is on record to substantiate Gandhi’s criticism of the Modi administration, which he repeatedly describes as a “suit-boot sarkar” (the government enamoured with cosmetic display).
Commenting on the one-year rule of the BJP-led Modi government at the Centre, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing in all spheres of activity.
The main criticism is on the Delhi government’s failure to bring about relief in the lives of farmers and small businessmen who, according to Rahul, “have nothing to celebrate, not even the completion of one-year in power. The fact is that the government is totally insensitive and insincere to the poor. As for the celebration, it is only for a few powerful friends of the government”.
Rahul Gandhi enumerates a number of reasons why people believe this government to be a ‘suit-boot sarkar.’ “The first reason is our Prime Minister’s fascination for clothes. Farmers and workers in particular don’t appreciate when the prime minister wears a suit worth one million rupees. I don’t think any other prime minister before Mr. Modi had done such a thing.”
He says the prime minister had gone to the US, Canada, China, Japan and Nepal “but I have never seen him visit a poor man’s house and hold his hand.” All these critical remarks may be taken by some people as opposition for the sake of opposition but in order to arrive at the actual facts about one year of rule of Modi government, there is nothing on record to prove that these 365 days demonstrated any progress vis-a-vis the golden pledges made by Nirendra Modi at the time of general elections.
On the secular front which happens to be the pride of India with its tall claims of holding all the communities, nationalities and religions together, united and satisfied, the minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, have remained at the receiving end although Nirendra Modi had even wooed Muslims leaders and notables with his ‘transformed humanitarian face’ during his election campaigns. But following elections, religious minority communities have been subjected to derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling BJP and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups, such as RSS Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), considered the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, and VHP (Vishva Hindu Parishad).
This has been stated in the annual report of the ‘US Commission on International Religious Freedom’ (USCIRF), which is highly critical of these Hindu right-wing organisations, RSS and VHP, on account of the brutal victimisation of minorities at their hands. The worst thing about this victimisation is that it has continued unabated in one form or the other with Modi sarkar demonstrating criminal acquiescence although PM Modi has throughout been claiming to be respectful towards the Indians across the board, which means being respectful towards and concerned about peoples professing different faiths.
In keeping with this claim the Indian government has rebutted the USCIRF through a statement by PM Nirendra Modi, saying that they stand committed to ensuring religious freedom as pledged in the beginning.
The US panel on religious freedom has also criticised the Indian authorities over the rampant police bias in failing to investigate “sufficiently” and arrest perpetrators of violence against minorities.
“Moreover, religious minority communities voice concern that high-ranking BJP members protect or provide support to the groups involved in the attacks on minorities.”
The report also cited the anti-conversion laws enacted by several states and also the call of BJP chief Amit Shah for a similar law for the entire country, and said “they create a hostile, and on occasion, violent environment for religious minority communities because they do not require any evidence to support accusations of wrongdoing.”
In the same report, the USCIRF has also mentioned US President Barack Obama’s nudge to India’s leaders on religious freedom during his visit to the country in January this year when he urged the country not to be “splintered along the lines of religious faith” besides noting denial of US visa to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi over the post-Godhra riots. The panel also put forward a slew of recommendations to the US government including discussing religious freedom in future bilateral dialogues and “encourage the strengthening of the capacity of state and central police to implement effective measures to prohibit and punish cases of religious violence and protect victims and witnesses”.
The panel also recommended to the US government to urge the Indian government to “publicly rebuke government officials and religious leaders that make derogatory statements about religious communities.”