Modi’s ‘style of governance’

As the world is watching, educated segments of diverse Indian society are beginning to realize that Modi’s style of governance is not delivering, rather it is extremely divisive. The economy is in deep trouble and national security debates flourishing. There is a realization that fewer jobs are available and promises made by the Modi Sarkar in this regard were not credible. Tens of millions of youth are entering the Indian workforce every year but the Narendra Modi government has failed to create enough employment opportunities to absorb them. The National Register of Citizens in Assam already put people on their toes while the exercise will be repeated across India. A new set of Indian citizens will emerge while the minorities will once again be at a great disadvantage. Earlier, monetization and GST issues made dramatic waves to be followed by talk of a new multi-purpose digital ID card and the Ayodhya verdict.

Many Indians are asking that how do Narendra Modi’s extremist government and the BJP mindset keep the people of India perpetually anxious and mentally upset. In other words, the Modi government has decided to keep the people of India on edge and force them not to ask the BJP government about its poor and edgy performance on all fronts. This includes creating a narrative of incompetence around the opposition parties. Instead of people questioning their government on what it is delivering, they are being asked to prove their citizenship, honesty and loyalty to the BJP Sarkar.

The BJP government has been using the Pakistan bogey over the years to unite most of the nation. The Chinese threat to Indian security also hovers around its mindset. The threat of so-called Islamic terrorism and threat to Indian state from outside powers have consumed minds of common Indians, who have forgotten the promises Modi Sarkar made about turning around the Indian economy. The economic slowdown, rising unemployment and downgrading of India’s ratings by international agencies are there for all to see.

On the other hand, the jingoistic Indian media is helping Modi cement his power and erode the so-called democratic and secular values India claimed to have. Sensationalisation of all non-issues are the focal point of Modi Sarkar’s practices besides making outlandish claims that carry little credibility.

The Hinduisation of Kashmir in particular and the country in general is being closely watched by the world. The Indian government despite doing away with the Article 370 in held Kashmir has failed to gain the world support on this issue, a case that has drawn sympathies towards Pakistan’s viewpoint. Any question on this issue by saner Indians is like throwing a rock at a nest of bees.

The disquiet in the Indian society continues to grow. There have been a large number of lynchings in the country, especially of Muslims. Sikhs are being marginalized in the name of national security while Christians now fear the BJP extremists. The Indians, especially the minorities, are growing more and more insecure.

Instead of raising genuine and sincere questions about Modi’s performance, especially failure at the economic landscape, the Indians are being made nervous, anxious, edgy and to show political correctness. They are all times wondering what comes next. It is not the government but the people who are in the government’s crosshairs as the latter operates without any restraint, working on shadowy threats and non-issues.