Is Modi ready to debate poverty and inequality?

The response of the people at public meetings is a good indicator of the direction of the wind. It does not seem to be favorable for the BJP. However, his recent attempts to polarize people have landed him in further trouble

The ongoing Lok Sabha elections have proved beyond doubt that voters are the only guiding force in democracy. Though there have been constant efforts to undermine and manipulate people’s issues, ultimately, they emerge as important. This is the most important contribution of the Constitution to our democracy: supreme power is vested in the people of India. However, recent developments on the battleground of elections prompt us to look at what is happening on the ground. Prime Minister Modi, in his Rajasthan campaign, alleged that the Congress manifesto had promised to snatch the wealth of the people—gold and silver—and distribute it among infiltrators and those who produce more children.

He said that this is in line with what Manmohan Singh said as the Prime Minister of India: that Muslims had the first right over the country's resources. Modi scared people that the Congress was not going to spare even the Mangal Sutra, the symbol of a married Hindu woman. This was a clear case of using religion to win popular votes. He stooped to the level of terming Muslims—citizens of the country—as infiltrators and children-producing communities, which is completely disturbing.

The Congress approached the Election Commission of India and demanded action against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct. Consequently, the ECI issued a notice to BJP president JP Nadda for Modi’s speech. In an obvious display of its weakness, the Commission refrained from sending a notice to Prime Minister Modi. The Commission just did a formality by issuing a notice to the BJP president.

The ECI even tried to balance its action, a very mild action indeed, with a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for a speech by Rahul Gandhi in Kottayam, Kerala, and Kharge’s statement made during a conversation at the Indian Express Idea Exchange program. Rahul Gandhi has been accused of making a false allegation against the BJP that it discriminates against regional languages. Kharge has been charged with making the false allegation that he was not invited to the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Temple because he was a Dalit.

Is it neutrality on the part of the ECI or utter weakness? Even a common man can see through the content of Prime Minister Modi’s speech at the Banswara rally in Rajasthan. He was only trying to polarize people on religious grounds. It was nothing but hate speech. His choice of place was also bad because it was a border area and very sensitive for security reasons. In comparison, the nature of the allegations Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are facing is mild.

The Commission also gives a very weak explanation for not sending notice to the Prime Minister. In its notices, the Commission says, "The Commission has taken the view that while the star campaigner would continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the Commission will address the party president or head of the political party on a case-to-case basis.”

However, the ECI does not clarify why, in this case, it chose to give notices to party presidents, not to star campaigners—Modi, Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi.

The Commission claims in a loud voice that it provides a level playing field for all political parties. However, the almost complete occupancy of media by the BJP belies its claims. Most of the space is occupied by interviews with the BJP. BJP leaders and live coverage of their campaigns. Opposition leaders hardly get any space.

It is indeed intriguing as to why the Prime Minister has suddenly become too aggressive in the middle of elections and is making such divisive speeches. Is he apprehending a defeat? It was not a stray incident. The Prime Minister is repeating his statements. Has his attempt to cash in on the consecration of the Sri Ram Temple at Ayodhya failed? Is the CAA issue not working? The plank of development has obviously failed to attract people.

The response of the people at public meetings is a good indicator of the direction of the wind. It does not seem to be favorable for the BJP. However, his recent attempts to polarize people have landed him in further trouble. His charge against the Congress that the party has promised to snatch resources from the common people to distribute them among members of the minority community has opened a new controversy. The people are studying and discussing the Congress manifesto to verify his allegation. The party manifesto does not contain any such promise. Instead, Congress has promised a social and economic survey to explore the basis for removing inequality through affirmative action. The manifesto does not speak of any redistribution of wealth that Modi is alleging.

The Congress has only promised a plethora of programs for those who are found to be on the lower rung of society in the proposed socioeconomic survey. The proposed caste census, Rahul Gandhi asserts, would give a clear picture as to how different sections of society are doing on indicators such as health, education, and employment. Modi’s allegations have given rise to a fresh debate on poverty and inequality. The Prime Minister has been evading these issues since his first day in office.

"Inequality between the rich on the one hand and the poor and middle classes on the other have increased sharply dealing a body blow to the goals of equality, equity, and social and economic justice. ……The share of national income earned by India’s top 1 per cent is today at its highest historical levels and is among the highest globally. The rise of inequality has been particularly pronounced between 2014 and 2023,” says the manifesto.

“Congress will conduct a nation-wide socio-economic and caste census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions. Based on the data, we will strengthen the agenda for affirmative action,” the manifesto promises.

Is Modi ready to debate poverty and inequality?

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)