PM Modi Uses Govt Platform For Petty Politics, No Questions Asked!

In Haryana, all exit polls showed that the people were unhappy with the ruling BJP. But the poll results showed that the voters did not have any credible alternative, but to vote for the BJP. Similar situation may be witnessed in Maharashtra if the alternative fails

“After BJP has won Haryana, now we must secure even a bigger victory in Maharashtra,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while launching several developmental projects via video conferencing, including 10 medical colleges, in Maharashtra on October 9.

It was an official event, on a government platform at the expense of the taxpayers’ money and the PM had the audacity to make a political speech. It also turned out to be yet another pre-election speech as he went on to attack the Congress which obviously could not defend itself on the same or even a similar platform.

Modi stressed that the people of Maharashtra “must unite and vote for BJP and the Mahayuti alliance” keeping national development as their top priority. Then he went on to analyse the Haryana legislative assembly election results, like a Godi media anchor: Haryana has shown the nation what the mood is! Winning for the third time in a row after completing two terms is historic. The Congress’ entire ecosystem, including the Urban Naxal gang, was busy misleading the public, but all of Congress’ conspiracies were crushed. They tried to spread lies among Dalits, but the Dalit community sensed their mala fide intentions. Dalits realized that the Congress wanted to snatch their reservation and distribute it for their own vote bank. Today, the Dalit community in Haryana has given the BJP record support. Haryana’s OBCs are standing with the BJP, recognizing its development work. The Congress tried to instigate the farmers, but farmers know who has given them MSP for their crops. Haryana’s farmers are happy with BJP’s welfare schemes. The Congress targeted the youth, attempting to mislead them in various ways. However, Haryana’s young men, women, and daughters trust BJP for their bright future. The Congress used every tactic, but the people of Haryana have shown that they will not fall prey to Congress and Urban Naxal conspiracies.

Even after 10 years of uninterrupted rule, it is unfortunate that Modi has to rely on running down the Congress at every opportunity including official events instead of presenting his or his own or the double-engine government’ report cards. He does not utter a single word about the BJP governments’ responsible behaviour but takes time to blast the Congress for being an irresponsible party. And he keeps misleading the people about the Congress’ stand on reservations.

“Congress has always operated on the ‘divide and rule’ formula. Time and again, Congress has proven to be an irresponsible party. It continues to create new narratives to divide the country. Congress never stops misleading voters,” Modi said. As if this were not enough, he went on to say that the Congress formula is clear: keep Muslims in fear, convert them into a vote bank, and strengthen that vote bank.

The Prime Minister never talks of the fear psychosis created by the so-called bulldozer justice on which the Supreme Court has come down heavily, nor does he say a single word of condemnation against the atrocities on women committed by his own partymen. On the contrary, the BJP directly or indirectly defends the culprits, at times even felicitates them.

Modi literally keeps his mouth shut on the Manipur crisis, raging for 17 months now, but says that the Congress leaders keep their mouths shut on Muslim castes issue.

Remember, it is the same Prime Minister who had said during the Lok Sabha poll campaign that he would be the last person to speak about Hindu-Muslim divide. He would cease to exist in politics, he said, and yet he said what he had to say: “As soon as the issue of Muslim castes comes up, Congress leaders keep their mouths shut. The moment there’s a discussion on Hindu society, Congress immediately brings up caste.”

Modi said the Congress is on the verge of becoming the largest factory of hate, and then misquotes Mahatma Gandhi on this. “Mahatma Gandhi realized this right after Independence, which is why he said Congress should be dissolved. Congress hasn’t dissolved, but today it’s bent on destroying the country,” Modi said.

Records show that Mahatma Gandhi had only said that the Congress in its (then) present shape had outlived its existence having achieved Independence. He, therefore, suggested disbanding the organisation. He never mentioned anything about the Congress turning into a factory of hate, either big or small!

For whatever the reasons, the BJP has won Haryana elections hands down and the Congress lost. And, barring a miracle, it is highly unlikely that the grand old party will even win its fight against the alleged manipulation of EVMs and dethrone the BJP. In such a scenario, why is Modi so badly worried over the Congress and showing his nervousness? Tragically though, whatever he says goes uncontested or even gets amplified by the hate-monger Godi media.

Modi said we must stay cautious and alert. He was right at least in this aspect that the nation must stay alert against hatemongers.

This is where the civil society and the entire opposition needs to behave in a responsible manner, stay united and check one party rule that only continues to mislead the people on cast and religion grounds and does nothing but launches grandeur and multi-thousand crore projects during the election seasons, dangling the Viksit Bharat card.

Take the case of the 10 new medical colleges “inaugurated” by the Prime Minister in Maharashtra, the National Medical Commission (NMC) approved only two of them in August and rejected the rest due to inadequate infrastructure. But in less than two months, the PM inaugurates all 10 of them. No questions asked about the infrastructure or lack of it. Meanwhile, the State announced that it has secured a Rs 4,000 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve health facilities. And the state is spending Rs 46,000 crore a year on freebies such as LadkiBahin Yojana!

This is not the way any democratically elected government should function, unquestioned and uncontested. But, one is bound to get disheartened the way the opposition runs away from its responsibilities. Rahul Gandhi literally disappeared on the day of the announcement of the Haryana election results while the Congress party was left to chase an illusive EVM charging disparity.

In Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena vowed to scrap the Dharavi slum development projects allotted to Adani without proposing any alternative. This, in the face of his arch rival and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stating that the opposition leaders build bungalows for themselves while not caring about the upliftment of the Dharavi slum dwellers.

In Haryana, all exit polls showed that the people were unhappy with the ruling BJP. But the poll results showed that the voters did not have any credible alternative, but to vote for the BJP. Similar situation may be witnessed in Maharashtra if the alternative fails. We are not trying to propagate either BJP or any other party rule. Our only point is to preserve democracy. Is it going to be in the interest of democracy? Let's think. Let Maharashtra and Jharkhand think as the two states will have legislative assembly elections soon.

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)