It’s time to convert words into actions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his vision for what he
termed a ‘New India’ based on development opportunities, empowering the poor
rather than keeping them dependent on doles. In this country, there have been
several ‘waves’ in elections, based on emotional issues. Elections fought on
issues of development have been few. It is tough for political parties to fight
polls on the plank of development. But In Uttar Pradesh and in other States
that went to the polls recently, there was a lack of emotional issues; yet
there was heavy polling and a huge, decisive verdict, especially in Uttar
Pradesh, a State that is so big that it gives direction to the discourse in the
country.
Modi said he is not a person who only does things with a mind
to elections but that he has a milestone of 2022 when India completes 75 years
of Independence. After taking a decisive pro-poor shift in policy and in
campaign rhetoric in the recent elections, including a loan waiver for farmers
and no interest on agricultural credit, Modi had some words of solace for the
middle class, whose burden, he said, could only be lightened by an empowered
poor. According to him, in many cases, the middle class has to bear the burden
of paying taxes, of maintaining public services etc. That burden must be
lightened, and that can only happen when the poor are empowered, he added. He
claimed that his vision for ‘New India’ is about empowering the poor with
opportunities, the only thing that will propel India forward.
Modi’s speech can be seen as a signal that some important
economic reforms are in the offing. Modi tried to allay fears of a majoritarian
government in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand (where the party did not field a
single Muslim candidate), saying that once elected, governments had “no right
to discriminate”. He concluded, “When governments are elected, it is done
through bahumat [majority], but when it governs it does so by sarvamat
[consensus]. The BJP-led governments are for those who voted for us and also
those who did not.”
Now making a noble statement is something, practicing it is
something else. The
overwhelming mandate of the law-abiding citizens of UP in the recently
concluded Assembly elections 2017 is a clear message to the Indians living all
over the world that they have wholeheartedly chosen BJP ruled NDA government. For
winning the elections in UP, the largest state in India, the credit goes to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and his loyal and hard-working Ministers. UP Assembly election results have declared
that the era of "democracy of the group of people, for the group of people
and by the group of people" has come to an end. Now it is "democracy
for the people, by the people and of the people.” Political parties founded on
family and castes have been told in loud voice that government and sovereign
powers are not available for their sons, daughters and near relatives to
inherit.
The decisive and huge mandate of the people, especially in
UP, deserves all respect. Now all that Modi and his government should do is convert
words into deeds and do all-round development of all, and do not while away the
opportunity given by the people of UP to the BJP yet again. This mandate should
never be used to carry out the party's hidden agendas of building Ram Temple
and consolidating its vote bank on religious lines. People cannot be taken for
granted always.
Let us hope that the massive mandate in UP will change the
face of India along with that of UP.
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