Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is a defining moment in the history of India. Independent India had its weak moments as well as strong moments. Now, India must choose between democracy, rule of law, and constitutional supremacy, or one-party, one-man rule, with misuseof religion, hatemongering, conflicts, and divisive policies.
The decade-long governance of BJP was based on tall talks, unfulfilled promises plus promotion of communal hatred, intra-community suspicion, mutual fear and strained relations. These are the most prominent gifts of the ruling establishment.
It is extremely unfortunate for this great country that the ruling dispensation based its policies on the negatives of Hindu versus Muslims, center versus states, and rulers versus the ruled. Added to these are the crony capitalists’ mortgaging of the economy to capitalists and a staggering and even escalating foreign debt of more than Rs. 200 lakh crore which eats up every year more than 25 percent of the Union Budget. Inter-community relations are steadily worsening and the haves and have-nots gulf is widening. In a nutshell, we are in a situation, that our rulers have neither vision nor a roadmap to deal with it, neither honesty nor integrity, neither commitment nor love for the noble cause.
Just in the middle of the elections, when two phases are over, the narratives have assumed very negative colors. At this time, we rightly expected a high moral standard from the highest person, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But his statements and sarcastic tone have much lowered the standard of electoral narrative. He is resorting to not only twisting of facts but open lies. Opposition and media highlight instances violating Election Commission’s code. For example, the allegation against ex-PM Manmohan Singh’s 2006 statement, misrepresented by PM Modi, inciting citizens. Singh’s actual message emphasized rights of marginalized groups, to the nation’s wealth. Ruling party’s online presence distorts statement as Muslim appeasement, stirring controversy.
Further, Mr. Modi asserts that the Congress manifesto says that the wealth of the majority of the country would be seized by the Congress Party and transferred to the Muslims. PM Modi goes to the extent of suggesting that even the mangal sutras (of Hindu women) would be snatched from them and gifted to the favored ones (read Muslims). By exploiting such misinterpretation, Mr. Modi has lowered the level of electoral narrative to the lowest level of communalism.
The minds have been so poisoned and the atmosphere has been so sensationalized that it would be extremely difficult to restore sanity among the large segments of Hindu masses.
Mr. Modi is adding more and more poison to the narratives. He, his party, and their media allies should understand: Election outcomes aren’t everything. Preserving national unity and integrity is paramount.
Those who irresponsibly indulge in misinterpretations and even open lies are sowing the seeds of hate, enmity, disintegration, and destruction in the nation. These dangerous narratives for electoral benefits will cause long-lasting disadvantages to this multi-religious country, which is a combination of thousands of castes and ethnic entities.
Strange that EC didn’t directly reprimand PM, instead addressed complaint to BJP president, and planted an allegation on Rahul, sent to Congress president. More proactive attitude, like TN Seshan’s, could have been expected. Let’s pin hopes on common voters’ wisdom.