The majority of Indian population is waiting impatiently for the 2024 general elections. Of course, there are large sections who are mesmerised by the high-level hype and propaganda by godi media that they prefer to live in the realm of “Andh Bhakti”. But the common citizen is suffering from backbreaking inflation, and increasing unemployment. He knows and feels where his shoes pinches.
To snare him, a big hype was created by opening the half-built Ayodhya temple on January 22. The dwindling number of visitors indicates that people are more concerned with their day-to-day problems. Even the freebies and a few kilograms of ration are failing to buy the loyalty of poor Indians whose number has significantly increased in recent years. This can be gauged by the recent economic surveys.
The middle class is annoyed by the divide-and-rule tactics and communal hate campaigns. They want to live amicably as gentle and cooperating citizens. As regards intellectuals and thinking citizens, they feel concerned about the erosion of democratic principles and constitutional guarantees. They are greatly concerned with the moves to take the country towards one-party rule in which all major decisions of national importance are being taken by just one or two persons.
The misuse of power has gone to the extent that laws of far-reaching consequences are being enacted without discussion just on the strength of a brutal majority by ‘voice vote’. It is being felt that if the ruling dispensation comes to power once again then there would not be democracy in the country at all.
Therefore, thinking people have realized that for the sake of preserving democracy and safeguarding rule of law, true spirit of federalism, and good inter-state relations, a change is necessary. Moreover, the 20 crore Muslims are being treated as second-class citizens. The ruling BJP has let loose the forces of hate and lawlessness against them. Their marginalization has increased abundantly. Laws are enacted not for the benefit of people but to further marginalize the Muslims. There are solid reasons to believe that NCR would be used to reduce them to the position of second-class citizens. This has been the constant policy of fascist forces to first marginalize Muslims, and then demonize them to appease the Hindu majority. They have given open permission to communal elements like Yati Narsinghanand and their ilk not only topreach hatred but to give calls for genocide. No solid action has been taken against them. The world is appalled to see the cases of Dr. Kafeel, journalist Sidheeq Kappan, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, Umar Khalid and other persons who are being mistreated continuously. On flimsy charges, houses of Muslims are being bulldozed. The intellectuals and well-wishers of the country openly criticize the general anti-Muslim policy of the communalists in command. But they are powerless and cannot reform the powers-that-be. Judiciary does not like the illegal and unconstitutional trends but it also seems to be under pressure.
In the prevailing circumstances more and more feel that a change is a must to secure the future of the country. More and more people are looking at the newly formed united Opposition front with hope. Let’s pray that good sense dawns upon the ultimate arbiters of India, the voters, common citizens and their leaders.