India holds a unique place in the world. Election is the most testing time for our country. There is much heat, rumors, verbal attacks and counter-attacks between contending powers. There is a twisting of facts and deliberate attempts to rouse not only rivalry but enmity among the thousands of ethnic groups of this vast and diverse country.
This should be the basic responsibility of all aspirants to power to see that their claims and counterclaims do not spoil and aggravate the situation and do not damage the social fabric and inter-community and inter-state relations.
Questions repeatedly asked are: Why is the ruling party, which has been making tall claims about earning high regard for the country in the international fora, failing to improve the standard of living back home? Why do they not present their report card of what they have done to the common cause, alleviation of poverty, raising of standard of living, wealth creation and equitable distribution of wealth and resources among citizens of the country?
They claim that the country is about to touch the 5 trillion GDP mark. But at the same time, we find that 82 crore population has to be provided with a few kilos of ration. If we are about to reach a 5 trillion economy, why there areall-time high unemployment and rocketing inflation?
Instead of showcasing their achievements in economic, social and educational fields, they are advertising Ram temple. This they have been doing in spite of the fact that Ram temple does not have any attraction for an overwhelming chunk of the population. They do not present solid facts about the fulfillment of the promises of 2 crore jobs every year, and bringing back black money staked in foreign banks. They could not bring back even a single economic offender. Instead of doubling the income of farmers, they have been treating the agitating farmerscruelly. They have not done anything to implement minimum support price (MSP) for farmers. The tragedy is not only confined to non-creation of fresh jobs. Government surveys themselves prove that the greatest number of new entrants in the job market isdisappointing.
Last but not least, in real terms, PM Modi is, unfortunately, using the Hindu-versus-Muslim narrative and trying to stoke the fire of enmity in the majority Hindus against the biggest and most deprived minority. It is bound to have far-reaching negative consequences and do irreparable damage to the whole country.
It is not unbecoming of the highest public servant to present Muslims as infiltrators and people with many children who are out to destroy the country, as the Congress, he alleged, is bent upon snatching the properties of Dalits, OBCs and even Hindus to distribute these among the infiltrators. Mr. Modi is propagating very negatively that the mangalsutras of Hindu women would be snatched for the appeasement of infiltrators. Perhaps Modi does not understand how he is spreading poison and stoking the fires of enmity, rivalry, ill will and a permanent conflict between the majority and minority communities.
This is high time our Prime Minister gave serious thought to former PM Vajpayee’s advice to follow the Raj Dharma and rise above party lines and act in the interest of the country. Winning or losing an election is not as important as preserving the unity, integrity and social cohesion of the country.