H.H.Mohrmen
Last Sunday with one strike Prime Minister Narendra Modi exposed to the public that one thing that gives him a bad mood. The Prime Minister had no qualms in making that public. In the meeting of Chief Justices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called certain activists and particularly those who advocate for environment protection, ‘five stars activists.’ This was intended to drive a wedge between the public and activists. And not long after that the axe fell on Greenpeace India when the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs revoked Greenpeace India’s registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). .
The only goal the NDA government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has, is economic growth and in the process anybody who is seen obstructing the country’s economic growth is se en as the enemy. It is indeed very sad that it has come to such a pass that a Prime Minister of the country would call names at those who have opinions different from that of the government. Those who had lobbied for what they see as crucial for the future of the country also love this country as much as those in the ruling class. The moot question is, whether the Prime Minister of this country has forgotten that we are a democratic country and we are free to form and express our opinions. Also we have every right to advocate for what we think is right! If the issue advocated is important, does it really matter whether the activists are five star types or without stars. It is obvious that the Prime Minster is irritated at the messenger and ignored the important message that was delivered. The withdrawal of Greenpeace India’s FCRA registration is a classic example of the saying ‘shooting the messenger because we do not like the message.’
The immediate withdrawal of FCRA is another example which brings to light the attitude of the NDA government towards green activists. That the registration was withdrawn on a flimsy ground also shows the Central government’s attitude towards issues of environmental concerns. This Government’s prime concern appears to be about economic growth at any cost to the point of ignoring environmental concerns completely. Narendra Moods will ever be Blue if he continues to sacrifice environment at the altar of ‘so called development’ which pleases the business class only.
It is also unfortunate that the Prime Minister made the statement at the meeting of the Chief Justices of the country. This again has serious implications. The Prime Minister in the statement implied that the court is often influenced if not dictated by the so called five star activists. This is a matter of grave concern that the Prime Minister of a democratic country like India should paint the entire judiciary with the same brush. And even the common man knows that in the country’s judicial system, we have a system in place where even if any party is not satisfied with verdict, the aggrieved can always appeal to the higher court. It is therefore impossible for anybody or any organization to influence the judiciary. The Prime Minister may say whatever he likes but one should only remember that the court is still the last refuge of the citizens of this country. Whatever it is, wherever happens and however it may be, the citizens of this country still turn to the judiciary for justice.
It may be mentioned that Modi’s landslide victory comes from the support of the middle class Hindus in the country. If this strata of the society is disenchanted with Modi then he may as well start counting the number of days his party will rule the country. The environment is not the only issue that the middle class Hindus will abandon Modi for. The way the BJP is going back to its old Hindutva tirade will also make people disenchanted with the party. Maharashtra government’s ban on cow slaughter is beginning to have its impact in the country and the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on March 29 in which he stated that he is in favour of introducing nationwide ban on cow slaughtering but at the same time admitted that it will be difficult, is like adding salt to the wounds. In the meeting in Indore the HM has also reminded the gathering that he had tried to introduce the bill in the earlier NDA dispensation but failed to get support.
Ban on cow slaughter already has its impact in the state in particular and North East in the general. Add to that the reported attacks on churches, the rape of a nun and ghar wapasi program of the Sangh Parivar will only alienate the middle class Hindus. Of course we cannot deny the fact that various Christian denominations also engaged in conversion and conversion as such is not wrong if it is volitional. But forced conversion or conversion by allurement or by threat or intimidation by any religious any faith- based organisation needs to be condemned and stopped immediately. So if the BJP and its parivar continue with the familiar diatribe, not only will the minority population turn away from the BJP but the entire population of the country will distance themselves from the party.
Already people like Julio Ribeiro have made it public that they don’t feel at home in their own country and if the super cop who was attacked in Bucharest because he was in charge of the operation against the Sikh militants in Punjab, feels like a stranger in his own country then imagine the fate of an ordinary minority in the country?
The BJP’s defeat in the Delhi elections is lesson for the party if it is willing to learn. The party cannot take the support of the people for granted. And the grand alliance in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh will not augur well for the BJP hence the party is now even targeting smaller states in North East. One wonders if the defeat in Delhi is just a pause on the party’s winning streak, or will it be a grinding halt on its effort to capture India?
Just after the BJP landslide victory in the general election, a lawyer friend enthusiastically indicated to me his intention to join the BJP and had even planned to contest the next MDC election on a BJP ticket, but when I met him recently the young advocate is no longer enamoured by the party. All that which had happened in the last one year had made people realized that the BJP is but old wine in a new bottle.
It was reported that the BJP president Amit Shah will visit Meghalaya this week, but one wonders if he is ready to meet the press in Meghalaya. Even if the BJP president decides to meet the press does he have the answer to the volley of questions that will come from the media from the ban on cow slaughter to attack on churches and schools, making Christmas day a Good Governance day and ghar wapasi program of the RSS? Before his visit to Meghalaya the BJP president should understand that even in its present avatar the party will find it difficult if not impossible to woo the minorities particularly the tribals to its fold. We will wait and see what will be the outcome of the visit.
Narendra Modi’s blues will start even before his first term in office ends and if the BJP continue with its Hindutva agenda then it will not be surprising if the party bites the dust in 2019. The APP had been able to stop the BJP’s winning streak after the general elections. It will be interesting to see if the BJP will be able to win elections to the Bihar Assembly or any other Assembly elections after that.