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Obama’s Parting Shot

The ad: see the watermark

 In its advertisement - DAVP22201/13/0048/1415, which was published on 26 January - the government quotes the preamble of India's Constitution as "We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...." as opposed to the genuine version that states: “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens..."

Mr Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, is averse to both socialism and secularism.  He is adept at making use of surreptitious practices to achieve his objectives.  The way he tried to foist a lot of ordinances on the country, in spite of his party enjoying the majority in the Lok Sabha, was snubbed by the President himself.  There are many activities going on behind invisible curtains, activities that may remind one of Hitler and his propagandists, activities that will disrupt the country’s religious texture.

The parting shot delivered by the American President in his “Town Hall” speech is of greater relevance than most Indians may imagine.  He underscored the importance of secularism and the need to sustain the religious diversity in India.

Just as the Indian Prime Minister chose to keep mum on many issues related to attacks on minority communities, he will in all probability ignore our demand for explanation on the disappearance of Socialism and Secularism from the Preamble of the Constitution.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Hitler’s propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels, said that.  Mr Modi and his supporters have already started practising it.  The outcome may not be what India as a country voted for a few months back.



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  1. EduPubJanuary 28, 2015 at 9:57 AM

    Very nice view expressed by author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. EJJanuary 28, 2015 at 10:26 AM

    Most people will love to act like ostriches until it is their heads that are in trouble...Everyone is happy as long there is "development" here...Nobody wants to think of long-term.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 28, 2015 at 11:59 AM

      I wonder what happened to all those "intellectuals" and "jholawallahs" of yesterday. Have all of them been bought off by the BJP?

      Delete
    2. Online JournalistJanuary 28, 2015 at 6:42 PM

      I appreciate the author for his wonderful article and the above commenter.

      Delete
    3. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 28, 2015 at 7:34 PM

      Thanks, Maliyekal, for your appreciation. This struggle is becoming tough.

      Delete
  3. UnknownJanuary 28, 2015 at 12:01 PM

    People don't want to see this. They want to remain hopeful of the idea of "development".
    The top rank talks about development, while the lower rank goes about preaching all kinds of nonsense like "Love jihaad", "Ghar Wapasai".
    And among all the other things, this was very sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 28, 2015 at 7:36 PM

      The top rank and the bottom rank work together though they may not know each other and each other's objectives. The top rank want political power and the bottom rank thinks they are going to benefit in the process. Hooligans among the bottom rank are being made use of.

      Delete
  4. HaddockJanuary 29, 2015 at 1:38 PM

    That slight "rap" on the back of the head before stepping on the plane really jolted some big wigs.
    In Bombaiya language its known as "tapli marke gaya aur patta hi nahi chala"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJanuary 29, 2015 at 6:48 PM

      We deserved that slap, in fact. We asked for it. We want help from all countries, our PM has visited many countries and got business deals, but we are not willing to accommodate certain people in the country! That's worse than hypocrisy.

      Delete
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