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Punishing the Innocent


Ten days are over after the Prime Minister’s overnight reform of demonetisation.  There’s no sign of adequate valid currency reaching the people.  On the contrary, works are held up, workers go without money to buy food, medical treatments are affected, farmers are unable to buy seeds and cultivate their lands, those who have agricultural produce at home cannot sell them because traders don’t have valid money to pay...  How long does the country want this situation to prolong?

The Supreme Court has already expressed its apprehensions about possible riots in the country if adequate valid currency is not made available.  The country can’t expect people to die of starvation when they have their hard-earned money lying in the banks.

Moreover, do Indians deserve this situation?  80% of Indians live on less than Rs10,000 per month. They don’t have any black money.  But it is they who actually suffer from the current situation.  The innocent are punished.  The really guilty know how to get along whatever the situation.

One of the worst faces of the Modi government that has become conspicuous is that of insensitivity.  The Prime Minister is an excellent orator with a penchant for histrionics.  He knows how to appeal to the emotions of people.  And he makes that appeal in the name of patriotism which has already been equated with Hindutva.  This volatile mix of patriotism and religion has made Modi a demigod so much so anyone who questions Modi today is likely to be labelled as antinational.  Modi knows this and uses it effectively in announcing his dictatorial decisions such as the current demonetisation.  When people find out loopholes in the new system, more rigorous rules are applied such as limiting the amount that can be exchanged or withdrawn or branding the citizen with indelible ink.  Once again, innocent people are the ones who are really affected by such decisions and rules.  The criminals know how to get on whatever the system.  Modi government has displayed a tremendous lack of sensitivity towards the majority of people who are struggling to earn their livelihood or take out their own money from their accounts.

Modi can play on patriotic feelings and go ahead for some more days.  But neither patriotism nor religion will prove to be more overwhelming than hunger or fundamental inconveniences.  It’s time that valid currency was made available.  It’s time that people are allowed to live normal lives after demonetisation of certain denominations.  



Indian Bloggers

PS. Written for Indispire: #Demonetization

Comments

  1. The common man who is standing in the que, is struggling with other commoners. Supreme Court have said that these situations may cause riots. If riots do happen, then it won't be surprising if Modi Government blames the opposition and the media for it. After all, the commoners standing in the ques are patriots and they can never do such things.

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  2. Ration ke upar bhashan bahut hai, lekin bhashan ke upar koi ration nahi. (from the mouth of Pran, in Upkar)

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    Replies
    1. And you can't buy ration with the 2000 note which banks are giving generously.

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  3. There are initial problems in implementation. But, Demonetisation is Modiji's sincere intention to weed out corruption & blackmoney. There'll be economic benefits in the long run.
    Glad that crores of fake currency is out of the system. Also, terrorist activity funding is curtailed.

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    Replies
    1. Sincerity is a matter of interpretation, Anita. If Ambani and Adani were indeed aware of the move beforehand, if BJP deposited crores beforehand... (as the links which I have given say), then sincerity is zilch. It's all politics. The simple fascist Hindutva politics which "Modiji" is an expert at playing.

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    2. Demonetization with this scale is a absolute must for today's date. We are probably curled up high on the earlier government and hence see Modi's tough decisions as politics. It is a very good move and unfortunately nothing to do with Hindutva or fascism. Best results are already showing up. terrorist activities are hit and also big blacl money hoarders are hit.

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    3. Of course, there's much good about it too. What I'm saying is that the bad sides could have been controlled much better had some homework been done.

      At the same time, I'm not naive enough to take it all as a very holy enterprise. Soon we'll have more reports coming about how certain sections of the population were prepared for such a move!

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    4. We too thought so, but definitely this strike was a ghostly surprise to most BJP leaders too. Secondly after closely studying Modi character, his abilities, achievements and hearing from relatives who lived in gujarath during 2002riots, we are overwhelmed by his selfless service and trust hes really the man may be in wrong party.

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  4. There have been many developments in last few days. Almost every day the government amends the policies since some people are misusing the existing ones. People stand in lines for hours only to be told that bank has run out of cash. While the intention of the government might be good, the realities are out of sync. Even though the policy ws meant for people with black money, its the ordinary person who is suffering. Some people have even made it a business as reported in newspaper. I hope that things improve else the game might turn ugly once the resentment among the people rise further.

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    1. The govt was not prepared, it seems. But given Modi's shrewdness it's impossible to imagine that unpreparedness. I think Modi is playing a big game: putting people into hell and checking how they react or respond. And a lot of people are biting the bait in the name of patriotism. I'm being given lectures comparing citizens with soldiers as Ramdev did. I find this comparison insulting to the soldiers who actually suffer much more.

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  5. The current premier of India is perhaps the most proficient marketing expert of the nation and perhaps of this era. He can sell combs to balds and refrigerators to Eskimos. His biggest achievement is development of a huge army of his devotees who have put him on a pedestal and enveloped him with the persona of God. This kind of brand value creation for self has been unprecedented. He has used the sentiment of patriotism to justify anything and everything done by him with grand success. Now he need not take on anybody. His blind supporters are sufficient to do it. He is a dictator but a very successful dictator who has developed the art of convincing the oppressed that the oppression is for his betterment only. And this isn't a small feat Sir. He is a role-model for any self-centred person who wants to make it big in life.

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    Replies
    1. You have called the spade the spade, friend. Unless more and more people realise this truth, the country is going to face serious problems including a civil war.

      Delete
  6. नोटबंदी के बाद डिजिटल पेमेंट पर जोर, जानें क्या है डिजिटल पेमेंट
    Readmore Todaynews18.com https://goo.gl/BgzxC9

    ReplyDelete

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