Does the government exist for the people or do the people
exist for the sake of the government? As my country ‘celebrated’ the fifth
anniversary of Modi’s demonetisation exercise yesterday, this question
about government-for-people or people-for-government arose in my mind.
Soon after Modi became the Prime Minister
in 2014, India’s wealth started moving into the hands of a few billionaires.
There were just 9 billionaires in India in 2000. But Modi’s magic raised the figure
rapidly and it became 101 in 2017. Oxfam India estimates
that between 2018 and 2022 India is producing 70 new millionaires every day. On
the other hand, millions of Indians are deprived of basic needs like food,
shelter and medicine. Oxfam says that 63 million Indians are pushed into
poverty every year now by mounting healthcare costs.
Modi lives life king-size. His
residence in Lutyens’ Delhi (which he loathed before becoming PM) is a
five-mansion palace with countless chefs, housekeepers, gardeners, and other
staff. His aircraft Air India One is a match for America’s Air Force One. [Modi
renamed
25 towns and villages in the period of one year alone out of nationalism.
But when it came to naming his plane, he copied America.] His lifestyle
surpasses the vaingloriousness of all our ancient maharajas put together.
The ordinary Indians pay for all that,
of course. That’s why this thought occurred to me this morning: does the
government exist for us or d we exist for feeding a ravenous government?
Our government gives us beautiful
slogans like Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. But our kisans commit suicide day
after day. In 2020, 10,677 farmers killed themselves in India in spite of Modi’s
much-publicised welfare schemes. Farmers have been killing themselves even
before Modi came to power with sweet slogans and sweeter schemes. I know. But
there’s something new, however. 11,716 small businesspersons killed themselves
in 2020 in Modi’s India. That’s a bit hard to digest when we remember that our
country is being run by a man who takes pride in having been a chaiwallah once.
Modi’s India waives off huge loans
taken by big people. Big people grow bigger. Small people pay for that. In the
form of rising prices of everything from onion to petrol, kerosene to cooking gas.
Soon in Modi’s India you’ll be paying the banks for keeping your money safe instead
of the banks paying you interest for your money. Yet Modi remains popular
not only in India but all over the world.
There’s something wrong somewhere.
Seriously. Or is it rather funny?
A few of India’s top billionaires are Mata Amritanadamayi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Baba Ramdev, all of whom have money stashed away in Swiss banks. I smile when I recall this information.
Do you
remember that electoral promise of Modi in 2014 about bringing black money back
from Swiss banks? Instead of doing that, he took away our money and called it a
very nationalistic demonetisation. Happy Anniversary.
At the moment things look bleak...with no light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be worse. Rhetoric doesn't work miracles.
DeleteModi was never a chaiwallah because Vadnagar railway station did not exist in that period of his age (when he claims to supply tea on the station). He is indeed the biggest bluffmaster of India. You are right, now the people are existing for this government and not the other way round. Leave alone the small businessmen, even a great entrepreneur like VG Siddhartha oF Cafe Coffee Day had to commit suicide. Modi correctly calls himself as the Pradhaan Sewak as he is doing a great service (sewa) to the crony capitalists of India.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery is that this man still remains a demigod for good many Indians.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteExactly the same question is being asked here, as UK headlines are covered with matters that indicate a fully corrupt government ... and COP26 is almost a second-hand thought for reporting. So many hard-right leaders at top of approval? A black period of history... YAM xx
I wonder why this has happened all over the world. A correction seems imminent. Or is that only a dream? Is it bound to get worse and worse and then crumble altogether?
DeleteHi good morning you and shared wonderful blog.
ReplyDelete