Centralization, State Power and Hinduvata crushing Federalism, Citizen Power and Hinduism.

I agree that NDA’s term has given stability to country in economic terms. Better management/ control over fiscal deficit have reined the inflation and also ensured better delivery of goods and services. Its record, though not impressive in terms of new initiative, is excellent in taking the old issues to logical conclusion (Aadhar and GST to name a few). As its basic ideology is strong India, it has a new vision for our frontier, especially North East (see the fast expansion of Rail Network there in last 3 years).

But still work is less on Ground and boasting is more in Air (sometimes logically wrong also, the job creation remains the single biggest failure as job creation is at lowest in eight years and with falling interest rates , earners feeling pinch with no one taking their plight ). Take just started UDAN scheme where (in Shimla) PM said now air fare is lower than that for Taxi hiring, by comparing single ticket of plane to full taxi charges. Correct thing is to compare charges for chartered plane to hiring taxi or other way plane ticket to charges for shared taxi. Similarly when, Govt declares saving of Rs. 40/ 50 tho. crore in LPG subsidy due to DBT/Aadhar, it conceals the fact that saving is cumulative effect of de-duplication done prior to DBT, reduction in subsidy amount  per cylinder ( main reason), and effect of give up.

Hype and realty is differing in many areas also. Take the demonetization, if we look only at the economic data – putting aside political victory in Uttar Pradesh- demonetization was a failure. Cash is back in flow, with little to impede the fresh generation of illicit funds. Also the original two arguments (for it) - attacking counterfeit currency and terror funding- forgotten  over the time.

In foreign policy, a new initiative, with India approaching ICJ ( in Jadhav case), only time will decide whether we were better with Shimala Agreement or better now with internationalizing bilateral issue with respect to Pakistan. (Pakistan too will take issues at international forums that we may not be able to resist).  We should also not celebrate this win, like we did on surgical strike and demonetization ( but down the six months, situation in Kashmir is worst in last three decades).

But my central idea of this article is not to dispute well of Governance but essentially to cross examine trends that are visible due to actions of government. More particularly, the tendency of Center becoming more powerful visa-vis state /local governments, State (as an organ not state government) is becoming   more powerful against citizen. Further, Hinduism is being defeated by Hindutva.

In the name of -one nation strong nation- center is concentrating more power with it than constitution gave it. (If implemented, simultaneous election to Loka sabha and state assemblies may also strengthen this trend). There is tendency to move state subjects to concurrent list. With advances in technology and full majority at center and same party ruling most of state, making all India data or model laws (overriding state specific differences) is becoming norm. Take the example of enacting RERA, Motor Vehicle Act and the changes being made in Agriculture Marketing and so on, list is long. However only one example is sufficient to close the argument, it is GST (No offence on merit of GST or any other move). Though it is being hailed as big work of federalism, the way power has been distributed in GST council (2/3 for Center and 1/3 for all sate together and in case of voting 75% is required to carry out the decision, thus in case of dispute center will have its way) we are going towards centralization of powers .(In new regime state govt will lose autonomy and will not be able to raise resources to implement its state specific schemes as TN led welfare model under existing arrangeemnt). Further local governments have been left altogether in GST setup as well as distribution of Tax collected( now they will be at the mercy of state government, only Maharashtra has specific provision in its GST bill for mandatory grant to local govt.) It is reversing the earlier trend when we had created third tier in governances, Panchayati Raj system.  

Sometimes I do feel, whether GST and  GST council can be challenged in Supreme Court as it violets basic structure of constitution and supremacy of Parliament and Sate Legislature?   

My second argument is- balance of power is tilting in favor of state or establishment. While citizens are asking accountability and transparency from Govt and, for that matter, from all establishment ( Lokpal, RTI), but Government is keen on expansion of AADHAR (transparency for citizen), but delaying appointment of LOKPAL ( transparency for establishment on technical ground and no action in spite of Supreme Court instruction). Scope of RTI is also being restricted; most of the issue /information are being refused on ground of national security and so on. Noose is tightened around NGO (I am not in favor of all NGO, some are crooks) or any one asking difficult question or have dissent, stifling spirit of enquiry. It is not only about Govt. when it comes to SC (restricting media from reporting Judge Karnan’s version on dispute) or RBI (No details of demonetization so far) or any other establishment, same result.

We claim to be Republic (Different and beyond democracy, where people elect to govern them). But negate essence of republic where Citizen decides to form organization, and Citizen’s interest is upper most, even above the establishment. But here if any dispute is there between citizen and state, as stated above state get upper hand( In this environment Election Commission’s approach/ response on allegation of tempering of EVM is refreshing and ideal, close to concept of republic) and citizen loses out and citizen may even be branded – activist, islamist, naxalist, maoist separatist, terrorist  and so on but not given response as citizen of republic. Anything anti government is labeled as anti national. It is dangerous trend.

My last worry is-(as citizen and Hindu) – in the name of Hinduvata, Hinduism is being crushed. In Hinduism /Vedic system, basic thing is open society, open to question  and answering it ( Geeta is best example, no order to Arjuna only solving doubts). Lots of God.  Lots of belief, rituals, each contradicting other. But with aim to stand against other religions, Hinduvata is adopting their mono culture (Only Ram no other god), rigidity and closeness (Romio Squad, Gou Rakshak and so on). Is it not an irony that most unlikely organization-anti Muslim and pro male- is taking keen interest in Muslim women’s issue? Let us take lesson from history, when to entrench themselves in India, Britishors started (in the name of reform) to fiddle with Hindu practices (I am not commenting on those wrong practices but on the intention of Britishors to interfere in it) and gained support of some population and in turn ruled India for over 200 hundred years.

Will citizen and Hindu see through, what is coming to them in the name of economic prosperity and good governance ( remember , Aaadhar started as project of welfare state but ending as instrument of state surveillance) and stand up  or ready to sacrifice autonomy, independence for economic security. We need to decide.  I see some change in mood of citizen in TN farmers  and Bhim Sena protesting in Dehli, these are the section most suffering under strong India.

Indian Democracy- Pitfals of Popular Leader.

As I see and witness rise of Modi and BJP in Indian polity in the last two-three years, I feel as  though I am seeing Indira Gandhi part II or  sequel of a realty show known as Indira Gandhi. Here, I am not remembering Indira Gandhi in praise  or disdain, but trying to find out  and compare similarities and differences between both leaders and  understand, (based on effect of Indira Gandhi  policies), what to expect of long term effects of today’s  Modi’s policy on Nation and BJP.

As majority of today’s India consist of post Indira era, general perception is that Modi is greatest and most popular (or authoritarian) leader of Independent India. Truth is, even if we leave Nehru out of contest, based on good and bad things done (by Indira) and being done by ( Modi), so far Modi is distant second to Indira Gandhi.

To justify the point a few examples. Modi rose to power by opposing old guard Advani group, a repeat of Indira who opposed Syndicate and even defeated official presidential candidate Sanjiva Reddy invoking  “Atama Ki Awaj”  and got elected independent candidate V V Giri.  Modi has done “Demonetization” as “anti rich pro poor”, Indira had done abolition of privy-purse (allowance of ex- rulers of India -first breach of contract with citizen by state) and Bank Nationalization.  (Earlier Nehru had done abolition of Jamindari System (far reaching consequence in rural economy and society) . The  fact is emptiness of our pro poor policies ( of all govt) is self-evident as our socio- index are below neighboring countries and wealth is getting concentrated with rich as the years pass by.

We also praise Modi for surgical strike but then Indira had done far bigger strike and made East Pakistan (now Bangla Desh ) independent of Pakistan. Today’s generation may have all praise for Modi/ BJP’s swiftness to form Govt. in Goa and Manipur ( in spite of not having majority) but it is no match to Indira’s success in getting Sikkim ( independent nation) being made part of India.

To be brief I will take one or two more examples and then start dealing with the main theme of article- long term consequences of policy and achievement. Modi /BJP rose to power on the wave of 10 year anti incumbency of UPA and general desire of voter to get over the coalition era.  Modi’s victory in UP is also continuation of momentum built in 2014.( In between voter rejected BJP in Bihar and Dehli when a credible alternative / opposition unity was available). Compare it with Indira’s return to power (under all adverse condition) in 1980 within 2 and half year of Janata Raj. Lastly compare the slogan of “Modi –Modi “of today with “Indira is India and India is indira” of yester year coined by Mr. Barua a Assami Congress leader.

Now coming to consequences of Indira policies and based on it possible consequences of Modi’s policies. Before that we must realize  that so far Modi govt. has not made any path breaking policy changes ( specially in economic field) affecting  economy or society ( except demonetization). However its implementation or management (also corruption free- the fact is their aim is not to amass wealth but to achive a majortian state ) record  is far superior to UPA and so successfully implementing old initiative like Aadhar and GST.  Communication is also better, so when not able to provide job, it appeals youth to become job giver not a job seeker (incidentally Indira also diverted youth’s mind  away from job by alluring them with self employment loan schemes from banks).

There is nothing like Right to Information/ Education or Food of earlier govt. Recently it has given new health policy that too is extension of old and not guaranteed any thing. In contrast AAP govt in Dehli  has done something new innovative in field of education and health.

Further, we have to understand what today’s BJP is? Today India is Congress Mukt or BJP is Congress Yukt ?. I think today’s BJP is Congress minus Muslim. (In UP 12 minister are turncoats from other parties, Manipur CM was a congress person 6 months back).

Now analysis, we praised Indira for Bangla Desh victory, but as a reaction, we faced Punjab militancy and created a new generation of Pakistanis who vows to fight with India (else by this time both side’s new generation would have seen cooperation more beneficial then confrontation).  Pakistan embarrassed China. And I think, now we better call Pakistan occupied Kashmir as China Occupied Kashmir. (By the way for all talk of isolating and tough policy towards Pakistan, just now we accepted Pakistani objection over building of two dams under Indu water treaty. Also  even though we talk of unrest etc in Pakistan, Pakistan got better ranking in Happiness index  than us).

Similarly, (in spite of all talks of Muslim starting voting for BJP), its exclusion policy towards Muslim has potential to increase hold of Muslim radicals over community. It may be from (internal) Mr. Ovasis or (external) ISIS elements. It is social issue and it is a security issue that we all of us as citizen must take note of.

Another issue is when one party /person becomes too powerful its ill effect on democracy and public policy. See the emergency, see the sterilization drive of Sanjay Gandhi (Now it is believed, in absence of backlash to that drive our family planning program would have been more effective in last 40 years), and see the Blue star operation. I feel all these would not have been part of Indian Political history had Indira not so powerful in her time.  We must take lesson from history.

Last point is Indira-Congress v/s Modi –BJP. Now it is well accepted that Indira, by destroying regional leaders and internal structure, caused severe   damage to congress from which it is yet to recover. Same thing can happen with BJP. BJP a cadre based party, but may become complacent and become leader centric party. However, hope is, as Modi do not have any dynasty to protect this thing may not happen with BJP.

Before I conclude, some points beyond Indira and Modi. It is observed that a slight 5-7 % shift in voter preference for or against a party, together with how united or dis-united it’s opponent are, a party can sweep the election (today BJP) or taste the dust (BSP in UP).  And in spite of the fact that our constitution makers took steps to protect Indian polity from such swings, (see the way Rajya Sabha is visualized/constituted), it is time we explore possibility of proportional representation to political parties based on percentage of votes rather first past poll system of today.

We need this electoral reform more urgently than others to protect us from future Indira or Modi.