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.