Dr Asangba Tzudir
Under the news headline, “Nitin Gadkari reveals why PM Narendra Modi Vowed to put 15 lakh in your account” (TOI, Oct 11, 2018) senior BJP member and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s comments on a television show caused the ruling party much embarrassment giving ammunition to the opposition to target it for having made “tall promises.” “We were very confident that we would never come to power, so we were advised to make tall promises” said Gadkari during the show.” “Now that we are in power, the public reminds us of those promises made by us. However, these days, we just laugh and move on.” Congress quickly responded saying that the BJP government was “built on Jumlaas and fake promises.
Launching its campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP released its manifesto titled 'Sankalp Bharat Sashakt Bharat' promising to implement if voted back to power. The manifesto listed 75 milestones that India will achieve till 2022, when the nation celebrates 75 years of independence. The list included some ‘interesting’ promises ranging from Pension Scheme for Traders to the more contentious Abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A.
Highlighting some of the key manifestos, as always drawing the attention of the farmers, the PM-KISAN will extend to all farmers in the country while it also promised to double the income of farmers by 2022. Besides, it also included a Short-term new agriculture loans up to Rs 1 lakh at a 0% interest rate for 1-5 years through Kisan credit card but on the condition of prompt repayment of the principal amount. Further, it promises to make an investment of Rs 25 lakh crore to improve the productivity of the farm sector. The most interesting promise for the farmers was pension for small and marginal farmers on reaching 60 years of age. While the promise of doubling the farmer’s income is a surprise package considering its implementation, the agriculture loans up to Rs 1 Lakh with 0 % interest rate is not only conditioned but constrained by prompt repayment of the principle amount.
On the National Security front, BJP has ‘reaffirmed’ its zero tolerance to terrorism by promising to provide security forces with a free hand to curb extremism and terrorism. It also promised to speed up purchase of outstanding defence related equipment and weapons. However, the Rafale Fighter Aircraft deal which has created a huge controversy will once again attract ‘necessary’ attention considering the ‘irregularities’ highlighted by the opposition.
After a huge uproar especially in the North East States, the Citizenship Amendment Bill was halted. Yet, their manifesto stands committed to its implementation reiterating its commitment to "protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of North-East." This is indeed a tall claim considering the present circumstances and also the genuine reasons for the objection and protests.
On the Healthcare front, the manifesto has promised 1,50,000 Health and Wellness centre will be opened, along with 75 medical colleges and PG medical colleges. It also has a target of provisioning telemedicine and diagnostic laboratory facilities at Health and Wellness Centres by 2022. Infrastructural development is much needed and in tune with technological development where telemedicine will offer remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology, but it will all narrow down to the question of quality healthcare and how it addresses the varied issues of healthcare delivery.
On the Economic front, BJP says it aspires to make India the third largest economy of the world by 2030, adding that it is committed make India a US $5 trillion economy by 2025 and US $10 trillion economy by 2032. But coming to the larger issue, the implementation of GST has had its own share of effect on the people, and if the effect on the people and the economy has been studied, their commitment to further revise the tax slabs will come as a measure of relief, if not, the public will need to brace up for price rise.
The manifesto aims to bring down the percentage of families living below the poverty line to a single digit in the next five years. The BJP says it will ensure pucca houses for families either living in kuchha houses or without access to housing by 2022. One can only say…looking forward to.
Ram Mandir seems to have never failed to capture its politico-religious imagination and as far as Ram Mandir is concerned, BJP said it will “weigh all the options and will try that the Ram Mandir be built as soon as possible in a harmonious environment.” The ASAP cannot simply fly over the political, historical and socio-religious debate. History cannot and should not be simply rewritten through the powers that be, but even to create a ‘harmonious environment’ is a time taking process.
Finally, it has made a commitment on the Uniform Civil Code, which is an ongoing point of debate within Indian mandate to replace personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of rules governing every citizen. If this happens, it will be like rewriting the Indian Constitution, and of re-conceptualizing the concept of ‘India as a secular and democratic Nation.’
On the whole, the content and context of the manifesto is such that the BJP cannot simply “laugh and move on.”
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com.)
