March 28, 2024

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Savyasachi Samdarshi

Savyasachi Samdarshi

Savyasachi is a writer, thinker and a motivator. He works in MNC during the day and turns into a writer by night. 

If not a week, a year is definitely a long time not only in politics but also in the life of a nation. And what a momentous year2019 was? Year2019 will be celebrated pompously and boisterously by those who yearned for shifts and turns that India has taken. It will be recorded by discerning historians, intellectuals, columnists and commentators for the paradigm shifts India as nation witnessed in its policies related to national security, judicial pronouncements, mainstreaming of politics that was questioned, derided, lampooned and rejected by 'intelligentsia' of India merely half a decade back. 

India2019 was an arrival of a confident nation whose policies and ideas are in tune with time and reality and supremely focused on its national interest. In this series, we will focus on major events and their lasting impacts on our national life. Part 3 is focused on abrogation of long temporary article 370 which gave special powers to Jammu Kashmir and more special blackmailing powers to the politicians of the state.

Article 370, along with Article 35A, allowed that the Jammu and Kashmir state's residents live under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to residents of other Indian states. It granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and restricted India’s Parliament's power to make laws concerning the state. Indian citizens from other states could not purchase land or property in Jammu & Kashmir.

On 5 August 2019, the Government of India issued a constitutional order that made all the provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir based on the bill moved and passed in both houses of India's parliament with 2/3 majority.

Article 370 was a originally transient provision which had become eternally existing contradiction in Indian constitution. This provision perpetrated psychology of separation/secession from Hindu India in those who were religious zealots, lovers of Islamic Pakistan. It flickered their dying hopes that under 370, they will be granted unceasing autonomy which will weaken Indian control over the state and ultimately with Islamic Pakistan’s help – ‘Azadi’ will come.

370 kept India perennially wounded and fighting for recovery and control in ethnically troubled hilly state. Even the ‘moral pretence’ that India sought to achieve through this article was not accomplished. The separatist mindset that 370 nurtured did not care for basic tenets of Indian constitution like secularism. It resulted in forced exodus of millions of Kashmiri Hindus from valley, their killings, rapes, discrimination.

The Kashmiri politician feasted on provisions of 370. For them, J&K was a fiefdom of power without accountability. The provisions of 370 and separatist mindset it created made them demagogues of worst kind who capitalized on fear and insecurities of ordinary Kashmiris. The state demonstrably lacked basic infrastructure, development and job opportunities.

The cycle of violence that separatists and terrorists perpetrated with vengeance was violating soul of India every day. 

Thus the abrogation of 370 was indispensible for national security and to deliver a message that era of political appeasement was truly over. The message had to be loud and clear - Article 370 will not be allowed to become an instrument of blackmail and unleash anarchy.  That is why its abrogation was celebrated with ecstasy all over India.

The political belief that 370 shall never abrogated by any government in power was turned upside down by sheer political audacity of Modi and Shah. The communists and secularists believed that sheer number of votes required to pass legislation for 370 abrogation in both houses of parliament will remain unachievable for any party. They also believed that governments will never muster courage to abrogate 370 due to uncontrollable violent protests and consequent anarchy on the street. Thus, abrogation of article 370 was demonstration of Indian democracy’s sheer willpower that India can take boldest corrective steps to sort out its plaguing issues and without shedding a drop of blood on street.

 

 

 

If not a week, a year is definitely a long time not only in politics but also in the life of a nation. And what a momentous year2019 was? Year2019 will be celebrated pompously and boisterously by those who yearned for shifts and turns that India has taken. It will be recorded by discerning historians, intellectuals, columnists and commentators for the paradigm shifts India as nation witnessed in its policies related to national security, judicial pronouncements, mainstreaming of politics that was questioned, derided, lampooned and rejected by 'intelligentsia' of India merely half a decade back. 

India2019 was an arrival of a confident nation whose policies and ideas are in tune with time and reality and supremely focused on its national interest. In this series, we will focus on major events and their lasting impacts on our national life. Part 2 is focused on second consecutive victory of PM Modi in Lok Sabha elections.

2019 election was the first in the history of democratic India that a non-Congress party was elected twice in succession with full majority. There were very few leaders beyond Gandhi Family who could make a mark on Indian electorate. Narendra Modi surpassed all of them including Gandhi family. He was now above narrow political divisions….beyond ideological ghettos….from hilly regions of Himalaya to Rameshwaram in south, people loved him….From Kamakhya  to Mumbai, people were in awe of him. 

No amount of opposition sloganeering and campaigning and soft Hindutwa could deter electorate. Opposition exaggerated farm distress,  made false charges on Rafael deal and gave outrageous slogan of ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’.  Awardwapsi gang shouted that if Modi wins second term, it would be end of democracy in India. But the country knew what was right for them and they made their choice without an iota of ambiguity.

The Gowdas,  Sidhias,  Gandhis , Yadavs of Indian politics were defeated.  The main opposition party Congress secured ZERO seats in 15 States. The leader of the UPA in Parliament, Mallikarjun Kharge lost the Gulbarga MP seat with over 1 lakh votes. The people’s verdict was a critical moment in India's political history; the country had rejected feudal politics finally!

The message to Congress party was loud and clear that that Hindus have rejected it with contempt for its brand of politics – that was perceived by electorate to be corrupt, anti-national, anti-Hindu party and a dynasty-driven party.

The discerning Indian voters could smell fragrance of change in governance before and after 2014. Before 2014, India was in economic downward slide. Industrial growth, exports, FDI and investments were shrinking. Social and physical infrastructure was crying for attention. The most touted welfare measures by UPA were not proving effective enough. The foreign policy, policy on the neighborhood, internal security and Pakistan was ambiguous and made India a subject matter of derision and lampoon. The Government was in perpetual paralysis post 2G scam.

The new Modi government was refreshing change that paid attention on all plaguing issues holistically. FDI and foreign investments started pouring and growth picked up. India became electricity surplus state. There were successfully designed and implemented government programs like Ayushman Bharat, house for poor, Kisan Samman Yojna, financial inclusion in banking sector, infrastructure development. There were slew of reform measures like demonetization, GST reforms, direct benefit transfer etc.

Its Pakistan policy was received well by people. People longed to see a muscular response to Pakistan’s evil designs and Modi guaranteed it every time i.e. Uri surgical strike, Balakot air strike.

Modi was perceived as an agent of change who could break status quo in governance. Through his successful, effective and precise public communication, he relegated opposition as part of establishment.

There is another subtle tectonic shift that 2019 election results brought about. Modi openly embraced his roots in Hindu culture and released it from the clutches of establishment elites. The Hindus were offloaded from their guilt trips of majoritarian communalism. Ordinary citizens now take pride in being identified as Hindus. The appeasement politics was seen to be rewarding diminishing returns and an era of Hindu Politics had truly arrived.

 

 

 

 If not a week, a year is definitely a long time not only in politics but also in the life of a nation. And what a momentous year2019 was? Year2019 will be celebrated pompously and boisterously by those who yearned for shifts and turns that India has taken. It will be recorded by discerning historians, intellectuals, columnists and commentators for the paradigm shifts India as nation witnessed in its policies related to national security, judicial pronouncements, mainstreaming of politics that was questioned, derided, lampooned and rejected by 'intelligentsia' of India merely half a decade back. 

India2019 was an arrival of a confident nation whose policies and ideas are in tune with time and reality and supremely focused on its national interest. In this series, we will focus on major events and their lasting impacts on our national life. Part 1 is focused on Pulwama attack and Balakot retaliation.

The year was an election year for India and banality of politics had given way to euphoria and celebration of biggest democratic festival of India. On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir resulting in the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the attacker. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. 

The nation was aghast at this dastardly attack and its collective anger was palpable and visible. A befitting revenge was cry of the masses. National security can be a powerful electoral rallying cry for ruling party BJP and Pakistan had amplified it further. Inaction or stoicism or patience was no longer a political choice that PM Modi could exercise in this important year of election.

But this tragic terror incident also provided attractive platform for mass mobilization of public opinion centered on national pride and patriotism, only if retaliation was equally fatal, demonstrably forceful and swift. Modi government chose to move ahead with retaliation option.

In the early hours of February 26th, Indian Air force dispatched 12 Mirage fighter aircraft across the Line of Control (LoC) and destroyed a training facility associated with JeM in Balakot. The fighter aircraft returned without an iota of casualty. IAF claimed that Balakot base was completely destroyed and around 300 terrorists. 

The retaliatory strike had many messages embedded in it. It was the first time since the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 that fighter aircraft had crossed the Line of Control.  India was no longer a passive victim crying on international forum about terrorism from Pakistan. As part of national security policy, Pakistan was made to realize the heavy cost of exporting terrorism to India. Even by most conservative account, it was significant escalation after surgical strike post Uri.

Pakistan’s nuclear bluff was given befitting rebuff. Nuclear threat ceased to be an issue in the minds of Indian policy makers and Balakot proved that it is possible to have viable military options below the nuclear threshold. And threshold was incapacitated due to flippancy displayed by Pakistani establishment.

Election2019 reverberated with issues and emotions of national pride. PM Modi returned with full majority and more seats. This election witnessed biggest swing in favor of ruling party in terms of jump in vote percentage. The idea of passivity and redundant talks with belligerent neighbor in the face of unwarranted aggression shown was summarily rejected. A pragmatic, muscular and confident India was reborn.

 To be continued......

 

 

Citizenship Amendment Act has been passed with majority in both the houses of parliament and act notified by president. The immediate consequence of this act has been bizarre and grotesques dance of street aggression and violence. Is this protest apparently against Citizenship Amendment Act is spontaneous or motivated and orchestrated?

The secular mandarins would like us to believe that this is a peaceful protest that is spontaneous and collective outpouring of anger against the bill. While no letter/clause of Citizenship Amendment Act deprives any community of his citizenship rights and aims to alleviate the sufferings of minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, it is hard to understand the game of brinkmanship being played by protesters. The home ministry and government have clearly and repeatedly that this act does not apply to any Indian citizens at all. It has absolutely nothing to do with deportation of any foreigner from India.

Let’s delve into the nature of this so-called spontaneous flair-up. The trains, buses, police vehicles have been set on fire, school buses, people and homes have been hit with stone and hospitals attacked. And most importantly these incidents have not come and gone by; rather these violent incidents have been orchestrated over a period of time and an extensive geography.

The modus operandi of this violent protest seems to time-tested trick from book. In national capital territory, the ‘intellectuals’ have created a smoke screen of student protest. There is clear act of arson and violent destruction, yet these ‘intellectuals’ are calling it peaceful protest and begging in the court of law that it be condoned as it is student protest.   This is most brazen way to plant anarchy and destroy the civil life of common citizenry. Some ‘intellectuals’ are wondering if police can actually enter varsity campus despite acts of hooliganism by students as if varsity campuses are ‘liberated zones’ within the political boundary of India and law enforcing must not chase hooligans once they are in these ‘liberated zones’.

These violent protests have also element of religious fundamentalism. One of the leading high profile Jamia protestor had this to say and needless to say these aggressive utterings are against the unity and diversity of our country. The tone and tenor of this leading protestor is overtly religious and contrary to the claims and hunky-dowry stories of secular intellectuals.

With the passing of CAB in both the houses of parliament and it being notified by president, BJP has fulfilled one of its most prominent ideological commitment of its electoral manifesto.

While it was expected that numerically fragile opposition will not be able to halt passing of CAB, more surprising was weak, jumbled up, incoherent arguments presented by opposition during the parliament debate. None of the opposition leader could cogently argue why a bill that seeks to provide comfort to beleaguered minorities from neighbouring countries could adversely impact the prospect of minorities in our country. The main opposition party conveniently and opportunistically put even Liyaqat-Nehru agreement on back burner. Pakistan never honoured it and Indian governments during Congress’ never pressed for it with urgency with Pakistan. This voluntary dereliction of duty put at peril lives of millions of non-Islamic populaces in three countries. 

The idea of their helplessness can be gauged from the fact that non-Muslims in Pakistan did not even have a constitutionally valid marriage law. Their places of worship were desecrated and dishonoured. Their cremation grounds violated, captured and denied access to Hindus and Sikhs. They were degraded socially and called Kafirs. The hapless minorities had near zero representation in parliament, judiciary, army and other government bodies.

In the light of extreme human rights violation and following the principles of human justice, people at large have welcomed CAB (this includes many who are BJP agnostics). When the politics of derailing this legislation by Congress and its secular cabal failed, they are now resorting to misinformation campaign and befooling the gullible masses that in states they are in power, CAB will not be implemented. This threat has potential to disrupt federal character of Indian Union. More alarming is news emanating from West Bengal every day, a state sharing its border with Bangladesh where flare-up is gaining momentum every day. The nature of protests in this state seems to be fundamentalist in nature and has less to do with CAB. The state government and its hot headed theological warriors are saying in no uncertain terms that persecuted Bengali Hindus be denied Indian citizenship. 

The protests by Islamists have now spread to other parts of country like UP, Bihar, Kerala, Telangana and even national capital territory of Delhi has not been spared. The intellectuals and activists are calling these acts of arsonists as peaceful protests. Opposition parties are stealthily supporting and adding fuel to the fire. Police is either a mute spectator (as in Bengal and Kerala) or if in action, it has been charged as brutal state machinery (as in Delhi). 

While it will take time for the unilateral communal fire to subside, Indians should remember the nature of conflict manufactured by opposition and their cohorts. Minorities of one country are alarmed and agitated by the reprieve provided to minorities of another country. No one anticipated it.

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