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......