Think Policies, Not Politics

  

In a movie entitled Jawan, produced around the time I wrote about Jai Jawan and Jai Kisan, Shah Rukh Khan portrays himself as an ex-soldier fighting for the commoner’s rights. The movie describes the plight of Indian farmers under the current regime graphically. In the compelling first scene that sets the film’s tone, SRK appears as a terrorist. He kidnaps a minister’s daughter to make him pay the farmers the money to repay their bank loans. Despite the hero’s entry as a terrorist in a country that hates terrorism, the movie amassed colossal wealth and people’s admiration. It gave SRK and his friends many awards. 

 

However, we are still looking for a Jawan in the real world willing to challenge the misrule and oppression of poor farmers by arrogant political leaders and their wealthy cronies. SRK’s suspense-filled, thrilling first scene sets the audience at the edge of their seats. They wonder how an ordinary man –an ex-soldier turned Robin Hood– can save many farmers who die by suicide, leaving their bereaved families hopeless and helpless. His helpers are a few women in their early twenties. They are equipped to handle torture, pressure, and technology –military and software. The movie presents a group of unlikely heroes unmasking and dismantling the existing narratives of development, which come at the expense of the vulnerable. 

 

The movie came out approximately immediately after I wrote about farmers and soldiers on this blog. It was as if another dialogue from a famous SRK movie was being fulfilled literally: “If you strive for something admirable and honorable with all your heart, the entire cosmos works with you to make it happen.” I hear him whisper, “Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost! (There is more to come).” Jawan may have inspired many Hindi-speaking North Indian youngsters to think carefully and differently about government policies before casting their votes in the general elections of 2024. In another groundbreaking movie, PK, Amir Khan made us think about gods, goddesses, religions, and true worship –helping the helpless and caring for the weak. Jawan attempts to make people more sensitive to the policies of political narratives. 

 

Some of you living in luxury may wonder, “Well, what is wrong with the government’s policies?” Sab kuch theek hi to chal raha hai? (Isn’t everything going well?). In this article, I intend to show you “Bahut kuch theek nahi chal raha hai.” (Many things could be better.) For instance, in Modiji’s regime, a person with an income of 50 cents/day no longer needs a subsidy. He is no longer poor. He can afford everything despite the three times price rise of essential commodities compared to 2013.  In 2013, the same person needed one dollar to climb out of dire poverty. He got subsidies for all goods if he was below the one-dollar mark. Think with me. Can a person live a better life in 2024 for half the money in 2013, and that too without any subsidies? Modiji throws dust in people’s eyes by saying he has saved people from dire poverty. In fact, these people are still impoverished, and Modiji has also removed their subsidies. It is a cruel and deceitful act.

 

Therefore, we need to fight for the underprivileged of our country. Let us fight for the farmers of this country who are troubled by Modiji farm laws, lack of MSP, and inability to repay loans. Thirty farmers commit suicide every day. When the farmers wanted to see Modiji tell him their woes, he stopped them by arranging iron nails along the road. Instead of using his military against our enemies, he used it to curb the rights of our annadatta –the farmers. Let us fight for the soldiers of this country troubled by new laws that retire them in their twenties without any promise of protection or pension. Let us fight for the small traders troubled by a faulty GST, unpaid Covid-time loans and building rents, FDI (competition from big Foreign investors), and rising prices of essential commodities. Modiji says, “Make in India and buy Indian.” But why would people buy Indian goods if they get better foreign goods at a cheaper price? 

In 2013, Modiji’s team had criticized FDI. Then, they argued that it would ruin the small traders of this country. Now, Modiji’s manifesto lists FDI as his achievement. Foreign Direct Investment allows alien companies to do business in India for lower tariffs (without joining any Indian company). It eases their business and helps them sell at competitive prices. However, it provides the same ease of business for Indian companies in foreign countries. So far, so good. Nevertheless, in the process, it wipes out the business opportunities of smaller traders in India. How can a small trader compete with the big foreign investors who sell branded material at competitive prices? Besides, the beneficiaries of the reciprocal benefit –sellers of Indian products in foreign lands– are the big business tycoons, not the tiny traders that sell Indian goods. Thus, Modiji is showing double standards and duping the Indian traders.

 

Let us fight for the unemployed youths of this country. India has the highest unemployment rate this year compared to the past 77 years. Let us fight for the commoner. The prices of essential commodities are still on the rise. Petrol, Diesel, and LPG are not affordable, increasing the prices of vegetables and other things. Let us fight for equitable incomes. The income disparity in India today is enormous. Wealthy billionaires have increased their worth by 40% in a year. We are still trying to deal with Covid Shock and Covi Shield. Let us fight for the freedom of speech and thought. India is a free country. We cannot become slaves of four Gujaratis. They cannot determine the food we eat, how we travel, the language we speak, and the religion we believe in. 

 

Let us fight against government-sponsored corrupt schemes like the electoral bonds. The Supreme Court has banned the scheme. The money exchanged is a kind of bribe. May the Lord of justice rise and set our country free. Let us fight for the people below the poverty line. The BJP government is throwing dust in people’s eyes. They have not lowered poverty. They have kept the poverty line low so that people whose income increases slightly due to inflation adjustment would be above the poverty line. This has dual benefits to the government. First, they can say we have been raised from dire poverty. Second, they don’t need to give these people subsidies anymore. 

 

Many people ask, “Then, who or what is the alternative? Who can challenge Modiji as PM?” They feel there’s no other contender. Arvind Kejriwal recently remarked that according to the BJP’s existing policy, Modiji will retire from politics in 2025 at 75. Who will become PM after his time? Will there be a leadership crisis after Modiji retires? How long can people rely on his one-person show? The BJP’s rule states 75 as the retirement age. Due to this order, Advaniji, Murali Manohar Joshi ji, and many others retired at 75. Will the BJP alter their rules for one person? Even so, his time is over now. There is a real contender in Rahul Gandhi. 

 

The Congress government has always helped BPL families with subsidies. If they win again, they will restore the subsidy to those who deserve it. However, it will be done in a new way to bring justice to the oppressed under the Modi regime. Rahulji may do a census to identify the right poverty line and give help to those who are BPL monetarily. It will help people to buy the things that are now expensive. Besides, he will reduce the prices of cooking gas and petrol, diesel, and electricity. The only problem is that the profit share of Ambanis and Adanis (and other billionaires) will decrease. Those who rely on the stock market may need to rethink their future economic strategies. 

 

Like the Jawan antagonist, the congress party promises to save the people working hard in the fields and factories. All of Modiji’s developments target the welfare of the well-to-do people of this country. He builds luxury temples and trains. Only the elite class can afford those trains and find time to sit in Modiji’s temples. The Congress party is not a savior of the wealthy Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas, and Birlas. They will not develop schemes like electoral bonds to hide their corruption under the rug. The electoral bonds are a way to give white-money bribes in broad daylight, yet in secret, without being held responsible. Modiji must have applied a lot of brains to make it look legally sound. Sadly, Chandrachudji outsmarted him in the nick of time. I wonder who needs salvation more: the Billionaire or the Below Poverty Line person. 

 

Therefore, if it is time to rethink governmental policies, consider Modiji’s pro-wealthy policies wisely. I appeal to you to vote for the INDIA alliance and the Congress party, which promises schemes to help the weaker sections of our country: the farmers, traders, laborers, and unemployed youngsters. My dear friends, think policy, not politics.