Dr. K. Veeramani
When special schemes were required for their development, the ruling BJP had acted by nominating Ramnath Kovind and Droupadi Murmu to the highest office of the country as if BJP is for SCs and STs. But in reality the financial allocation under Special Component Plan meant for their upliftment had been continuously minimised and at one stage wiped out completely. It has directly affected the welfare and progress of SCs and STs. Besides, the dilution in the dispensation of social Justice through reservation process is systematically carried by improper implementation.
The BJP led Union government with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has completed its 9 – year rule with one more year to face the Lok Sabha election in 2024. The BJP won the past two general elections with the required majority mandated by the people. The BJP democratically elected to rule the country had started to undermine the democratic, republic features after assuming power. The majority rule has become majoritarian rule with least importance to the opposition views, debates and discussions in the Parliament. Many vital Bills were presented at the fag-end of the Parliament session and passed in single stroke as ‘bulldozer passing’ without any debate on them. The opposition was not given due chance to speak over the Bills. It is highly undemocratic on the part of ruling BJP not providing the opportunities to the opposition that is recognised as significant in a democratic republic.
Most of the development schemes have been projected abnormally at initial stages but later the means were curtailed to achieve the ends. For instance, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes have not been liberated fully during the past 75 years of independence. When special schemes were required for their development, the ruling BJP had acted by nominating Ramnath Kovind and Droupadi Murmu to the highest office of the country as if BJP is for SCs and STs. But in reality the financial allocation under Special Component Plan meant for their upliftment had been continuously minimised and at one stage wiped out completely. It has directly affected the welfare and progress of SCs and STs. Besides, the dilution in the dispensation of social Justice through reservation process is systematically carried out by improper implementation.
During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had promised unearthing of black money within the country as well as bringing it back from foreign countries. The slogan, ‘Minimum Government – Maximum Governance’ was projected throughout the country. The 2016 demonetization of Rs. 500 denomination and Rs. 1000 denomination currency notes, without due pre planning was carried out. The impact became contrary. Instead of locking up the black money, it was channelized through banks which enabled its conversion into white money. More than 99 percent of demonetized currency notes that were in circulation were brought back to RBI, defeating the purpose. Rs. 2000 denomination currency note which was introduced at that time to ease out the currency need also favoured for their easy maintenance as black money. Recently the then introduced Rs. 2000/- notes have been withdrawn by RBI. Instead of setting right the wrong things that were already prevailing, the BJP rulers have to concentrate more on the additional problems and set back created by their wrong economic and financial decisions. The hardships of demonetization exercise have been experienced invariably by the entire population of the country. The bringing back of black money from foreign countries had been shelved completely. Is this the government, the BJP promised before the elections?
The Constitution says India is a Union of States, emphasizing the federal political structure. State Governments face the people directly and are responsible for the welfare of people. More of governing powers have to be vested with them. On the contrary, the Constitution has conferred less power to the States.
The BJP Rule has curtailed even that less power of States. Even the policies for the welfare of the respective States are not formulated by them because of lack of powers. People’s representatives to rule both the Union government and State governments are elected by the people. BJP rule has made the State governments depend on Union government for every welfare measure.
Moreover, after the introduction of GST (Goods and Services Tax) by the Union government, the State governments have to depend on the Union government financially for all their development schemes. Fiscal federalism has been weakened during the period of BJP rule. The outcome of this is the inability on the part of the States to implement the existing and newly introduced welfare schemes. Equality and equal opportunities is the core of the constitutional principles. The income generated is not evenly distributed among the citizens. Concentration in respect of wealth is only on a few. The pace to raise the country from the rank of wealthy people living in a poor country is slowed down. Income and wealth get accumulated only with the rich and corporate.
Instead of welfare and development, the BJP rule has prioritized modifying the academic curriculum by rewriting the history to suit its Hindutva ideology. History has to be as such on what had happened and not on what should have happened as per the wishes of the present rulers.
More than the welfare measures, the saffron rulers have prioritized the execution of their ideological agenda, many features of which are unconstitutional. The substantial negative impact created in the development path would take a minimum of one full term for the next government to set right in normal course.
Let the wisdom prevail on the people!
