The majoritarian overtones with which policies are being enforced, some imperceptibly, such as saffronisation of higher educational and cultural institutions, and setting of social norms of behaviour for citizens, are starkly suggestive of an inexorable drive toward an authoritarian style of governance.

Whatever gloss that may be sought to be put, there can be no pretentions that the Modi Government is relentlessly adhering to a social agenda set by its spiritual mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, toward the goal of Hindu Rashtra. The lines of RSS-BJP co-ordination are no longer obscure..

Prime Minister Modi had given himself a concept of 'maximum governance and minimum government', whatever the intent behind. Huge gaps have emerged in the first two years of Modi rule, whether in fructifying his 'development' mantra - ill-defined to this day -witness the loss of ardour for structural reforms - or in meeting job aspirations of millions.

A tantalising 'achhe din' held out is hardly mouthed any longer. Mr Modi, whatever glory he has accumulated for himself in all his frenetic travels across the world, has failed at home to build a post-2014 atmosphere of harmony or a model of consensual approach to the tough challenges that the country faces, compounded by global financial turmoils.

No wonder, there is an overall dismal record in Parliament hitting key reforms by legislation, with fewer exceptions. A wounded opposition is not easily won over with verbal blasts kept up by the Prime Minister, who is in perpetual campaign mode with state elections, one after the other. Ideally, BJP wants a pan-India single party dominance to implement the Hindutva agenda.

In the midst of a widespread sense of disillusionment over the less than expected outcomes and growing rural distress and urban woes, the Government has had to shift its priorities through the latest Union Budget - a relatively balanced exercise - with focus on agriculture, farmers, rural, social and infrastructure while adhering to the pre-determined fiscal deficit target to earn kudos.

This is essentially a political exercise to overcome any taint of a pro-rich and pro-corporate government. While the first two years saw an abundance of slogans and catchphrases, what all this would do to transform lives over the medium term has dismayed the broad mass of people, including those who voted for BJP.

While economic growth looks stunted at roughly 7 per cent into the third year, the Modi Government has been giving a free run for its fringe Hindutva groups to dictate the terms of political debate and even take law into their hands to enforce social and cultural conduct conforming to their concept of 'Hinduism'. Social tensions are on the rise under this regime.

In the wake of student unrest in Central Universities in Hyderabad and JNU, Government has moved to act with a heavy hand and deal sternly with student leaders, mainly in JNU. Systematic efforts are on to quell dissent and generate an atmosphere of intolerance, in total disregard of democratic rights and freedom of expression that have been the pride of India, especially in centres of advanced learning.

This has become clear in the way BJP National Executive has laid down that there could be no compromise on 'nationalism' - whatever it may mean - and 'anti-national' activities would not be tolerated. Earlier RSS had given the call to Government to ensure that everyone in the country abides by the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'as a constitutional obligation.

BJP or Mr Modi has not spelt out what 'nationalism' is, its criteria, and what are deemed to be 'anti-national'. A broad generalisation such as the resolution makes, can render any person guilty of expressing a view which does not conform to BJP version of 'nationalism' or may even be considered 'anti-national'.

The resolution followed the address of BJP President Mr Amit Shah, who ruled out any debate on 'Bharat mata ki jai'. While Mr Shah noted there could be criticism of the party, person or government, 'patently anti-national activity cannot be tolerated' on the plea of freedom of expression. Prime Minister Modi, keeping to the tune, said the party and government accepted 'political criticism' of itself 'but not of the nation'.

According to senior leader and Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitley, nationalism and freedom of expression co-exist but any dissent does not give one 'the right to disintegrate the country'. It is amazing that BJP leaders are taking the right to dissent to extremes such as 'disintegration or destruction' of the country. Is this a cry of 'a nation in danger'? In any case, the moves so far of the Modi Government are clearly designed to change the character of India as one of pluralism, inclusiveness and unity in diversity.

The National Executive resolution was a strategy to manage the party’s discomfiture after scholar Rohit Vemula’s suicide, not unrelated to Dalit neglect at the Hyderabad University, as well as to mount a new offensive against JNU student leaders by invoking 'nationalism' and 'anti-national activities'. It was also timed as response to the call of RSS on Government to put down 'anti-national activities' with a heavy hand.

BJP President Amit Shah viewed certain student demonstrations in Jawaharlal Nehru University in February as traitorous to warrant the arrest of the JNU students union president Mr Kanhaiyalal Kumar and a few other Ph.D students, who were slapped with charges of “sedition', based on doctored video clips. They are now out on bail from Tihar jail pending the Court scrutiny of the evidence.

Rebutting the charges, Mr Kanhaiyalal Kumar asserted what the students were seeking was 'azadi' not from, but within India. 'Is seeking freedom from thorny issues confronting India a crime?,' he posed to the Prime Minister. Kumar has said the struggle of peace loving and progressive sections of the society in the wake of the JNU row and Rohith Vemula suicide would be 'a long fight' and it seems that secular India has to be ready for that “long fight” to defend the “idea of India” that has held this nation together. (IPA Service)