A closer scrutiny of the government’s two years performance would, however, indicate that it is the publicity blitzkrieg and marketing skills of PMO’s backroom ‘specialists’, which have largely been responsible for creating the impression of government’s resounding ‘achievements’. They do not represent the ground realities which reflect negative more than positive aspects of government’s functioning.

Modi’s biggest achievement has been on the foreign policy front. His diplomatic skills and eloquence during his record worldwide tours helped enhance India’s global stature. These also transformed the 2004 failed slogan of “India Shining” into self-promoting “Modi Shining” applause.

Modi’s foreign policy has, however, not been without its slippages particularly on two fronts: Lending pro-US tilt to the country’s time-tested non-alignment policy; and, chinks in his much cherished “neighbourhood first” policy which failed to resolve problems with a hostile Pakistan and historically friendly Hindu Nepal turning unfriendly.

In sharp contrast to the applause his foreign policy has earned him, Modi’s image on the home front has been losing its sheen notwithstanding the praises heaped upon him by his sycophants, including ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Radha Mohan Singh and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan. They said “Modi is God’s gift to India”.

The most worrisome aspect of the Modi-led government’s two years rule has been the curbing of freedom of expression. Under the cover of promoting ‘nationalism’, Emergency-like situation has developed in India reminding one what the American eminent philosopher and historian Noam Chomsky had said: “Nationalism has a way of oppressing others”.

Curbing the freedom of expression during the last two years had forced a number of India’s eminent writers and historians to return their coveted awards. Some eminent rationalists and intellectuals were killed by Hindutva hardliners. Government has been charged with crushing dissent. More than 200 organisations and human rights and social activists last week condemned the government’s “persecution” of the Lawyers Collective, an NGO run by senior advocates Indira Jaising and Anand Grover by threatening to de-register it. Notwithstanding the earlier action-less warnings to the hardline Hindutva activists to desist from making speeches which polarized India, extremist bhagwa activists continue their provocative utterances. Joining the ranks of leaders like VHP’s Praveen Togadia and VHP-turned BJP Rajya Sabha nominee Subramanian, VHP’s, SadhviPrachi has now been quoted as having said “it is time to rid India of Muslims”. Her statement last week created a ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly forcing the Opposition to stage walk out.

The latest incidence of curbing freedom of expression is the Central Board of Film Certification’s chairperson PahlajNihalani not only imposing unprecedented cuts in the film Udta Punjab which deals with the widespread drug menace in Punjab but also removing Punjab’s name from the film’s title. Mumbai’s entire film community has revolted against Pahlaj’s diktats. He was quoted having declared that he is “proud to be a Modi chamcha”.

Former Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court Potter Stewart was not wrong when he said, “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself”.

While hearing appeal against the CBFC order, the High Court critically remarked against Pahlaj’s arbitrary action. The Court announced its landmark judgment in the case on June 13, when it allowed the film to be released with just one cut, instead of the 89 suggested by CFBC.

It would not be out of context to quote ArunShourie’s recent warning that “over the next three years he expected a more systematic attempt to curb civil liberties and an increase in decentralised intimidation besides choking of inconvenient voices.” Shourie called the NDA dispensation as a presidential government without checks and balances asking “Where is good governance?”.

Udta Punjab has unnerved the BJP’s ruling partner Akali Dal whose leadership has not only failed to check the spread of drug menace in Punjab but some of its activists are also allegedly involved in drug trade. The leadership obviously fears that the drug issue would further escalate anti-incumbency sentiment which would adversely affect the party’s already bleak electoral prospects in 2017 Assembly poll.

Notwithstanding its claims to the contrary, Modi’s two-year rule has failed to deliver some of its major commitments. It was claimed that lakhs of crores of black money hoarded in foreign tax heavens would be brought back. But during the two years only around Rs.5,000crores of black money has reportedly been repatriated. The promises of speedy development, improving economy and eradicating corruption have, by and large, remained unfulfilled.

No doubt, unlike the mega scams during UPA II, no large scale corruption cases have so far been reported in the Modi regime. But the menace is widespread even in the BJP-ruled states. After Madhya Pradesh’s Vyapam and Lalit Modi case and Chhattisgarh PDS scams, the latest is the involvement of the EknathKhadse, Maharashtra BJP chief minister DevendraFadnaviscabinet’s Number two, in the massive land scam which forced him to resign from the ministry.

About Modi’s mega promise of faster growth and economic reforms, the less said the better. Arun Jaitley last week claimed India was the fastest growing country in the world quoting latest 7.9 percent GDP growth. Questioning the macro economic statistics, many experts have, however, attributed the claims to be “statistics management”. Even RBI Governor RaghuramRajan has said “there may be difference of 1% on either side in the GDP numbers”.

The economy’s appalling state is reflected by the steep fall in services and manufacturing sectors with exports continuing their fall and the growing unemployment and unchecked high prices of essential commodities.

The prevailing scenario is a warning to Modi to introspect and take remedial measures before it is too late. (IPA Service)