The dangerously spiraling COVID infections can be solely attributed to utter failure of Modi regime in understanding the gravity of the problem since the novel coronavirus started its alarming spread in February itself. Such a gigantic crisis completely devastating our health, human and economic security was very lightly taken by the Government. When the World Health Organization declared the disease caused by corona virus as a health emergency of international concern on 30th January 2020 the government failed to formulate any plan to check the transmission. The mishandling of the COVID pandemic and the humanitarian disaster it has caused is the outcome of Modi government’s callous disregard for the poor and vulnerable of this country.

Indeed, the COVID pandemic has been catastrophic for the country. Claiming the lives of many, this disease has overburdened the inadequate healthcare system in India, stripped the veil away from the everyday practices of casteism and classism in Indian society. Amidst this turmoil, the role of the fascist BJP government has been to vulgarly exploit the current situation for sectarian capitalist interests and building a Hindu nation. Violence, apathy and vindictiveness have become the hallmark of the Modi government.

A global disease which needs to be tackled with scientificity and rationality through a coordinated effort of state machinery instead has become a reason enough for the disciples of Savarkar to pathologize, isolate and exterminate the Muslim body. Ruthlessly this government and its many minions have communalized COVID and in fact weaponized the crisis against the Muslim community. COVID, a threat to the citizenry has been used as a filter by the government to establish and define the ideal ‘Indian’ by branding and excluding Muslims by pathologizing them as the bearer of disease and a threat to the body politic of the nation. Xenophobia is asserted in order to polarize the society further to serve the interest of the Hindu Right-wing forces.

The brutality of the Modi government is further displayed in its utter apathy towards the plight of the working class migrant populace of this country. The sheer hypocrisy, on one hand reducing and dismissing the plight of migrant workers as normal rather than addressing it as a structural flaw and on the other hand raising funds under a private platform named PM CARES to support the ‘needy’ under the garb of ‘charity’, is nothing short of disgusting.

The union government is centralizing all powers in its hands denying the due constitutional rights of the state governments and also making Parliament redundant. While defence forces are being drawn into political controversies and the process of their politicalisation, the RSS is militarizing its cadres and declaring that it will safeguard the country. At a time Indian Army makes public a three year military training plan during the COVID 19 pandemic, this is causing concern. According to the available reports “the proposal is a shift from the concept of permanent service/job in the armed forces towards internship/temporary experience for three years. It is for youth who do not want to make defense services their permanent vocation but still want to experience the thrill and adventure of military professionalism.”

These issues are not some mere operational glitches occurring during crisis management. Rather, the violence, physical as well as systemic, is very much by design to engender further crisis in order to clamp down on democracy and other constitutional values. The current ruling dispensation is clearing ground by mowing down all dissent in order to give free ride to the big corporates, both national and global. The government is pushing neo liberal economic policies aggressively, undermining the public sector which is considered to be the fundamental strength of the economy. In the name of fighting the pandemic there is attack on the trade union and labour laws pushing the marginalized and exploited people into simultaneous multiple crises.

The situation thus emerging shows that nation states from USA to India are all rabid right wing and anti-people. The unrest everywhere shows the complex political crisis and political vacuum. The revolts of Black people in America and the horrors of migrant laborers in India mostly Dalits, Adivasis and other backward and vulnerable sections expose the inhuman, exploitative character of the capitalist political system.

The solution sought to be found within the capitalist order is going to be disastrous. In fact, it is no solution at all. Already there is rise of fascism and neo fascism. Since 2014 under BJP-RSS dispensation, from ‘Achhe Din’ to ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, the people are passing through horrific experiences. The ruling classes are afraid that the suffering people will gather strength to put up a united revolt. They try to polarize the people on communal lines. When there is discussion about ‘Bahujan Hinduism’ a counter narrative is encouraged in the name of ‘subaltern Hindutva’. Sadh Gurus and self-proclaimed spiritualists are rallied. They having the patronage of those in power today are desperate to prevent people moving towards forces who are fighting for a change. There is increasing attacks on the human rights, civil right activists in order to strangulate the voice of dissent.

In such emerging situation, history calls upon the Left to seize the moment and mobilize people and other progressive forces for an alternative - a new social order where all people will have equality, dignity, justice and security. (IPA Service)