EC is an autonomous constitutional body and it is expected to work independently. But the manner in which the EC under the stewardship of its chief Sunil Arora has been functioning gave rise to the feeling that it has turned into the “B” team of BJP. The political bosses prefer to see the entire policy making bodies play the role of a subservient; the situation has been turned worse by the subservient bureaucrats.

Indulging in sycophancy brings them more privileges and power. Else there is no reason that a body like EC should violate repeated orders of the HC. It is clearly manifest in the observation of the bench; “Despite repeated orders of this court, going on like a broken record at the foot of almost every order on an election petition, that Covid protocol ought to be maintained during the campaign time, the significance of adhering to such protocols may have been lost on the Election Commission, going by the silence on the part of the Election Commission, as campaigning and rallies were conducted without distancing norms being maintained and in wanton disregard of the other requirements of the protocol.”

The Election Commission should have planned safety measures but its arrogance and proximity to power made it to disobey. The EC dragged the poll procedure to eight phases in Bengal only to ensure the BJP to win the elections. The court was absolutely right in observing that the EC was the “only institution” responsible for the deadly COVID-19 second wave India is seeing today.

The scathing observations came four days after the Calcutta High Court had censured the EC for not doing enough to ensure that political parties were following appropriate Covid protocols amid the surging second wave. It is worth mentioning that Arora is allegedly being awarded with the job of Governor of Goa for helping his political masters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is perceived to be the tallest political leader in the country today. But sad enough, his speeches and actions do not conform to this notion. Obviously, the question arises as to why this mismatch. It is known to a common Indian that Modi does not practice what he preaches. This has prompted people to nickname him as feku (liar).

Yet another question arises as to what are the parameters that create the impression of his being the tallest leader? Ostensibly the primary reason is his victories in general elections of 2014 and 2019.True enough the two electoral victories helped him offset his administrative failures.

An insight into the functioning of Modi makes it explicit that he has never been a visionary leader. He lives in today and talks of today. He lacks a future perception. Ironically he has built his political edifice on the basis of today’s gain. He simply exploited rightist populism and Hindu nationalism to be revered and counted as the most effective and tallest leader. It is under his seven year rule almost all the democratic institutions have been finished.

Under his rule, India and its citizenry have to suffer. He has proved to be an abject failure on all the fronts, whether international or domestic. Due to his lack of vision, while the economic crisis accentuated, growth suffered a serious jolt. He could not keep his promises, his demonetisation policy and GST turned people pauper.

The Covid epidemic has simply exposed the lack of his administrative foresightedness and policy bankruptcy. People are yet to forget his prophetic assertion “Mahabharat war was won in 18 days and we will win the war against Covid in 21 days”. In his address of January 28 at Davos conference of World Economic Forum, he boasted that India has defeated corona and ridiculed the experts and scientists who had alerted India of the possibility of onslaught of second wave. In fact, even before September 2020 scientists had expressed the apprehension that India was facing the threat of a second wave. He took jibes at the experts for warning that the Covid may witness death of nearly 2 million people.

What an irony the second wave hit India within 3 months of his bragging. The crematoriums are overflowing with bodies. The situation has turned so dreadful that entire world fraternity which was ridiculed by Modi has come out with the offer to bail India out of the crisis. Most of the countries have been sending oxygen.

It was in the wake of the first phase, Modi had promised to set up120 oxygen plants. But so far only 33 plants have been established. The PM Care Fund which was set up by Modi to fight Covid is still to make its impact. Modi government has commissioned some companies and a couple of PSUs to manufacture ventilators and money was to be spent from the PMCF. But so far the response has been quite poor. The ventilators which have been sent to the states have developed snags. This primarily owes to the lack of research and development. In fact Modi has virtually put a ban on R&D after winding up the Planning Commission.

With the onslaught of the coronavirus in March 2020, while the entire world has gone into the fighting mode, Modi was busy capturing power in the states by destabilising the elected governments and evolving strategy to win the elections.

Modi was never been serious in fighting covid. If he had been serious he would have persuaded the Kumbh Mela devotees to stay away. The BJP’s efficient social media could have played its role in reaching his message to every nook and corner of the country. But he chose not to do this. In contrast Maharashtra government succeeded in persuading organisers of Pandharpur Yatra to suspend it for the year.

On April 22, hearing three public interest litigations (PILs) seeking enforcement of Covid protocol during the polls, a division bench presided by Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan had said issuance of circulars and holding meetings on Covid safety were not enough. Mamata Banerjee while welcoming the Madras High Courts observations that the Election Commission could not avoid blame for the spread of Covid alleged that both Narendra Modi and EC are responsible for the (current) situation. (IPA Service)