Dilution was rationalized as rights were found to be irrelevant, and needed to be abolished, since to quote from one of our PM’s speeches, “talking about rights, fighting for rights are simply wasting time.” Managing some apparent humility, he said the struggle for rights could be alright in some particular circumstances but “…forgetting one’s duties completely has played a huge role in keeping India weak.” It was then urged that everyone must “walk on the path of duty, if we really want to see the country achieve new heights”.

In the emergency era, ten fundamental duties were introduced in 42nd amendment, in 1976. The 11th was added through the 86th amendment in 2002, when Atal Behari Vajpayee was leading the BJP rule. All these duties were introduced to stop the citizens from wasting time, especially while struggling to achieve implementation of our fundamental rights. In the context of fundamental duties, imperative for all the citizens in the country, prime minister himself is not an exception. He has also his duties as a citizen and also as the head of the state in a democracy.

According to Constitution, one is expected to follow the ideals, institutions, respect the National Flag and also the National Anthem. Our prime minister had pointed out that the time wasted on fighting for fundamental rights has made India ‘weaker’. In the preamble of the Constitution itself, three fundamental rights have been enumerated. Among them are: to justice, liberty and equality. Each one is fundamental to keep democracy alive. Calling it ‘waste of time’ is denial of any right to assert for them. In the last nine years of BJP rule, there have been incidents of violation of federalism, secularism, social justice, freedom of speech, media and assembly, freedom from arbitrary arrest among many.

So far as National Flag is concerned, the body of a lynching accused was draped in National Flag as well as that of the BJP. No action was taken. About National Anthem, Russian hosts in Moscow had restrained him when our prime minister started walking off as the Anthem was being played. The BJP rulers have also been selective about who should be honored as martyrs in India’s freedom struggle. One example is the removal of the names of 387 Mappila martyrs from the list of honour in the Dictionary of Martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle, 1857-1947.

The Jallianwala Bagh memorial, paying tributes to those who lost their lives in the grim 1919 carnage by British forces, reconstructed revising historical facts was inaugurated by the prime minister himself. According to the experts, it has been turned into a site without historicity. It has been an assault on the sacred memorial for the martyrs there.

In August, 2019, Article 370 was stricken down along with the special status granted to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with that was taken away the autonomy promised to the people of J&K in the Instrument of Accession. By locking up political leaders and activists, bringing the region under the Union government’s direct control and imposing a lockdown and communications blockade, the prime minister and his government opted to disenfranchise, imprison and humiliate a section of the people they were meant to serve. The system has been busy popularizing the ‘Hindu khatre mein hai’ narrative by the Sangh Parivar to promote Hindutva extremism flourishing largely unchecked. The strength of unity and federalism face destruction and even the rights of the states are also encroached upon.

Though always pretending to be brave, our government had no explanation when the Chinese army took over parts of Indian territory. In fact, it was the absurd policy of total denial with claims of no intrusion at all despite the multiple previous statements from the armed forces and the regime itself that were otherwise.

Then there was the irresponsible response to the COVID-19 epidemic as a ‘war’. The zero-notice lockdown that brought immense sufferings to the masses, the communalization of COVID-19 which his government and party encouraged, and absence of planning a proper medical response eventually led to millions of preventable deaths in this ‘war’. The problem only got worse when four ministries of his government couldn’t find a way to cooperate and solve the problem.

The promise that has been violated most often has been the attacks against minorities, lynchings, violence, online bullying, daily discrimination have been actively promoted by BJP leaders across the country, and the response has been only silence.

There has also been efforts to destroy our diversity in unity. One example is efforts to impose Hindi on the entire country.

Our composite culture has always been the target as the government institutions keep tailoring our history according to the preferences of the ruling regime. It is written as demanded, without any concern for scientific knowledge. The historical contribution of Muslims to Indian culture has been almost totally omitted. Islamic monuments, among them even Taj Mahal, are projected as symbols of the subjugation of Hindus. (IPA Service)