A resolution passed by BJP’s national convention asserted that Ram Temple inauguration by PM Narendra Modi heralds the establishment of “Ram Rajya” in India for the next 1000 years. An assertion is also made that in the last 10 years the concept of Ram Rajya was “effectively implemented”. It was the epitome of bragging and boasting, followed by numerous others. Three kinds of miseries were said not existed during Ram Rajya – bodily (daihik), divine (daivik), and worldly (bhautik), however during Modi rule in the last 10 years all the three multiplied.

PM Narendra Modi claimed that 25 crore people taken out of poverty line during his rule. When he had come to power, there were a little over 81.4 crore people estimated to have not able to afford even foodgrains to satisfy their hunger, and hence they were provided free or highly subsidized foodgrains under National Food Security Act. In December 2023, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna was extended for 80 crore people since about 1.4 crore poor are yet to be identified. If 25 crore had taken out of poverty, why the number of poor under PMGKAY remained at 80 crore? If both numbers are true, then there is third possibility that PM Modi’s policies have pushed at least 25 crore lower middle class people under poverty line. PMGKAY reveals that 80 crore poor in the country can’t afford even foodgrains, and World Bank Atlas reveals that over 97 crore people can’t afford healthy food.

Under Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023, about 230 (18.7 per cent) million poor were suffering worst kind of poverty which is called “multidimensional poverty”. Then there are 20 to 33.3 per cent vulnerable people who are not categorized as poor but suffering deprivations, and UNDP says is all indicators taken into consideration the number would be much higher. The latest Global Hunger Index 2023 has placed India at the 111th position in the world.

PM Modi asserted that India has taken a giant leap towards a developed India. His assertion, however, does not match with the preceding reality. What kind of development he has been boasting? It was only total wealth creation in the country in terms of GDP, and India’s becoming 5thbiggest economy in the world. These are deceptive data, which are being used to just hypnotise the electorate, to soften the pain of their miseries under BJP’s rule. Only a cursory glance on the reality will be enough to know to whom the created wealth is going – 60 per cent to just 20 big companies who are bagging 70 per cent of the entire earning of the countrymen.

Stark inequality is the ground reality, and for diverting the electorate Modi’s Guarantees were served again to the people, which in brief, was “everything for the future”, third biggest economy in PM Modi’s third term, and a developed country by 2047, and so on. Clearly, the BJP’s national convention chiefly bragged and boasted.

Joblessness in the country is at unprecedentedly high level. As on February 19, 2024, unemployment rate as per CMIE data is 7.7 per cent on 30 days moving average basis. The entire 10 years of Modi rule have been an era of joblessness, which broke all records of unemployment in the independent in the country. PM Modi promised job for every hand (2 crore every year) in 2014, but could provide only 1.25 crore jobs in first nine years of his rule.

Now imagine the hollowness of PM Modi’s statement, “Coming into the top three economies of India means. The standard of living for every family in India will improve. The income of every Indian family will increase significantly. India's public transport will become more modern. New sectors will open up for employment in India, providing even more opportunities for jobs. Women in India will get the chance to lead at every front. Our farmers will work with the latest technology. There will be ample resources and infrastructure in the country to make people's lives better.”

It was just selling the dream, with bragging and boasting. Farmers are on the agitating path and struggling for even minimum support price of their produce, and Modi’s promise of doubling farmers income by 2022 was just proved a falsehood. There were about 45 other assurances by 2022, and all of them remained unfulfilled.

It was said that BJP is the only party today that is so dedicated to the idea of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat”. This is a nuanced slogan of the BJP to address the Hindus to entertain the RSS-BJP’s political idea of Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra. It is certainly a divisive communal politics of the RSS-BJP clan taking refuse in the glorious past of India and the Sanatan Dharm and putting the entire country on communal fire.

When BJP calls for One India, it means only RSS-BJP clan’s idea of dominance of one political party, religious group, and centralization of power in one hand. This is what dictatorship is. Opposition political parties, opposition ruled states, non-Hindu religious communities and even Hindus who are opposed to their ideas are suffering injustice. India has never been so divided, and people are living under great tension and fear of unrest.

In the multilayer division, people’s livelihood and their very existence with dignity has been threatened since there is a breach of secular democratic federal principle of the country. However, BJP’ National Council asserted their government is inclusive with essence of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas”.

PM Modi referred the entire world to say “Aayega to Modi hi” (Modi will return), at a time when a prospect of imminent closer contest in majority of seats has put PM Modi on tenterhook, that is reflected in his speeches and actions, especially against the Congress the chief opposition, finding every evil in that party as source of instability, dynastic politics, corruption etc. Only on the other day his government severely limited the operation of Congress’ bank account.

Other several opposition political parties are also crying foul for ED raids, seizures, and arrests under PM Modi’s rule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed INDIA alliance as pack of corrupts and vowed to take action against them. ED has taken actions against many opposition leaders for money laundering, but many BJP leaders and those associated with them are enjoying impunity, even there are money laundering cases against them or has valid suspicion against them. Even the Supreme Court of India has said in a judgement that money laundering might have happened under Modi Government’s Electoral Bond Scheme which has been declared unconstitutional. ED is yet to initiate investigation of money laundering under this scheme.

Electorates in the country are concerned about free and fair poll at this moment. PM Modi rather actually addressing people’s concerns, has claimed 370 seats for BJP and 400+ (actually 405) seats for NDA in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, because people are happy under his rule. Bragging and boasting of BJP leadership in the backdrop of allegations of EVM manipulation against them, coupled with track record of Modi’s unfulfilled promises, are turning slowly into disgusting sentiment outside RSS-BJP fold, which may cost BJP dearly. To win 370 BJP would need at least 10 per cent swing in their favour over and above 2019, while the party has suffered a considerable decline in their vote share in every state election thereafter, barring in Manipur. BJP leadership must not take electorate granted, and they must refrain from too much bragging and boasting which may prove rubbing salt to their injuries inflicted on them during 10 years of Modi rule. (IPA Service)