Prime Minister Modi has often been criticised by media and general public on many fronts. A close look at Modi’s performance will definitely refute these negative criticisms. Let’s have a look at it and the many negative criticisms in that context:
Modi was accused of genocide of Muslims in Gujarat. First, he was accused of masterminding it. Then he was accused of asking police to look the other way. However, none of these accusations have been ever proved or even substantiated. As Gujarat CM, Modi was denied a US Visa under a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The ban was automatically lifted when he became Prime Minister and since has received a rock star welcome there.
Volumes have been written on the two drastic reform measures undertaken by Modi namely the Demonetization and the GST. While no conclusion has been reached, these reforms have definitely set an honest norm in transaction financing and a much more efficient system of tax administration leading to added revenue.
Our country is certainly passing through a grave crisis due to Coronavirus. Our intellectuals do not seem to be aware of any solution nor capable of giving any constructive suggestions. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment and solidarity in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic that has so far infected millions of people in the world have been praised by World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Yet Modi is accused of mishandling the issue.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019. It amended the Citizenship Act, 1955 by providing a path to Indian citizenship for migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian religious minorities, who had fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 2014. An irresponsible Opposition aided by the same section of media tried to raise communal passion on this just measure to redeem past commitments.
Continuing the reform agenda, the Modi government has now passed in parliament three bills to promote much easier trade for the farm produce and to provide a competitive market for the producers outside the existing APMC system. These provide: No more APMC monopoly, more choice, freedom for farmers to seek better prices for crops.
The two acts are very beneficial for the persecuted minorities and the small and medium farmers respectively. Yet the opposition and a section of media are agitating against their implementation.
The country is facing unprovoked and pre meditated aggressive postures of China and Pakistan. But these critics are deafeningly silent. They are even savouring the lies and blatantly seditious uttering of some opposition leaders like Farooq Abdullah abundantly highlighted by a section of mainstream media.
Atrocities against women, communal clashes, misdemeanours in public conduct and misappropriation of public funds are occurring in certain parts of our polity. But these critics are blatantly selective in their reaction.
Modi is often accused of spoiling the independence of the constitutionally set up institutions by interfering into their affairs. This allegation again could not be substantiated.
There were a lot of protests against holding this year’s NEET and Final Year Degree exams. But the Ministry and UGC were firm and the exams were mostly conducted properly.
Thus, in these criticisms, there is this blatant intellectual dishonesty of a lot otherwise learned and educated people. They also seem to be oblivious of the fundamental adage: Charity Begins at Home/ Preach only what you Practice. Also, criticism must not be agenda driven but surely constructive. Sadly, this is totally lacking here.
But what about dissent and democracy? Angry activists and public intellectuals have multiple eager media platforms like The Wire, NDTV, The Hindu etc to vent their ire and eulogizing Pakistan-funded terrorists like Burhan Wani, being apologists for China and undermining India at international conclaves. Yet, none of these media organizations has been censored by the government – even though many deal in fake news. Contrast this with what is happening in Maharashtra.
Finally, the biased and partisan attitude of these critics are further evident from the following ridiculous allegations:
- Modi wore a shawl. Somebody dreamed up that it was a Louis Vuitton one – a manufactured controversy was served steaming hot!
- Rs 20 lakh suit: Another cooked up figure over the price of suit Modi was wearing.
- Christian church attacks: Delhi Police announced that 250+ temples were attacked and 4 churches. Then a church was attacked in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal. This was enough for Christianity to be under attack in Modi’s India.
- Award Wapsi: Again, law and order broke down in Akhilesh Yadav’s Uttar Pradesh and Dadri was the low point. But Modi was invoked and a bizarre ceremony of returning awards plagued our so called “intellectuals” and writers.
Author: By Sudip Bhattacharyya: The writer is a long-standing commentator on contemporary issues
