I firmly believe that even if a craven despot becomes the leader of the nation tomorrow, he won’t be able to do a lasting damage to our society. Mainly because the common folks have become impatient. They have become all the more interested in the specifics of what is being offered and are not rigidly allegiant to any particular party. While India voted for reforms in General Assembly, Delhi voted for bijli, paani and Wifi. People do know, what they want. If tomorrow, the promised Growth doesn’t percolate down to their bank accounts, they may well bring a socialist Congress to the fore, if it promises to subsidize their expenditure.
Each ruling party tries to project itself on the nation it represents. And much more than the names of important streets/margs change. While Congress is known for its penchant for Grand Schemes and pro-poor stance, BJP is all about fiscal discipline, ease of doing business and Federalism.It is given that every party tries to project itself as pro-poor and pro-business, this government’s stance in seeking rigorous engagement with the states and making them stakeholders in the nation’s growth is something unique and refreshing in the nation’s history. Whether it be the NITI Aayog or its acceptance of Finance Commission’s recommendation wholeheartedly, this in-principle adherence to co-operative Federalism, will give the states, which possess a unique vantage point in all matters related to it, a free arm in carrying out various projects in the region, instead of what had been earlier a centralized one-size-fits-all approach. If Congress forms a government at the Centre tomorrow, many of this government’s flagship programmes would be booted out, there would be a resurgence of the Planning Commission, but they would be forced to engage the states in a manner they haven’t, in their earlier innings. Just like the BJP was asked to reconsider its position on ‘Aadhar’, which it has now accepted wholeheartedly.
Structural reforms will outlast any government. And if any despot tries to exert himself in this country, an enlightened citizenry, backed up by a fearless media and a pro-active judiciary would ensure that he sees the door. Not only despots, any unwieldy projects and schemes proposed by the successive governments, would be abandoned in the longer run.
When the BJP was in opposition, it was trenchant in its stand on various issues. Now it is co-operative to the extent that we have a BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, a prospect unimaginable previously. The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) is revolutionary to say the least, partly because both the parties held entrenched and opposite stance on various contentious issues like Article 370 and AFSPA, among others. The people in the region made them do it.
On a parting note, the dual shrine solution for Ayodhya title suit is finding considerable favor among all the stakeholders involved. A temple and a mosque, on the same hallowed ground, sharing much more that a 100 feet wall – it happens only in India!!
Alienman 