Four years of hoodwinking
It has been four years since the Narendra Modi led government assumed power in the centre. Now it is time again for them to go seeking votes again. The overall picture of unfulfilled promises is pretty grim. Hence, BJP is not in a celebratory mood over completing this milestone. Instead of bringing solace to people, this government has increased their miseries. The Prime Minister is busy travelling abroad, and addressing people through Mann Ki Baat through radio. He is occasionally in India, in these four years. There have been no exceptional achievements of this government. The acche din promise has remained a mere dream. The government had assured they would create 2 crore jobs every year if they came into power. They had assumed Minimum Support Price to farmers’ produces and check unbridled increase in prices of essential commodities. In a nutshell, they had painted beautiful dreams of amazing hues of stupendous development and assured they would bring unforeseen progress since independence, to the people of this country.
They had blamed Nehru for everything that was wrong with the country, and that they’d fix the course soon as they came to power with ‘Sab Ka Saath, sab ka Vikaas’ as the slogan. But, forget bringing country on the growth trajectory, they couldn’t fulfil even the smallest of promises. Forget 2 crore jobs, they couldn’t manage to create even 2 lakh jobs annually. Essential commodities cost a lot more than they did before. The gas cylinder that was available for Rs 390 in 2014 now costs nearly Rs 800. Though crude oil rates have come down in international market, petrol and diesel are close to Rs 100 per liter now. The poor are burdened with taxes while the corporates are enjoying freebies and tax holidays. This is the achievement of this government. Prime Minister Modi had called himself Pradhan Chaukidar and Pradhan Sevak. But right under his nose, banks have been looted by Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya to the tune of thousands of crores. The culprits managed to escape abroad too while the government stood mute. Nirav Modi had even appeared in the picture with PM Modi during his Davos visit.
Along with this, the lakhs and crores of loans raised by big corporates such as Ambani, Adani and others have been waived off. Banks are close to declaring bankruptcy. People have been pushed to the brink in the last four years. That apart, the democracy that runs this country is facing the threat. The foundation of democracy is being weakened. During his early years, Modi closed the Planning Commission, and started NITI Aayog. He is using CBI and Enforcement Directorate to suit his politics. Autonomous institutions such as CBI are being used to shut the voices of his and Amit Shah’s political opponents. One might even wonder if the duo are using even Election Commission to suit their narrative. Amit Shah as protected from being caught under Sohrabuddin encounter case in Gujarat. Death of Justice Loya is ridden with suspicions. The government has been making massive mistakes on its foreign policies.
The diplomatic formalities followed since Nehru’s time have been thrown to air. The government is dancing to the tunes of American diktats. Forget the good days, people were put to face discomforts with demonetization and thrusting of GST taxing method without any preparation whatsoever. This has dealt a severe blow to Indian economy. There have been rumours that the decision of demonetization wasn’t even made known to the RBI governor. Also some interpretation about demonetization was necessary to bring out black money, were also made. The government never gave official statement on such interpretations or about how much black money was recovered. Every field has been opened for FDI now. This has led to the closure of small and medium businesses. Amendment to labour law has led to labourers being denied their rights. Efforts have been on to close HAL and BEL by rendering them useless. Public sector undertakings and higher education institutions are under threat. JNU continues to be in the eye of controversy. To cover its lacunae Modi government is triggering off communal tensions. Innocents are being killed in the name of Gaurakshak teams working to safeguard cows. As a result of all this, BJP lost in the bypolls. The Lok Sabha elections are looming large at a distance and BJP is not confident of another astounding victory here. Though the government is trying hard to cover up for losses of four years, people have lost faith on this government.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
