Clearing the misconceptions/propaganda against Modi and some actual valid criticisms
Modi center-left on economic issues, close to center-right on social issues:
India was almost fully socialist from 47-91. Modi/his party BJP is center-left on economic issues - many socialist programs that you cannot count using 2 hands, while at the same time privatising non-profit government companies. . Hence why he should be considered center-left on economic issues.
Some of the socialist/left programs include: Prime Minister Ujjwala Plan (free LPG cylinders/connections for people below poverty line), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the girl child), Ayushman Bharat (free insurance of upto Rs 5 lakh per family per year for about 10.7 crore families) etc.
He is close to center-right on social issues (moving towards the center). In 2018, Modi govt supported Supreme court judgement of decriminalization of homosexuality, encouraging companies to give jobs to LGBT people etc.
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/07/18/modi-govt-bats-more-jobs-lgbt-community-members.html
Anyone tells you Modi is far right, fascist, just know that person is following propaganda or is a propagandist. Will show below how.
The Gujarat 2002 riots - Supreme Court cleared him:
Modi was investigated for several years under a hostile government (that was the opposite party to his) - the Indian National Congress and was cleared by a neutral Supreme Court of any complicity or negligence.
The 541-page SIT closure report says Gujarat CM Narendra Modi took all possible steps to control the 2002 riots.
The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) -->
Debunking Modi govt being anti-Muslim (wrt Indian Muslims):
As far as the accusation of Islamaphobia or anti-Muslim sentiments go, there are some members of BJP who are anti-Muslim and have a loud mouth. But they do not make up anywhere near a majority. Modi/BJP policies as a whole are not anti-Muslim. There are multiple steps specifically to help Muslims and also programs to help people across all religions including Muslims
Modi has his set of faults. He is a "politician" if you know what I mean. But he has done good work and continues to do so.
1. Modi govt abolished triple talaq:
Triple talaq for those who don't know is a practice where Muslim men could divorce their wives instantly by saying/messaging talaq, talaq, talaq (three times). It is not mentioned in the Quran. This had ruined the lives of so many Muslim women and ensured Muslim men had unusual amount of power over them. It was abolished many years ago in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, FFS.
Muslim women thank PM Modi on passage of triple talaq bill
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/muslim-women-thank-pm-modi-on-passage-of-triple-talaq-bill/articleshow/70465902.cms?from=mdr
2. Millions of scholarships to Muslims and continuing:
More Muslims got govt scholarships under Modi govt than during Congress-led UPA-2
There were 2.37 crore Muslim beneficiaries of govt scholarships during Modi's first term, while the figure under Manmohan's second was 2.33 crore.
https://theprint.in/india/more-muslims-govt-scholarships-modi-govt-congress-upa/308154/
3. Funding and modernizing Madrassas :
Muslim clerics hail Centre's decision to connect Madrasas to mainstream education:Scores of reactions from the Muslim community came after Naqvi on Tuesday announced, "Madrasas are in large number across the country. They will be connected with formal education and mainstream education so that those children studying there can also contribute to the development of society."
"Madrasa teachers across the country will be given training from various institutions in mainstream subjects such as Hindi, English, Maths, Science, Computer etc. so that they can impart mainstream education to the Madrasa students. This programme will be launched next month," Naqvi wrote on Twitter.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/muslim-clerics-hail-centre-s-decision-to-connect-madrasas-to-mainstream-education-119061200086_1.html
Debunking Modi govt being anti-Muslim (wrt other countries):
1. Palestine :
a) Modi was the 1st Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine in 2018.
b) Modi govt increased funding to Palestine:
India has increased its annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from $1.5 million to $5 million from 2018-19 for a period of three years, the External Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday.
c) Modi govt voted for Palestine (against Israel) atleast twice in UN (17, 19):
In 2017, it was against declaring Jersualem as capital of Israel
In 2019, it was for the right of self determination for Palestinians
Note that India is also friendly and maintains good relationship with Israel as well -> Diplomacy.
2. Medical visas for Pakistan nationals :
(The late) Sushma Swaraj helped Indians all over the world, but that was not all. The late Foreign Minister also granted medical visas to several Pakistani nationals, for treatment in India.
3. Evacuation of Maldive citizens from Wuhan :
Coronavirus: Maldivian FM thanks India for evacuating their citizens from Wuhan
(Maldives is an Islamic country)
4. Modi has been honored by several Islamic countries :
Here's a list of awards PM Modi has been conferred with by Muslim-majority countries:
1. The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance, Bahrain - August 2019
2. Order of Zayed, UAE's highest civilian award - August 2019
3. Grand Collar of the State of Palestine - February 2018
4. Amir Amanullah Khan Award, Afghanistan - June 2016
5. King Abdulaziz Sash Award, Saudi Arabia - April 2016
6. Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen, Maldives - June 2019
5. Continuing export of livesaving medicines to Pakistan amidst big tensions after Article 370 decision
Jammu and Kashmir :
Article 370 was bad, highly discriminatory and encouraged corruption over long term. It was meant to be protectionist and only temporary (few years)Abrogation of Article 370(&35A) ensured that
1. women in J&K had equal rights
2. there could be private investment from people outside the state
3. decriminalized homosexuality in Kashmir
4. ensured dignity...for classes of people like Valimikis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_370_of_the_Constitution_of_India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_35A_of_the_Constitution_of_India
Now whenever this was abrogated there was bound to be tension because of these forces :
1. Terrorists
2. Violent separatists (who want to be seperate from India&Pakistan)
3. Corrupt politicians in J&K
4. people spreading hate+fake news (especially through Internet)
Hence why they had restrictions. These restrictions were being eased wherever/whenever it was safe to do so. Unfortunate necessity and not meant for deliberate suppression of people there.
There were some individual instances of human rights violations, but nothing organizational. These must be dealt according to the law. Its an internal matter of India.
Citizenship amendment Act:
About the brouhaha with regard to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), I got to say WTF is wrong with so many people. Firstly any person can lawfully apply for citizenship/refuge in the normal way, regardless of his/her religion. CAA does not change that.
What CAA does it grant citizenship for minorities (who have been persecuted on a religious basis) in the 3 Islamic countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh) and those who came to India before Dec 31st, 2014 and staying in India as illegal immigrants. These minorities include : Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Paris and Christians.
It excludes Muslims because these are Islamic countries and Muslims in general are not persecuted on a religious basis there (again, keyword general)
There is a corresponding US legislation : Lautenburg amendement that is similar in nature.
CAA does not affect any existing Indian citizens. the reason why I say WTF at people criticizing India/govt ...This is a positive, wonderful step. Granting citizenship to persecuted people, people who need it.
People need to be blaming the religious persecution that went on and is going on in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Wake the hell up !
People who bring in pan-India or all-India NRC (national register of citizens) here. There is no pan-India NRC on the table.
There was some confusion initially when CAA was introduced. Govt did not do a good work of educating people very clearly early on about CAA-NRC. But the government clarified clearly through FAQ and speeches after that. The government said :
"But there is absolutely no compulsion to submit any document by/of the parents. Citizenship can be proved by submitting any documents related to date of birth and place of birth. However, a decision is yet to be taken on such acceptable documents. This is likely to include voter cards, passports, Aadhaar, licenses, insurance papers, birth certificates, school leaving certificates, documents relating to land or home or other similar documents issued by government officials. The list is likely to include more documents so that no Indian citizen has to suffer unnecessarily."
But because of the government not doing a good job early on, the bad faith actors were able to exploit the situation and confuse/incite people (they already supressed anger from Article 370 abrogation & Ram Mandir decisions and were waiting for an opportunity like this)
Assam NRC/camps :
Context :
1. 1951: The first-ever NRC of India was published in Assam based on Census Report of 1951 containing mes of 80 lakh citizens.
2. 1985: Assam Accord signed by the Centre, the state, AASU and AAGSP in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the midnight of August 14. It stated, among other clauses, that foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall be expelled.
3. 2013: Supreme Court takes up APW petition, directs Centre, state to begin the process for updating NRC. NRC State Coordinator's office set up.
4. Detention centre in Assam came up due to high Court order: Former CM Tarun Gogoi
Tarun Gogoi belongs to Indian National Congress, opposition party to Modi's BJP.
So, to sum it up, this has been a long standing demand of Assamese citizens, Assam accord in 1985 under Indian National Congress Govt of Rajiv Gandhi, the detention centres in Assam started coming up under Congress govt as per HC order.
BJP started acting on NRC as per Supreme Court order of 2013.
The foreigner determination process in Assam is complicated and requires careful understanding.
Four things you’ve heard about NRC that aren’t strictly true
a. The NRC is anti-Muslim
b. The NRC is the brainchild of the BJP
c. Non-inclusion in NRC would mean instant detention
d. NRC-rejects will be deported to Bangladesh
a. People excluded from NRC include many Bengali Hindus
b. As shown above, BJP had nothing to with starting Assam NRC
c. People excluded from the NRC would get 120 days to present their cases at foreigners’ tribunals. The state would provide legal aid to the defendants through district legal service authorities. Only if these foreigners’ tribunal uphold the NRC authorities’ decision would people be detained.
d. Discussion of deporation/agreement is yet to be done
https://abhijitmkthoughts.blogspot.com/2020/03/delhi-2020-communal-riots-reality.html
Delhi 2020 communal riots - the reality
Please read this seperate article on it.
https://abhijitmkthoughts.blogspot.com/2020/03/delhi-2020-communal-riots-reality.html
Some actual valid criticisms:
1. Not the idea, but the implementation of demonetization. It was messed up and didn't serve the main purpose much - getting out black money. There weren't enough currency notes and people had to wait in long lines. It did serve the purposes of stopping terrorists from using duplicate notes and increasing digital transfer of money, but not so much the main purpose - getting out black money.
2. Inaction - not enough of speaking out/condemning the loose elements in his party at the lower level (not so much at the top) who speak sh*t -- be it non-sense or be it hate speech.
3. The push for Hindi as a national language. (and I'm fluent in Hindi and like the language a lot)
4. Partly to be blamed for slowdown of economy and not enough job creation from 2019 onwards. There are of course factors like global slowdown, performance of state govts etc. Which is why I mention the word partly.
4. Partly to be blamed for slowdown of economy and not enough job creation from 2019 onwards. There are of course factors like global slowdown, performance of state govts etc. Which is why I mention the word partly.
Then there are some things that I criticize, but they are not so black& white as people make it out to be :
1. Making patriotism/defending borders a more central point of the 2019 campaign than it should have been. I understand the reason for it - the Vajpayee govt focused on development as part of campaigning (went a little overboard), but just development didn't cut it and he BJP lost the re-election.
So apart from the development issues, Modi govt had tof ocus on the patriotism/protecting borders thing - to connect more on an emotional level.
2. The rhetoric on the National Registry of Citizens (NRC) and some aspects of it, though not necessarily the whole concept of maintaining a National Registry of Citizens.
This is by no means exhaustive and there are more criticisms I have, but illustrated with some examples here.
This is by no means exhaustive and there are more criticisms I have, but illustrated with some examples here.
Comments
Post a Comment