India – Transparency Battle

April 14, 2019

 

Nationalism promoted through Hindutva idelogy misleading the nation to the point of no return endanger democracy.

Young impressionable minds are indoctrinated sowing the seeds of hatred, violence and discord within and across the country.

The alarming jingoism premised in fundamentalism is a serious threat to national unity and sovereignty. Indian electorate coming together in restoring democracy, individual rights of all citizens barring prejudice, gender and social inequality with focus on economic opportunity and progress for all citizens especially those denied prospects, peace and bright future is the need of the hour.

India – Transparency Battle 

Padmini Arhant

What the vulnerable, impressionable and gullible electorate need to recognize is the hyenas (given the intense predator instincts compared to wolves) in sheep’s clothing. These voters as main targets in election for political parties especially the major ones premised on ends justifying the means are exploited to maximum. 

The political parties riding on media might not only the mainstream but also those poised as the so-called independent and investigative channels are partisan partners in this sham to advance devious agenda denying the desperate population their due rights and opportunity to development.

Under the guise of reporting, these scammers are shamefully deceiving them and captive audience through nuances and insinuations delivering the message from those whom they actually represent i.e. the political machinery in different configuration much to their own peril. 

As for the political establishment representing the national groups such as RSS led BJP and Dynasty Congress severely lacking in substance and integrity to debate on their failures and provide rescue strategy to alleviate misery and agony among overwhelming majority are hopelessly dependent on deception and communal divide.

The national political parties through paid media channels and social media employees conspicuously invested in falsehood and propaganda sparing none from Lord Ram to Bharat Mata ki Jai cliche and Indian defense force actions following Pulwama attack to name a few typically engaged in scoring political points without realizing the dubious stunts unveiling their real image in spotlight.

In terms of actual issues – the political parties repetitive stance evading challenges on practicality is evident in concerted efforts to deflect public attention. 

Notwithstanding the immediate refute on irrefutable facts brazenly handled through public relations contingency appearing on various media networks to combat any credible arguments on dysfunctional governance and leadership responsible for dire consequences ranging from demonetization, erratically implemented GST, to intelligence lapse and gross negligence that tantamount to dereliction of duty facilitating fatal attack on 44 national defense force personnel are merely the tip of the iceberg in the complete meltdown affecting significant population nationwide.

The leaderships ignoring the basic courtesy and humility speaks volume on their nature towards people and the nation they are elected to serve returning to campaign trail seeking election and re-election regardless of defunct trajectory.

In this context, the possibility on incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologizing to Indian electorate in many respects is analogous to moonwalking on earth. The demonetization debacle and false promise on crediting 15 lakhs rupees i.e. 1.5 million rupees in every citizens bank account and creating 2 crores or 20 million jobs in the economic sector, none of that delivered remains the bone of contention among disillusioned voters expected to be swept off their feet with PM’s costume and makeover doubled down with war rhetoric and pseudo bravado against PM Narendra Modi’s ally, host and well wisher Pakistan authority. 

It is never too late for those involved or implicated on matter with adverse ramifications on victims in politically motivated decisions to apologize and be remorseful.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology to India on demonetization and further back in his political career – the communal violence, murders and obstruction of justice related to Godhra riots in Gujarat would define the individual character or the lack thereof in building trust on the leadership.

Similarly, on the other side the Congress Party under Sonia Gandhi leadership having assumed power subsequent to her spouse and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was then the head of the government during ethnic cleansing of Sikhs and later Sonia Gandhi joining forces with Sri Lanka’s former President and Commander-in-Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa in genocide of Tamils in Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka merit apology directly from the decision makers resigned to unapologetic status as their prerogative in politics.

In Tamilnadu, the celebrity Kamal Haasan’s fringe political party designed and funded to split vote base favoring the national  player RSS’s BJP considering both entities’ commonality on anti-muslim and upper caste syndrome with the actor performing to the script sporting Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s mustache is classic cinematic infusion in politics in sheer violation of election rules to refrain from using, posing and suggesting defense force endorsement to sway votes in the otherwise anti-BJP state.

Perhaps the script missing on the important Hindi idiom – mustache and truth cannot be hidden forever. 

Last but not the least, the uphill battle on transparency with no immediate effective measures or willingness from the relevant authorities i.e. Supreme Court of India and the Election Commission allowing political parties in particular not barring communication outlets masqueraded as independent journalism continue business as usual without any information on donors and stake holders behind the scene.

As a result, the so-called free and fair election with enormous black money, counterfeit notes and anonymous electoral bonds protecting donors identity raise questions on the validity of process in the world’s largest polls.

The remedy to contagious problem differed until post election in itself is a jeopardy in a democratic system.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

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