Placate or prostrate, Modi can't win public trust

It is strange that the Prime Minister begs the farmers to trust him. It is true that people have not given power to the BJP because of its ideology or track record or in recognition of its extraordinary efficiency in addressing the crippling issues of the vast majority of the people of the country.

It was purely because the entire country was upset with the corrupt regime of the Congress and the inability of the Opposition to project a leader who could lead a team and tackle the affairs to the satisfaction of all. So, it is merely an accident that the BJP could come to power. Right from the time it assumed office, the party is openly exhibiting its commitment to the rich and hostility to the poor and the toiling mass.

The first thing it did was to do away with the Wealth Tax indicating its agenda. Then without any proper planning, it came with demonetisation which took away the lives of more than hundred, stripped off the employment of millions, ensured the closure of thousands of Medium and Small Scale Industries hitting the economy of the country as well as the livelihood of the have nots.

None of the reasons the Prime Minister quoted could be proved at the end. Similar unplanned major imposition was introduction of GST. The council is still not in a position to make it a smooth affair. The experience is that some increase in the tax collection is boasted of but still it is not able to establish as a fool proof system. Till now what is to be taxed to what extent is not clear.

When condom is tax free life-saving and essential medicines and medical equipment are taxed, which amounts to taxing the people for having fallen sick, which is neither an affair of luxury nor a wanton act of the people. The Prime Minister announced with a massive publicity his government's health policy, which has ultimately turned out to be a big bonanza for the corporate health care institutions and insurance companies.

The education policy the Prime Minister had announced exposed the hidden agenda of his party than addressing the real issues involved in the system. The policy paves way for more private players taking the centre stage than equipping the government institutions in the field. When the labour force in the country is expecting provisions for their better livelihood, the Prime Minister came with the shocking Codes that removed 44 Labour Acts and placed 4 Labour codes in its place.

Instead of healing the wounds, amputation was done leaving the entire toiling mass as enslaved lot. In the name of power reforms, the small farmers are left without even the small benefits and supports they were deriving from the government. The subject being a State related one implementation is ensured by coercion. States would not be entitled to avail overdraft facility in case of not implementing the reforms.

A clear example is AP, a State plunged in funds crunch due to creation of a new State. On one hand, financial assistance assured during bifurcation is not extended and on the other, the State is coerced to implementation of power reforms. The State, naturally, had to succumb to pressure.

Though information about Covid-19 had been flashed much earlier the Prime Minister did not take it seriously and assured the nation to clear of the virus in 21 days with the mere lockdown programme without any other arrangements for meeting the challenge. The result is more than a lakh had to die, millions had to face the wrath of the pandemic, crores left in the lurch without livelihood provisions. His characteristic unplanned announcement of lockdown plunged crores of migrant labours in untold hardships with historic and inevitable long march with their families to native places, nil wage or shelter, no transportation till the court intervened, livelihood issues etc.

The media has exposed all the pre-planned arrangements like acquiring lands, building huge godowns, registering companies to deal with acquiring, stocking and trading farm products by a few corporate managements. The Prime Minister stands again exposed with his farm reforms as they are brought to help the corporate managements rather than the small and medium farmers.

The logics put forth to convince the agitating farmers are just theories but in practice it is believed to be an effort to monopolise entire farming sector by a few corporates. When the government is seeking funds from all source including from workers to contribute days wage, Prime Minister goes ahead with Central Vista project with a huge expenditure for a luxurious home for the Prime Minister and a new Parliament, buying most modern planes for his foreign tours, buying arms etc., which cannot be a priority at all for any government in a situation like the one the country is facing.

When the leading economists are suggesting the government to push cash in the hands of the working class and the poor to spend and revive the deplorably dwindling economy, the Prime Minister still pushes huge funds in production sector leaving the market to dry further. When the lives of 20 soldiers were lost in the border tussle with China, the Prime Minister says, 'No intrusion, no aggression and not an inch is lost', which was proved to be totally false.

With all such activities that are hostile to the public but designed to benefit the favoured few, the Prime Minister requesting the farmers to trust him is just a futile attempt. In none of the elections held recently, his party could produce better results indicating the withering trust of the people. It is time to change policies to be people-oriented instead of corporate-oriented, which would enhance people's trust on him. Because it is the work, people are looking for not mere words.

A G Rajmohan, H L C Colony, Anantapur