28 March, 2024

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Modi’s Performance & Renewal Of Mandate

By S. Sivathasan

S. Sivathasan

“Like the iron image of an inevitable fate, going ahead to its predestined goal”. This was how Jawaharlal Nehru described the determined march of a western leader some eight decades ago. With more formidable constraints and restraints endemic to a democratic system, Modi has acquitted himself with remarkable resoluteness. In his governance, India saw unprecedented forward movement deriving from his leadership and commitment. The PM and the cabinet labored together for this remarkable achievement within a span of five years.

Reform and Expectation

What is the worst moment for a government? “When it begins to reform”. So said Lord Acton the eminent historian, very perceptively. Worse still we would say when growth moves in tandem with reform and a clean-up. To this challenge, another strenuous five years, Modi and his lieutenants have already braced up. A century ago, Ten Days in Russia Shook the World. Modi and his team have 100 days more for the Lok Sabha elections, to shake India and to astonish the world. This space is a very long time. Democratic means is the path of choice. No less than 620 million will cast their votes to decide on the winner, in this Indian sub-continental war.

In strategy and tactic the impending Lok Sabha election is no different from a war. It is fought to win, not for a display of peacetime ethics. The battle is already joined. At an advantage in any election in any part of the world, is the ruling party perched in the seat of governance. Bemoaning this unalterable fact of life is pointless. Equally irrational is to suggest that a ruling government should remain motionless in the last segment of its term. To this behest of the opposition, the governing party’s telling rebuttal was, it never got elected for 4 years and 8 months but was given a 5-year term. Its mandate is to govern till the last day. More challenging is a repeat of the mandate it is seeking.  

Ceaseless Toil

The last segment has already begun to see an avalanche of political and electoral developments, very disquieting if not devastating to Congress and the Opposition. Little wonder they are still in a daze. Most stunning to the country, particularly to the generality of its citizens is the Interim Budget 2019/20, presented in parliament on February 1, 2019. A sea change is already seen.  It came after 55 months of unremitting work. Modi’s commitment was that he labored selflessly for 18 hours a day, all 365 days of the year, without a day’s leave. In all foreign trips he travelled by night sleeping in the plane. Health and stamina that disciplined life and yoga regimen gave him, he placed at the service of the nation. 

Ever Enlarging Budget

The budget is to the tune of Rs 27.842 trillion. It shows an increase of Rs 3.420 trillion over the previous year. More impressively, a massive Rs 10.210 trillion increase compared to the first Modi budget of 2014/15. An annual increase of around 17% said Arun Jaitley the Finance Minister. A whole corpus of reforms initiated and pursued with verve, consistency and continuity, account for the best part of the increase. In the perception of the world’s largest electorate, this exponential performance is the work of Modi, the Cabinet and the BJP. The Congress and the opposition are at their wits end to understand how the funds were mobilized.

This expansive flow into the coffers of the state over a near five-year term is to be attributed to several reform measures adopted by the Modi government. Many of them initiated by Modi and very capable Ministers, were pursued till their logical end. The entire term of 55 months so far, displayed policy vigour, in sharp contrast to the previous 60 months of paralytic somnolence that afflicted the Congress and its allies. Bane of corruption was getting banished together with mere talkin the previous dispensation. Finding no lapse in governance, the leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi whimsically invoked the Raphael fighter plane affair. He and his canards were sturdily demolished by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in Lok Sabha itself. When Rahul raised his head in February ’19, it was smashed again by Nirmala, invoking a rebuttal from the former Defence Secretary.

Aadhaar Scheme 

Technology has left no sphere of activity untouched. The initiative of the Congress government for installing the scheme was great and timely. It was launched on 28th January 2009. Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys placed it on a sound foundation. He was made Chairman of the institution carrying the status of a cabinet minister.

Aadhaar (Foundation in English) is assignment of a 12-digit unique number, to a citizen in India. Seeing its ever-expanding scope, Modi government gave it legislative backing in March 2016. The scheme is transforming the way in which citizens interact with the government in the digital age. It has now enveloped the whole country with a coverage of 99% of adults. 

As of end May 2014, when Congress government ceased to be, Aadhaar authentication was for 88.2 million citizens in 64 months. Modi government has taken Aadhaar cards issued to 1,210 million. A range of functions of the government have now been liberated from the fleecing officialdom and the ever- conspicuous middlemen. Digital technology with its vast sweep has made governance close, proactive and democracy direct. 

A quarter century of computer education, IT spread supported by infrastructure development and the assiduous efforts of the Modi government have brought these about. In their wake are a few molehills of disaffection, made a mountain of by a segment of malcontent media. The robust section has however braced up to the development side and to the delivery of the government. 

Corruption Now at Bay

Not even with the firing squad has China been able to eliminate corruption. Modi Government is employing technology to reduce it. Aadhaar has helped strike off 130,000 bogus teachers from a cadre of 1.4 million staff in colleges and universities. Fake pensioners in lakhs have been eliminated from the list of made up beneficiaries. It is reported that 230,000 ‘Benami Companies’ – a ruse for tax evasive proxy formations – have had their registrations cancelled. Till March 2018, duplicate and bogus ration cards numbering 27.5 million were eliminated. They were meant to obtain highly subsidized food grains. Digitization of cards and linking it to Aadhaar helped Modi’s relentless anti-corruption drive. This single pursuit alone saved the government an annual Rs175 billion. The Minister of Finance estimates the savings in all, to government at Rs billions if not surpassing a trillion or more.

Two notorious middlemen implicated in aircraft purchases – alleged Boeing and Airbus – and turned fugitives roaming foreign countries, were bought back last week. A third Vijaya Mallya, a fugitive in UK is to be extradited soon. The Home Secretary has already granted approval. High profile accused, P.Chithambaram, his son Karthi and Priyanga Gandhi’s husband Vadra are under intense interrogation for financial crimes. The Police Commissioner W Bengal is now being grilled about the Rs multi-billion Saratha Chit Bond scam. The above are just a few to give an idea of the cleansing process of Modi. 

Elimination of bogus personnel from the government’s benefit stream now brings massive support to the polity and the government. Inevitably these hounded out hordes have found a sanctuary in anti-national parties, swelling their vote banks. ‘Looters of India unite, you have nothing to lose but your loot. You have an election to win’, is their call. In the most recent speech in Lok Sabha, Modi in his vote of thanks to the President’s Address declared, “The Grand Alliance is brought about by compulsion. They want to save their skins from an individual (Modi), who wants to ensure that those who have looted the Motherland are brought to justice”.  

Economic Development

Unprecedented statistics apart, are visible constructions and facilities for the people. High among them are: super expressways, highways and roads. Increased laning of which 12 lane Delhi Meerut greenfield expressway and Mumbai expressway are a tribute to modernism. Elevated expressways and viaducts are now a commonplace. Several Metros, both elevated and underground in several cities are reducing congestion in roads inevitable under accelerated development. High speed rail, Delhi – Ahmedabad, is under way with Japanese assistance. Port expansion with modernization and linkage to road and rail is another major effort at speedy connectivity. Air connectivity is proceeding apace. Investor facilitation is getting a commendable boost.

Surge in the economy had a comprehensive sweep. Many a fiscal measure brought in far greater revenue. Non-Resident Indians now remit the world’s largest amount of foreign exchange, displacing China from that position. Foreign Direct Investment has shown a steady increase annually. Of late, Ease of doing Business rose 44 places in just one year. Demonetization, the ramifications of which and the long-term windfalls effusing therefrom were intelligible but to a few, continues to destroy the eco-system of corruption in very significant ways. 

GST is the next of the two earth shattering measures taken up by the government and seeing unflagging implementation. “One nation, one tax’’ is the credo. A body of 7 taxes is now unified. A pack of loopholes emasculating the tax system is now sealed. For January 2019, the GST brought in Rs 1 trillion plus revenue.   The custom barriers prevalent among states are no more. Bothersome travails and enervating delays are eliminated. The economic lifeblood flows freely and unruffled through the nation’s arterial network. Federal India is now set on the highroad of more real unification. India’s GDP in April 2014 was $2.039 trillion. In October 2018 it reached $ 2.848 trillion. Indian economy is growing at a rate, highest in the world.  

Economic and Social Progress

How much of economic progress has manifested in social improvement? The Budget 2018/19 announced a project, a stunner to the world. A free Health Insurance Scheme that would benefit 500 million citizens from the poorer sections. The beneficiaries are 100 million families, each looked after according to need, to a ceiling of Rs. 500,000/- per year. Faithful to the pledge, the scheme is under implementation from September last year. 

Rural sanitation now has 98.7 % coverage. Every family in rural India has access to electricity. Local roads are now 91% complete. Railway accidents were 43.5% at level crossings. Now these are 100% eliminated.

Advances in high end education are receiving great attention with budgetary support to match. What are the needs? Robots, Artificial Intelligence, Institutes of Technology, Institutes of Management, Institutes of Medicine, to name a few.

Robots – The principal drivers of growth are; automotive and electronics. Worldwide, stock of Industrial Robots was 2.1 million in 2017, which is estimated to grow to 3.8 million by 2021. India well ahead in both drivers had about 3 thousand in 2018. India’s estimated stock in 2021 is 6,000. Industrial robots per 10,000 employees are 631 in South Korea and 488 in Singapore. Germany is third with 309 and next is Japan with 303. India with 3 units and at 44th place, has a vast stride to make. A repeat mandate for Modi will bridge the gap.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – World market size was $ 7.35 billion in 2018. Estimated for 2025 is $ 89.84 billion. India in a push for AI has provided Rs 4 billion, an increase from Rs 1.29 billion, for the creation of 20 world class institutions. Niti Aayog (Govt. Think Tank) will steer the project through.

Substantially enhanced provision for IIts for technology, IIMs for management and AIIMSs for Medical Sciences proclaim the government’s well-placed drives.

Conclusion

The above account is but a fraction of a broad survey. The writer had to wade through a welter of information in the public domain, much of which is tendentiously presented. However, the picture that emerges is crystal clear. Emphasis is placed on five years of economic progress and corruption sequestration, to show convincingly how the change is financed. As noted earlier, budget size has very nearly doubled in five years. Material evidence is greatly visible. Ease of living is being experienced. 

On October 7th2018, my first article for the Modi Election series appeared in Colombo Telegraph. In that article ‘What will the Voters’ Response to Modi’s … in 2019’ I said “An optimistic 300 + is an assessment for the moment. Picture will be clearer by February 2019”. Now I say 300 + is for certain. Three more months of electoral churning and Modi surge till May, will make it happen. 

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Latest comments

  • 18
    2

    I had read the Author’s article on the Indian elections back in 2014 where he predicted a Modi wave. I thought he was a dreamer. But he proved correct. I would therefore pay attention to this article.

    I consider Modi a possible contender despite the consolidation of the opposition vote in certain states without however ruling out the opposition. It’s a close call and a case of 50:50.

    The BJP lost the state elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh a few months ago. But that was after 15 years of ruling two of the three states where the inevitable anti-incumbency sets in. And yet, the lead of the Congress in terms of total vote share in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh was just 0.5% in one state while the BJP actually led the vote share by 1% in another state. The BJP therefore can easily claw back a decent showing in both states. The opposition performance in Karnataka has been dismal. Here again, the BJP recently won a plurality albeit short of an overall majority. The BJP has governed Gujarat for 20 years and will likely win that state once again. The Communists would lose Kerala to the Congress on account of the Sabarimala issue. Its therefore not gloom and doom for the BJP. The question is how would Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal go?

  • 0
    12

    Modi culled bogus Teachers from the Pay Roll, to reduce Government Spending
    And culled bogus Pensioners from the Dole to reduce the Poverty level.
    How cool?

    I checked the stats on Poverty in China and India.
    China has only 1,9 % under USD 1.9 a day . This is a oolossal reduction from 88.3 % in 1981.

    Poor Hndians in contrast will have to wait till 2030 .
    Even then there will be 3% under the Poverty Line.
    Wonder how many are there now, with his Super Duper Politics of Modi and his Lieutenants ?

    BTW our own Yahapalana Finance Minister said tthat he Colombo BM smuggle or rather re export Indonesian Karunka to Hindians without paying our Customs
    And pockets LKR 140 Billion a year..

    Wonder how Modi’s FM hasn’t picked this which not only cost our Yahapalan Taxpayers but also cost the Hindians LKR 140 Billion?..

    • 7
      11

      Chinese are much more smarter people than Indians. Even in IT Indians can’t beat them. Unfortunately Chinese are not fluent in English as Indians are

    • 1
      0

      KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera

      Are you alright?
      By the way you were the only Mahinda’s b***s carrier who was gloating before 2015 about Sri Lanka attaining middle income status.
      I am still awaiting to see that happening.

  • 3
    8

    Modi is lucky that he did not have to struggle a lot since Indians changed tremendously during last couple of decades particularly last decade, mainly due to IT and entrepreneurship. Indians started to think different, younger generation started to give importance to their own dreams rather than to caste systems, races and religions while casteism and religious based discrimination still exist..

  • 3
    10

    modi should be kicked out.he has not made india competitive at all.It is ranked 58 in competitiveness.US no 1.China 28.Japan 5.Germany 3.Russia 43.Indonesia 45.tell me any major economy other than brazil that india has beaten?A consolation prize is sri lanka 85.

    in corruption,india is still one of the most corrupt.India is ranked 78.China 87 and sri lanka 89.Look at japan ranked 18 and germany and UK jointly 11th.Just goes to show that unbridaled corruption will never allow our type of corrupt countries to ever enter the first world.This demon has to be slayed.

    • 13
      0

      Sumanasekere, Fathima, and Shankar – all Sinhalese assuming Muslim and Tamil names should realize that the Sinhalese face an existential crisis today. Sri Lanka has become a battle ground for international actors and drug gangs. It’s on its way to becoming a failed state and banana republic, thanks to the irrational and barbaric Mahavamsa mentality.

    • 7
      10

      on 28 October 2014, The Guardian quoted Modi’s (PM) address to a gathering of doctors and other professionals at a hospital in Mumbai:

      “We worship Lord Ganesha. There must have been some plastic surgeon at that time who got an elephant’s head on the body of a human being and began the practice of plastic surgery.”

      and

      “We all read about Karna in the Mahabharata. If we think a little more, we realize that the Mahabharata says Karna was not born from his mother’s womb. This means that genetic science was present at that time. That is why Karna could be born outside his mother’s womb.”

      • 7
        11

        ghk
        To add to your info:
        According to the puranas, Siva unknowingly beheaded the child that Parvati had created. The head was lost and there was no way of sticking it back, and to subdue Parvathi’s fury he ordered his followers to bring the head of the first living thing they saw. that happened to be am elephant. It was not simple plastic surgery, it was also a feat in head shrinking to fit the body of a child. (Mother India under Modi Raj has one more claim thus.)
        Ganesha most probably derives from a totem from West India (Maratha country) and rose to glory in the 5th or 6th Century to be the prime deity in temple worship.
        *
        Karna was the child of a premarital relationship of a young girl, too curious to know what her six boons were. (They concerned the blessing of 6 children by her as future her husband to be could not father children. She had children by Soorya (before marriage to Pandu) Yama, Vayu and Indra. The remaining two she let Pandu’s second wife have and she had two children by the Avwini Kumaras.)
        Karna (like Moses) was abandoned in a casket to float on the river.
        *
        Does that mean adultery was accepted practice in the holy land of the Hindus?

        • 12
          4

          Common Sivasegaram. Mythology was never meant to be taken literally. Stick to the article, will you and cut the Maoist nonsense. Let’s free Tibet and the Uighars, shall we? Your hatred of the religion of your parents shows.

          • 3
            9

            G boy,
            Your comment is more appropriate for people who make history out of mythology.
            My response was to the obviously stupid comment by a guardian of Hindutva, reported in the Guardian.
            *
            I know well that mythology is not to be taken literally.
            But mythology reflects the ideology of the time. What was in practice or considered as possible or desirable find favourable comment in mythology. To that extent, it is pertinent.
            What will be foolish is to impose our own values on an ancient society.
            *
            I am no critic of polyandry or polygamy in a society where it is common practice. (Among several Nepal’s mountain tribes, polyandry is the norm, as a man’s life is uncertain). What matters in any relationship is honesty.
            *
            I fear that the Tamil middle class of today suffers a serious deficit of humor.
            Hindu gods had better humor I suspect: devotees, for centuries, got away with sharp satire and pranks at the expense of Hindu gods.
            Have you heard of the great poet kALamEkam (காளமேகம்)?

            • 8
              0

              Sivasegaram!

              You speak of humour. I don’t think you are funny.

              Why don’t you refute the points made by Mr. Sivathasan rather than go off on an tangent on mythology. I have seen your comments here and elsewhere. You loathe the Hindu religion.

              And by the way, I am not Tamil (middle class or what ever) and certainly not male! So no – I have not heard of your poet.

              • 9
                0

                Girlie

                Thank you.

                Many routinely belittle India and the Hindu whenever the opportunity arises. Just look at this very comments section. It’s now the norm. The Guardian that SJ mentions is one such media outlet. SJ is entitled to his views (you hint he’s a follower of Mao Ze Dong) but individuals like him and Kumar David dare not comment on Islam or the Pope in like manner.

                Every religion has it’s stupidity. Yet such people only poke fun at Hinduism. The Mahavamsa says that the Buddha flew to Sri Lanka not once but thrice. In one instance he banished the poor Yakkhas into the sea just like Jesus banished a herd of pigs over the cliff. Islam says that Mohammed flew on a winged horse to heaven where he met Moses. Catholics believe that Mary physically rose to heaven upon her death – the Assumption. Jesus walked on water. The last book of the Bible is all about Armageddon. Why not call all that myth?

                • 0
                  6

                  MA
                  It was not the Guardian that made an ass of Modi.
                  The paper reproduced what he said.
                  He has dropped many more ‘gems’ in recent times, some to which Prof Kumar David had referred.
                  It is not ‘Hinduism’ that is the issue. A Marxist is very tolerant towards religions, as long as they are not used for oppression. The term “opium of the masses” was not a negative comment as some imagine. Opium in Marx’s time was used more as a pain killer, not a hallucinatory drug.
                  *
                  The attack was not on the faith itself but on the abuse of mythology.
                  It is people who are badly hooked on one religion that attack other faiths.

                  • 5
                    0

                    The Guardian reproduced a speech made in humor in Hindi at a hospital function. Kumar David, the newspaper and you took it out of context. That does not exonerate the PM who should have know better on what to joke about and where. But it was not intended as a serious comment. The Guardian missed that.

                    • 3
                      3

                      Sorry Mate, MA
                      Mody says very little without purpose.
                      If Mody was ignorant he could be forgiven, as ignorance is no crime. But he is propagating newfangled myths.
                      *
                      His Vedic Science line has been consistently plugged by the BJP.
                      Has Mody denounced even one of the recent Vedic Science utterances emanating from his political camp?
                      In fact he is cynically promoting it.
                      BYW, the Guardian reporter was not at the function I guess. It very probably picked it from an Indian news medium.
                      *
                      The rural conservative Hindu is also gullible, and Mody has it both ways: Modernist defenders dismissing it as a joke and the villager accepting as profound trut about the greatness of India.

                  • 4
                    0

                    SJ,

                    You have not responded to my point – why is it that the Guardian, Kumar David and you, only “expose” and poke fun at Hinduism? The humor of Tamil literature was at another space and time. Jehan, Sumanasekere, Amarasiri, Edwin Rodrigo, David and you write in a polarized context of venom and poison, adding to the misinformation and hatred.

                    • 1
                      2

                      I do not insult faiths, although I do not share in any religious faith.
                      But what is meant to deceive people is something serious and should be contested.
                      I place Hindutva mafia, BBS and other Buddhist fabnatics, Islamic fundamentalits and Christian fundamentalists at the same level. I have scant regard for people using religion for personal profit.
                      *
                      BTW, have you read all my writings (CT is a tiny part)?
                      Will it delight you if I tell you that I earned the wrath of a catholic priest sometime ago on these pages?
                      *
                      Can you give an example of anything ‘toxic’ about any faith in my writings?
                      If people are laughing at you, either ignore them or check if there is something to what they seem to laugh at.

              • 2
                6

                G lady,
                Pleased to learn that you are a female.
                Humor is not just about being funny. Any fool can be funny.
                Humor is serious business.
                *
                The comment on mythology was in response to another above it referring to a comment by Modi in the Guardian.
                *
                FYI, I had drawn attention elsewhere to Sivathasan’s flawed analysis re election prospects based on recent data.
                *
                As for Tamil literary approach to gods, it was very healthy and full of good humor for a long time. It drew on tradition and made fun of mythology without being offensive. That I call good humor.
                It is worth learning Tamil for that alone.
                *
                You seem very caring about ‘freeing’ (meaning secession) of Uighurs and Tibetans. I wonder if you have the same prescription to a people close to home. (BTW, I do not.)

                • 1
                  0

                  SJ, how can I read your writings when I don’t know your name. Do tell.

                  • 0
                    0

                    MA
                    Thou can search these pages and thou shall find.

  • 5
    0

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has coined a new slogan for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls: ‘Abki Baar 400 ke Paar’, for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to exceed 400 seats in the election. In 2014, the NDA won 336 of the 543 seats. The BJP in the Alliance won 282 seats. While some say no world leader is more popular than Modi, a India Today-Karvy Insights Mood of the Nation poll found that the NDA is nowhere close to winning 272 seats to form the government, if elections were held today. the BJP would get 237 seats, a fairly good outcome, while the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would bag 166 seats. Parties that are not in either of the two coalitions would get 140 seats.

    However, as Mr Sivathasan points out, 100 more days remain for the election. Despite several setbacks, the NDA regime’s economic record seems fairly satisfactory. Yet, the recent Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to change the fundamental basis of the Indian Republic, a blatant attempt to move India towards a Hindu Rashtra, which would affect its prevailing racial and religious unitedness.

    Prior to elections, the NDA is said to announce measures estimated to cost more than Rs 1 lakh crore. In 2014, Modi implied ensuring Rs 15 lakh in every poor Indian’s bank account, which was pure rhetoric. This time, the BJP is rumoured to be planning an election-eve launch of a ‘Universal Basic Income’ scheme guaranteeing a small cash amount to every non-affluent Indian. If true, this could be replacing existing Indian welfare schemes. Yet, some may ask: where is the whole chapati we demand, the dignified and secure jobs, the living wages, the food rations etc.?

    However, the NDA’s capacity to bounce back appears to lie with the BJP more than with the opposition.

    • 0
      7

      Lional
      Is the India Today forecast precise? (India Today is an utterly pro-BJP outfit.)
      The last 5 State Assembly elections tell another story.
      Let us await the two that are due shortly.
      The BJP will indulge in more communal politics to retain its base in the Hindu-Hindi Belt (aka Cow Belt).

  • 5
    11

    I wonder how the BJP flunked at the last five state elections including three states in the Cow Belt, the bastion of Hindutva.
    The Rafale fighter jet deal is just unravelling with the Hindu’s exposure of Modi’s role in the scam.

  • 14
    4

    IT will be in the interests of future India and the stability of the South Asian region for the Modi government to remain power for at least two more terms. It’s positive side far outweighs the negative side.

    • 0
      9

      SP
      Modi government can destroy the country in one more term.
      The Indian voter may not give it the chance.

    • 6
      13

      In what way are you capable to amplify, justify and explain how the corrupt fascistic cow vigilante Modi government would be beneficial for the stability of the SE Asian region?
      Did Modi’s demonetisation or the Raffael deal enrich you?
      Are you in bed with Yogi Adityanath?

      • 11
        0

        Uthungan,

        I simply expressed my political opinion and there is nothing personal in it. I cannot simply understand how it irked you to the extent of maligning me unnecessarily. For the stability of the South Asian region it is necessary that the major power in the region namely India should have a strong government and not a hung parliament. As at present, only the Modi government with the impressive record of performance as so well illustrated by Sivathason with facts and figures can achieve that. Not the Congress or any other party.

        • 2
          6

          SP
          The writer should have added Modi’s demonitization disaster, the Make it in India fiasco, surge in communal violence etc.
          Can the author explain what happened in the last set of state assembly elections and why the BJP was mauled?

          • 5
            0

            Read Siri Naga’s comment above. Anti incumbency after 15 years in power. The party barely lost though.

            • 0
              0

              MA
              Not as simple as that.
              Even if it is so, what will it mean for the parliamentary election? A BJP sweep?

          • 1
            0

            SJ

            “The writer should have added Modi’s demonitization disaster, ……… surge in communal violence”

            Modi should have learned it from weeping widow’s similar Demonetisation disaster in the early 1970s and the 1956 – 1958 communal violence.

  • 2
    8

    Why do I get too many down votes when I say something against India? Are there too many “patriotic Indians” among Sri Lankans?

  • 5
    1

    A searching analysis by the essayist. Unfortunately, the system of voting in the Indian states has been on the basis of Thattu-Maru. Next in turn would be Congress,until they are replaced at the next election.So on and so forth!
    By the way, is our erstwhile reader SJ God fearing or God is SJ fearing?!

  • 4
    0

    India Today is pro Congress

    • 0
      1

      It promoted BJP in 2014.
      Check it out.

      • 3
        0

        Alliances change in five years.

        • 1
          0

          MA
          You are right, there is a pro-AAP Pro-Congress slant now.
          There appears to have been a shift.

  • 0
    5

    My dear Christie,

    Mahavansa is the gospel truth. Please please do not belittle our ancient history which is the best documented history in the entire world.

    • 0
      0

      Is Mahavansa a holy book of sorts?
      Do you believe the story of the birth of Vijaya’s parents?
      *
      It has fact; it has fiction: above all, it has Mahayana v. Hinayana politics as well.

      • 1
        2

        SJ

        Things are changing.
        Hindians are following their erstwhile Sri Lankan scholars.
        Hindians believe Mahabarat, Ramayana, Sivapurana, ………….. are part of Hindian history just as Mahawamsa is considered as the true history of Sinhala People.

  • 3
    2

    Mr Lionel Bopage the leftist who introduced terrorism in 1971 seems upset good Modi will win again. Bopage wants Tamilnadu to have a Jayalalitha type figure so Tiger training camps can flourish.

    • 1
      0

      M
      When did the late Jayalalitha love the LTTE?

      • 1
        0

        SJ

        “When did the late Jayalalitha love the LTTE?”

        Jayalalitha neither loved them nor hate them. LTTE was another useful tool for her to sustain a popular persona.

        She like MGR and Karunanithy before her, understood what Sultanate of New Delhi expected of her.

        While she was in power she never prevented LTTE’s supplies reaching this island.

  • 2
    3

    Sivthasan.. yawn..

    A staring defeat inevitable. BJP will loose it’s major share in up Bihar chatisgargh. That will make it limping around 150. The contest post 2019 will be Congress colaition vs 3rd front .

    • 1
      1

      M
      The BJP is losing ground for sure, but not as fast as you like.
      The Third Front has to get its act together.
      Earlier TFs messed up twice. Let us see what happens in 2019
      *
      What I fear is that regional parties will dominate in most of Maharashtra, W.Bengal the South and the East.
      Congress has been insensitive to regional issues, including its internal factionalism that led to major splits.

      • 0
        1

        SJ I predicted every election outcome precisely as far as i know the politics of the land. my prediction at best BJP to score 150 and congress around 80, BSP plus SP 75, DMK 30, CPI 45, TDP 18, TRP 21, BJD 16. There will be a major sweep in south against bjp because of its lack of regional sensitivity

    • 1
      0

      Manisekaran

      Good to hear from you.
      Please tell us about Seeman.
      Whats wrong with him?
      Is there anyway you could make him talk sense?
      Can you get him to define a Tamil?
      Is he a Tamil?
      Is he actually a Hindian at heart, like VaiKo?

      • 0
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        Hi Buddy,

        How are you? I have no clues about him as I am not part of NTK. He is tamil by birth no doubt.

  • 3
    1

    If you dislike BJP or are alien to politics, Keep that oddity to yourself.

    • 1
      2

      C
      Are you some sort of “Opinion Commissar”?

      • 1
        1

        C
        Looks like you are and one of your deputies is at work.

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    SJ.

    I am concerned for your safety..RAW knows your GPS.
    I would suggest that you keep a low profile,even though keeping a low profile,as most people know, is like being a fish out of water.

    • 0
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      Pygs
      Thanks, but you cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
      *
      A junior colleague in the early 1970s, out of goodness of heart, warned me that the CID is collecting data about me and asked me to be careful.
      What could I do? I did my usual.
      The CID caught up with me in 1979 but my mild mannered boss put them off and asked me to be careful.
      One can be cautious but it takes the fun out of life.
      Tell me, is RAW as nasty as some people on these pages who cannot accept a dissenting voice?

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