I haven’t been a Modi supporter. I found his campaign too “anti-Congress” instead of telling us what he’s going to do, and I was repulsed by his snooping on a woman without her knowledge using state resources. I’ve also been worried that Modi might become another Manmohan Singh with his entire agenda hijacked by the RSS and BJP crazies while he looks on helplessly. But now that the BJP has won an absolute majority in Parliament, it’s time to look on the bright side. Sure, stuff might not turn out the way we want, but we have nothing to lose from hoping…and everything to gain.
For starters, let’s wipe the slate clean. Regardless of my misgivings, I think we need to put all our support behind Modi as he hopefully tries to clean up the mess left by the Congress. The economy is in shambles, inflation is out of control, and there is complete policy paralysis. Amongst this, the BJP has won an absolute majority – something no party has been able to do in the last 30 years. Finally, there is the potential to do tremendous good. Let’s hope Modi doesn’t drop the ball. And we must do our bit by not getting in his way.
Sure, the whole country will be watching very carefully to see if any of the popular fears will come true. Will Modi implement the RSS agenda? Will he crush dissent and free speech? My personal opinion is that Modi is a smart guy who wants to get re-elected. And the population has shown that it has very little tolerance for extremism. Modi has found a winning formula – development. His entire campaign has revolved around it and he would be a fool to divert away from that. Let’s hope he’s smart enough to realize this and has enough power to cow the rowdy elements in his party.
Finally, there is the potential to do tremendous good. Let’s hope Modi doesn’t drop the ball. And we must do our bit by not getting in his way.
But through all this wariness, I think it’ll best serve the interests of the country for us to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think hope is a good thing and we get it far too seldom. I had hope when the AAP won Delhi. My hopes were dashed to the ground as Kejriwal proved incompetent and showed no interest in economics or development. He only wanted subsidies and hand outs along with grand standing. Now I have a chance to hope again with Modi. I refuse to let pessimism get in the way. Right now, it’s fresh. It’s a clean slate. All past wrongs have been brushed aside and there is real hope.
I don’t expect miracles. I know that the PM actually has very little control over what happens in our daily lives. Most of that is taken care of at the state level. But there are pressing issues that require a strong government. Stuff that coalition politics would never allow. Like a uniform civil code. Like strong fiscal policy. Even state subjects like police reforms and FDI in retail can be pushed far more vigorously with a powerful center.
So my reservations about Modi aside, I’m now making a conscious choice. To be hopeful and optimistic. The future isn’t set and I know there is a chance that I’ll have to eat my words later on. But right now..at this very moment…nothing is set. I choose to believe in the best. I choose to view the future with bright eyes. And it’s because I so seldom get a chance to be this way, it feels good!
Well, Friends lets not just sit back and wait to watch Modi change the face of India……Because He alone or or his party’s government alone cannot bring the change we need. If we want what we need then we got to get our hands on the job as well. Let’s try to help Modi in building our nation, lets try to be Honest,Hard-working,Broader-thinking, Socially and Nationally aware individuals who would refuse Bribes, discourage littering, preserve our culture and ethos, and most importantly do our best to help our Nation achieve what it deserves. Let us all think…..”what we can do for our country, before asking, what our country can do for us”. So friends lets take a pledge Today that we shall sacrifice some of our time and effort everyday to make our Nation a better place, What say?
“All past wrongs have been brushed aside” Um why? One message the world took away after the Holocaust was “never forget”. And so we too should never forgot the horrors of our own (quite recent) past.
Mr Modi has a huge majority and can do as he pleases with or without our support. With the opposition in Parliament barely there, I am sure he will.
If “development” means grabbing land and handing it to the private sector without much thought to those dispossessed of their land, I’m sure there will be plenty of that. Hopefully those baying for development will see the fruits of some of that even if their poorer brethren do not.
In reply to The Bride
I’m not suggesting we forget that Godhra happened. How could we? But yes – I’m suggesting that we indulge in selective compartmentalization right now. I think it’s better to hope for the best even if you expect the worst…
Hi M(i)an,
Love the way you string words along!!! Not a word out of place- and every word on target.
My heartiest compliments.
These lines below were the ones I liked best!!!
-N
Sure, the whole country will be watching very carefully to see if any of the popular fears will come true. Will Modi implement the RSS agenda? Will he crush dissent and free speech? My personal opinion is that Modi is a smart guy who wants to get re-elected. And the population has shown that it has very little tolerance for extremism. Modi has found a winning formula – development. His entire campaign has revolved around it and he would be a fool to divert away from that. Let’s hope he’s smart enough to realize this and has enough power to cow the rowdy elements in his party.
Finally, there is the potential to do tremendous good. Let’s hope Modi doesn’t drop the ball. And we must do our bit by not getting in his way.
But through all this wariness, I think it’ll best serve the interests of the country for us to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think hope is a good thing and we get it far too seldom. I had hope when the AAP won Delhi. My hopes were dashed to the ground as Kejriwal proved incompetent and showed no interest in economics or development. He only wanted subsidies and hand outs along with grand standing. Now I have a chance to hope again with Modi. I refuse to let pessimism get in the way. Right now, it’s fresh. It’s a clean slate. All past wrongs have been brushed aside and there is real hope.
Well, I am not willing to wipe the slate clean, as you call it. I am with The Bride on this one. But I am willing to wait and watch – see if Modi can make some amends. ‘Development’ is a two-edged sword. We need to ensure that everyone benefits from it, not just a chosen few. I am quite sceptical that he will fully be able to deliver what he has promised. Those castles in the air were just built too high. But as you said, we can only wait and watch. There is no other choice!
In reply to Fem
There’s not much he can do as PM in terms of development. Development is almost entirely a state matter. But I am hoping that a government with an absolute majority will have the guts to push through some key reforms like the uniform civil code, and maybe removing Article 370. Let’s see…
In reply to bhagwad
Fair enough. But strong fiscal policies at the centre will definitely have an impact on the states. I too would like to see the UCC pushed through. If Modi manages to do it, more power to him!
“My personal opinion is that Modi is a smart guy who wants to get re-elected. And the population has shown that it has very little tolerance for extremism. Modi has found a winning formula – development. His entire campaign has revolved around it and he would be a fool to divert away from that.”
Totally agree with you. Actually, we have a pretty good situation at the moment because we have a government that has the majority to take action, and an extremely heated opposition from various segments of society to keep it on its toes. In terms of NGO & thinkthank & intelligentsia opposition, nobody faces a more uphill task than Modi. Not to mention western agendas as well.
On the whole, a good balance of checks and balances. Combined with popular media, certainly enough to keep him focused on development.
In reply to Aditya
I’m betting that the next few years are going to be tremendously interesting for me as a blogger!
Duhuh!!!
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/no-compromise-with-live-ins-or-gay-rights-moral-values-supreme-rss/
In reply to Nidaa
Exactly. This is where it is to be seen whether Modi will become a puppet of the RSS or do what will get him re elected.
In reply to bhagwad
And this canget him re-elected. People like us do not form the majority after all.
In reply to Nidaa
I’m not sure about that. I think India has changed for the better now…
In reply to bhagwad
Agree. The greater problem for NM is that various right elements will do extreme stuff, and he will have a hard time cracking down on it. Because it’s one thing to not do right-wing stuff. That’s fine. It’s a different political potato to stop it and make arrests etc because then he will be seen as traitor / appeaser by certain hard-core vote banks.
I totally agree. I also was not fond of Modi but I am hoping for the best and it is a new day. I hope that he will help the LGBT community with #377.
In reply to A. Madhavan
Yeah. Or at least not get in the way when the SC abolishes it.