Shahzad Rahim |
India couldn’t get the kick in the stampede because of its unfortunate policies. The world dynamics are changing fast but the Modi led government cannot think out of the box. Today because of their ill intentions and lust to remain in power made India face the music on all fronts. The most unfortunate thing which shook the democratic foundations of India was using Hindu nationalism by Mr. Narendra Modi to come into power in 2014.
BJP led by Mr. Modi is losing the ground to be back in power for the second term. His party has already faced a political setback in a few provinces. Once again, he was of the opinion that Pakistan would be the easiest target to get votes in the name of Hindu nationalism but failed miserably.
Failures at Home
Narendra Modi is losing on all fronts including the economic, political, social and diplomatic arena. India’s economy has hit a soft patch at a very crucial time of coming elections. Its annual rate of growth has fallen to 6.6 % in the quarter ended December which is a sharp drop from 7.1 % from the previous quarter and its peak of 8.2%.
The most unfortunate thing which shook the democratic foundations of India was using Hindu nationalism by Mr. Narendra Modi to come into power in 2014.
The young populations who will be first-time voters in 2019 are facing urban unemployment and on the other hand, the plunging incomes in the key agriculture sector that are a large part of the electorate will hurt Mr. Modi at the polls. The international pressure due to US-China trade war and rising oil prices have made collateral damage to the Indian economy.
Read more: Resurging Pakistan makes Modi’s India annoyed
Adventurism, Modi shouldn’t have Tried
When the economy is already under pressure Mr. Modi’s misadventure of the so-called surgical strike in Balakot cost his government billions apart from the embarrassment faced in India and around the globe. Just the mere cost of the 2 Indian planes shot down by Pakistan is more than 47 million Dollars.
Modi was not expecting for the befitting response by Pakistan and thought this misadventure would get him some crucial and sympathy votes but it backfired terribly. Other Indian political parties, social activists, retired armed forces personnel to bureaucrats and judges, people from all walks of society rejected Modi’s Hindu nationalism policy and getting Indian soldiers killed for the sake of votes.
Narendra Modi is losing on all fronts including the economic, political, social and diplomatic arena.
Pulwama Attack to dropping 4 bombs in Balakot to getting befitting response by Pakistan is all blamed on Modi for his political gains. The claim of killing more than 350 people in Balakot strike was a slap on their face as they miserably failed to prove that and all the world media rejected India’s claim. 21 opposition parties in a joint statement rejected Modi’s policies and blamed him for all this.
In his recent visit to Tamil Nadu, the entire province echoed with “Go back Modi”. It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Arvind Kejriwal in his speech in parliament categorically blamed Narendra Modi for the suicide attack in Pulwama and asked Modi how much more blood, hatred, and bodies of innocent people he required to win the elections. Such below the belt policies of Modi slumped his graph domestically and internationally.
Read more: #GoBackModi becomes top Twitter trend in India
Embarrassment after OIC Meeting
India attended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Ministerial meeting as a guest of honour and on the other hand, Pakistan boycotted the session because of the invitation extended to India. India faced yet another embarrassment when the OIC strongly condemned India’s action against its [OIC] founding member state [Pakistan] and the recent wave of repression, brutal killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians by the Indian occupied forces and frequent incidents of rapes.
Mr. Modi’s misadventure of the so-called surgical strike in Balakot cost his government billions apart from the embarrassment faced in India and around the globe.
The Muslim majority nation’s largest body hit out at what it called “intensified Indian barbarities” and “illegal detentions and disappearances” in Jammu and Kashmir. Regional Kashmiri leaders are criticising the barbaric crackdown on the innocent Kashmiri civilians.
President Trump Bashes India
President Donald Trump did not bother to criticize India even at a time when India and Pakistan are facing a tense situation. In his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump lashed out at India for being a very high tariff trading country and said he wants to impose a reciprocal tax on India. He further said,” for one thing, they (India) don’t respect us. They think we are stupid. But let me tell you something, the world respects our country”.
Read more: Cat is out of the bag: Modi blamed for politicization of…
Mediation Offers Rejected by India
US, Russia, Turkey, China, Jordon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE extended an invitation for mediation to which India did not accept the good offices and on the other hand Pakistan welcomed offers of mediation. All countries and international forums welcomed Pakistan’s decision to release the Indian pilot and Pakistan’s role in de-escalating the situation between the two nuclear powers.
Indian Media Exposed to the World
Last but not the least the Indian media which was hugely funded by Mr. Modi to add fuel to the fire not only backfired but also made India embarrassed around the globe. Unethical and unprofessional role of Indian media is highlighted around the world and it’s not just condemned but made a joke of the year. India’s media is the worst enemy of its own state. On the other hand, Pakistan not only showed its strength militarily but was appreciated globally for its peace initiatives and diplomatic support.
Read more: Voices inside India blame Modi for Pulwama
The politics of hatred, aggression and blame game will no longer work for India, the time has come that India resolves the core issue Kashmir to bring stability in the entire region. It is time to fight poverty, illiteracy and other issues of common man rather than playing with the lives of people.
There is a lot of potential in India and the people across the border in India and Pakistan wants peace and stability. The people in both countries want to live in peace and harmony as friends and good neighbours. They have the potential to bring laurels in all fields. Elections can be won in the name of love and harmony as well but for that personal gains and lust for power needs to be thrown out.
Shahzad Rahim is alumni of National Defence University & Brunel University UK. He is a political and defence analyst and Chief Executive of SRK Global Pvt Ltd. The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.