Governing a country with a population of one hundred and forty crores and fulfilling everyone’s aspirations are always a herculean task. It becomes more challenging when there is uncertainty in the world due to the growing geopolitical turmoil and so many regional disputes. Bharat has been facing all kinds of challenges for many centuries, from the Islamic invasion and the colonial period to Partition. Bharat, which used to contribute 25 per cent to the world’s GDP, was plundered for centuries. Attempts were made to finish this civilisation by destroying everything that was Bharatiya (indigenous).
After Independence in 1947, there was a perception, especially in the West, whether democracy would prevail in Bharat or not. It was because Western leaders and intellectuals thought they were far superior than us. However, Bharatiya society has proved them wrong by strengthening democracy and successfully conducting Assembly elections, local body elections and General Elections.
When Bharat started its democratic journey, the country had a total of 173 million electors and 1,874 candidates, Elections were conducted for 489 seats. The total vote percentage that year was 44.87 per cent. Gradually, the number of voters and women participation also increased. The 2019 General Elections were the largest democratic exercise in human history which witnessed the participation of 61.468 crore voters at 10.378 lakh polling stations.
When the country is going into the 18th Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled to take place from April 19, 2024, to June 1, 2024, the whole world is eagerly looking at Bharat’s democratic exercise. While the number of registered voters was about 91 crores in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the number of voters has gone up by almost five crores in the last five years to cross 96 crores. The most interesting fact is that twelve States have more women voters than men, with a total of 47.1 crore female voters in the country.
Sanatan Vs anti-Sanatan Forces
In this General Elections, there are two main Alliances I.N.D.I. is led by Congress and another one is NDA, which is led by Bharatiya Janata Party. Both alliances are going to voters with different issues. However, in this election, many leaders of I.N.D.I., particularly Congress, have given anti-Sanatan statements. It seems the core strategy of I.N.D.I. is to appease the minority by targeting Hindus.
For Congress and its alliance partners, caste census is another core issue. It wants to garner votes by dividing Hindu society. On the other hand, BJP-led NDA is going to voters by promising to make this country developed by 2047. Therefore, there is a clear difference between the two alliances. Undoubtedly, this election is also about Sanatan vs anti-Sanatan forces.
Delivering Social Justice
Now as the Modi Government has completed its two consecutive terms and is asking voters to give it a third term, it is important to discuss if its policies are pro-people or not. Without any doubt, marginalised sections of society have been empowered under this Government. The recent Brookings report said that Bharat had eliminated extreme poverty. Of course, this demonstrates that this Government’s policies for the country’s last person worked well. If one talks about caste, then this Government has shown an example of how to do justice to everyone. Even if one looks at the Modi Cabinet in 2021, there were 27 OBCs, 12 SCs and 8 STs, who together constituted 61 per cent of the Cabinet. Not only this, thousands of persecuted Hindus from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have been living in Bharat for decades as refugees. Most of them are Dalit Hindus. But, the Congress-led Government never gave them citizenship. However, by bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Modi Government did the biggest justice to these people. Isn’t this social justice?
Also, it is the NDA Government that announced the birth anniversary of Janjatiya (tribal) leader Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. This was enough to prove that the Government cares for everyone in the country.
It would not be wrong to say that the last ten years have been the most transformative years in the history of Bharat on every front, from defense to infrastructure to rail, road and air connectivity to space to agriculture to tech to startups, and among others.
People of this country remember when, in 2013, Congress leader and the then Defence Minister AK Anthony in Parliament said, “Independent India had a policy for many years that the best defence is not to develop the border. Undeveloped border is more safe than developed border. So for many years, there was no construction of roads, airfields, nothing in the border areas.”
However, today’s India has completely changed. The country’s border areas are far more developed than they used to be in 2013. Today, Bharat is dealing with an adversary like China with smooth communication of troops near the border. The country has developed many of the best military infrastructures. How can people forget that during the tenure of those who ruled this country for decades, our security forces faced a shortage of modern helmets, vehicles and bulletproof jackets? Today, the situation has completely changed. Today’s Bharat, once the largest importer of defence, exports military hardware worth $3 billion to other countries annually. Today, the country manufactures the most sophisticated weapons. Today’s Bharat is on the moon, and even a common man is easily able to do digital transactions. Farmers are getting better remuneration for their crops, and the whole agriculture sector is undergoing an extensive transformation. Today’s farmers can quickly check the health of the soil. The country has created a new health infrastructure. Most surprisingly, Narendra Modi-led NDA Government has announced a maximum of 15 AIIMS. Many of them are almost complete and functioning. On the other hand, Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government in its last 10 years, had announced only 1 AIIMS. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee, leader of the NDA Government, announced 6 AIIMS during five years of its tenure between 1999and 2004.
If Bharat had to play an important role in the global supply chain, it needed to develop infrastructure on a war footing. And this has become a reality in the last ten years. Bharat has about 68 lakh km of the total road network, which is the 2nd longest in the world. And surprisingly, it has grown more than 60 per cent in the last ten years. It is indeed a milestone for the country. Who would have imagined that very soon, Bharat would have the world’s largest road network? Furthermore, those people living in different parts of North East can explain how they felt when they saw road, rail and air connectivity for the first time after 70 years of Independence.
Furthermore, Hindu Mandirs were ignored under previous Governments. Even those who ruled this country for decades still try to use Hindu Mandirs as source of their State exchequer wherever they are in power. On the other hand, many ancient Mandirs and sacred Hindu places and routes have been revived by this Government.
It is important to note that in the last ten years, the country has witnessed development across the country. The data justifies this. When this Government came to power in 2014, the Bharatiya economy was $ 2 trillion and stood at 10th in the global ranking. Now, in 2024, the country stands in 5th position globally. Therefore, it is evident that the country has come a long way.
Having said this, when the country is only moving forward and playing a key role in the new world order, the result of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 would be important for the country and its future. It is the people who have to decide whether they want to remain divided on caste lines or think beyond caste lines to take this country to a new height in the next two decades. Do people of Bharat need Congress’ 25 promises or Modi’s credibility?
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