Sharda Lal
Narendra Modi, born 17 September, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat, had a humble beginning. He was introduced to the RSS at the age of eight. As per his own admission, he helped his father sell tea at the Vadnagar railway station. Modi became a full-time worker for the RSS in Gujarat in 1971. The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1985 and he held several positions within the party hierarchy until 2001, rising to the rank of general secretary.
Modi's political ascent had therefore taken off during the 1990s. He became acquainted with the national leadership of the BJP while progressing in his Gujarat state-level roles during and after the Keshubhai Patel's election to the chief minister's office in 1995. Modi worked for the BJP in different states and gained experience not just with national politics, but also with the world outside the RSS apparatus, transcending the limited structure within his home state.
Narendra Modi's emergence on the national stage came at a time when the BJP was attempting to embrace national politics. BJP persuaded Keshubhai Patel to resign in favour of Modi as the new CM of Gujarat. His handling of Gujarat riots and Bhuj earthquake disaster, besides development works, enabled him to get re-elected as chief minister for three additional terms.
While the BJP had lost the 2004 national elections, Modi was making a name for himself through major policy initiatives and smart networking and marketing. It was during this period that Modi demonstrated his ability to exploit the media and shape the narrative to position himself – and in turn, Gujarat – as the epicenter of change and progress. He leveraged many achievements of UPA as well and promoted Gujarat as a corporate investment destination, through highly acclaimed events like Vibrant Gujarat. The Gujarat Model – which cultivated a pro-business, pro-development ethos – assisted in the national propagation of Modi's image.
As a chief minister, Modi deployed his oratory abilities to design a campaign focused on anti-corruption and development, leveraging social media channels to reach the world's largest youth voter demographic. He also positioned himself as a preferred candidate among the youth – the largest voting bloc in the country – by capitalizing on their distaste for the established political fraternity due to the constant slew of corruption scandals witnessed under the UPA. His majoritarian politics appealed to the Hindu community, which accounts for over 80% of the population.
No wonder, BJP led NDA government was elected to power in 2014, after a gap of 10 years, with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. His victory was undoubtedly on the plank of class politics, economics and elite admiration for strongman rule, honesty and development of all (Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikaas).
Narendra Modi's clear Hindutva agenda, after years of inferiority complex that had crept into Hindu mind because of centuries of subjugation by invaders and colonial powers from the West, and tirade against corruption, have mesmerized the majority, particularly the Hindus.
His political party and allies spare no time in bringing to light, the follies and failures of the opposition parties and achievement of Modi regime. BJP claims that INC led Governments have eroded Bhatiyata (Sanatan Hindu Culture) from Bharat and that they have indulged in large scale corruption, fragmentation of the society and little effort for fast development of the country.
It is indeed a fact that “ten years ago, it was considered extremely difficult to have the necessary data of Indian population digitalized'. In one of the national level conferences at New Delhi, a very senior bureaucrat had wondered how it would be possible to develop digitalized data of over 25 crore farming families of the country, when the Government of India had been unable till then, to develop and maintain a properly computerized data of even the 4000-odd IAS officers of the country.
After 10 years today, it must be a matter of great satisfaction and pride for the Government of India, the engineers, concerned departments of the country and the common people, that the required basic data of almost the entire population has been digitalized for effective, transparent and instant coverage through direct transfer of subsidies, loans and other financial assistance to beneficiaries under various schemes like the Jan-Dhan Yojana, PM Kissan Samman Nidhi Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana and so on.
The last person in the que is the first target for development. Intentions of the government to carry everyone along on the path of each one's development with everyone's effort and by gaining everyone's trust or confidence (Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, Sab ka Prayas Sab ka Vishwas), have been made clear by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on several occasions. Various schemes of the government like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and many others have helped the common people, women and the poor to live a life of better comfort, dignity and honour.
Since the year 2014, about 25 crore persons have been brought above poverty line in respect of health, education and living standard. There is a greater transparency in official dealings now and criminals of every type are under the scanner. They can't expect to go Scott-free anymore. Opposition parties are however accusing the government of indulging in witch-hunting and stifling democratic ethos.
Cumulative achievements of the government, projected by the BJP during the last 10 years, include empowering and improving the quality of life of the weaker sections of the society.
Other achievements highlighted are:
More than 80 crore people of different age groups belonging to poorer families are being provided free of cost ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.
About 55 crore persons have been covered under Ayushman Bharat Scheme with guaranteed financial support of up to Rs. 5 lakh per person for treatment of ailments and health cover.
Opening of more than 51 crore bank accounts of the poorer people has been enabled under Jana-Dhan Scheme of the Government of India. The poor people have got connected to the banking system with facilitation in augmentation of fiscal savings, besides benefits of credit and subsidy under various schemes of the government as per the eligibility of beneficiaries.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, more than 14 crore households have been extended the benefit of tap-water and almost 100 percent households have been provided with electricity.
About 12 crore toilets have been constructed by the government for poorer households.
Women in more than 10 crore households belonging to poorer sections of the society have been provided free of cost LPG (low pressure gas) connections.
More than 11.8 crore farming families have been extended the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. A total amount of Rs. 2.8 lakh crores have been provided to farmers as direct financial assistance through bank transfer, for purchase of seed, fertilizer and other inputs.
Through Direct Benefit Transfer (of money) into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, the government has almost eliminated the scope of corruption, graft, bribes and siphoning off the poor man's money by unscrupulous officials. The system has enabled drastic reduction in the human chain and time involved in transfer of money.
More than 4 crore poor and homeless families have been provided assistance for Construction of Pucca House under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Under Pradhan Mantri Swanidhi Yojana, 53 lakh hawkers and vending cart holders were provided credit/loan on easy terms.
Not only this, India has made unprecedented progress in respect of infrastructure development during the past ten years.
Since 2014, the government has completed construction of 1.46 lakh km of National Highways and 3.28 lakh km of rural roads. The achievement becomes more noticeable as the pace of construction, which was 12 km per day during 2024, has reached 37 km per day since 2014.
The number of airports has reached 149 in 2023-24 as against 74 in 2013-14 and it has been planned to run 4500 additional trains and 41 Superfast Express Vande Bharat trains by the year 2047.
Even the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an unprecedented growth in infrastructure development related to medical colleges, hospitals, educational institutions, sports stadia, tourism and so on. Now, the Jammu region can also boast of its three most prestigious national level institutions viz IIT, IIM AND AIIMS.
The credibility of Indian cultural, scientific and political strength has been established during the past few years through the following very bold initiatives taken by the government:
Due to the positive attitude of the current Government of India rooted in the Indian culture, it became possible to revive and reconstruct the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Temple at Ayodhya after about 500 years.
A huge number of 2,97 crore people were brought back safely under Vande Bharat Mission during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 30,000 Indians were brought back home safely from the war-torn countries of Sudan, Ukraine, Libya and Yaman.
The most controversial and divisive Article 370/35-A of the Indian Constitution was scrapped on 5 August, 2019 which has brought a sea-change in the social and political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir. There has been an unprecedented growth in Tourism and the number of tourist footfall has increased very significantly. Terrorist attacks have also declined very significantly.
To empower the women folk, 33 percent seats of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas have been reserved for women by an Act of Parliament.
India became the first nation in the world to land its rocket ‘Chandrayan III' in the dark side, on the South Pole of the Moon.
Today, India is proud of being the fifth largest economy of the world and stands at Number 1 in respect of Digital Transaction.
It is not that development didn't occur earlier, but certainly, the pace was slow. Caste considerations and corruption reigned high and the political will was feeble.
In 2024, general mood of the nation reflects that as on date, Modi and his party have a higher probability of returning to power while the opposition parties, including the once ‘grand old INC' stand marginalized and are trying to struggle hard to contest 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an effective anti-Modi coalition. They are yet to strike a chord with the common masses on national and international issues. Except favouring the freebies, they are yet to offer viable and pragmatic solutions to peoples' vows. The time left to roll up their sleeves is less. However, the voters are quite often seen firming up their final choice at the last moment. (Concluded)
(The Author is a freelance writer)
(The views expressed are of Author's own)
