The return of the NDA government has witnessed a spate of protests all over the country, on different topics. National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act are the leading causes of protests. There have been 25 incidents of communal riots and 105 mob-lynching in India. There have been protests over one or other Joint entrance exams and often on rapes and assaults on Dalits and women. The latest big protests were on the Farmer Bills Amendments.
Media loves protests and often provoke people. The tattering opposition loses no time in taking up any causes to deride the government. The Central government often bulldozes programmes without dialogue or debate, regardless of the severity of the issues. The opposition is often forced to take to the streets to draw the attention of the people and the government. In a healthy democracy, much could be resolved inside the Parliament.
The post-Covid situation is far from satisfactory, and despite the orchestrated media rhetoric, trade and economy will take longer to stabilize, much less grow any time too soon.
All these said, there may be some good things happening in our country as well, which is on defence infrastructure. With notorious neighbours on our borders, India needs to strengthen our defence preparedness. The reopening of Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip by our determined and daredevil air force is a hair-raising episode and a must-read for all. The pushback of China troops at Galwan Valley is a matter of pride for every Indian.
The Prime Minister of India yesterday inaugurated the 9.02 Kilometre Atal tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass and at the height of 10000 feet connecting Manali and Leh. The tunnel has great significance on the movement of troops and weaponry to the border areas.For India to grow, its defence must be secure and much that was ignored in the past decades are corrected now. It is sad that induction of Rafale fighters too was shunned by a section of our opposition merely because it was negotiated and purchased during the tenure of NDA and PM Modi.
No doubt we need to criticize and protest over the wrongs perpetrated often by individual criminal elements. It is the job of the elected governments to keep their law-enforcing machinery well-oiled and corruption-free. More importantly, the police force must be free of all caste and religious prejudices. The easiest is for the troublemakers to indulge in crime, build up a tempo of protest and ask for the scalp of the government and particularly of prominent leaders. The pattern has become a serious repeat and a threat to our democracy.
Let us also talk of the positivity that is taking place, irrespective of in which state and ruled by whoever. India is great, is for all and will remain as such, regardless of the attempts to cause fissures.
Jai Hind!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
