Imperative to Indian democracy
The Janata Parivar is bound to have tremendous consequences in Indian politics. It will herald an era of non-divisive, anti-corporate, antiglobalisation, pro-farmer and pro-marginalised politics in India.
There is a state of total discontent prevailing in the country. The government has failed the masses in all spheres and people are on the lookout for an alternative that would challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rather sickening singleparty, draconian, pro-corporate, anti-poor rule in the country. It is to fill this political void and discontent that the merger of the Janata parties has happened. The leaders of the Janata Parivar belong to the socialist school of Indian politics and uphold leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Manohar Lohia as their role models. The Janata Parivar has a history of restoring the health of Indian democracy. Under the able leadership of secular, democratic leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and other stalwarts, the Janata Parivar is yet again ready to challenge the autocratic singleparty rule at the Centre. The Janata Parivar is bound to have tremendous consequences in Indian politics.
As far as promises made during election campaigns are concerned, most of them are yet to be fulfilled and the government seems to be indifferent in this regard. When asked why the BJP failed to retrieve all the black money stashed abroad, party president Amit Shah promptly replied that such promises must not be taken too seriously as they are no more than mere quotes. True to his words, the promised increase of 50 per cent in the minimum support price (MSP) has in reality been increased only by 3 per cent. After a drought year, followed by intense destruction of crops by untimely rains and hailstorms, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices suggested an increase of mere `50 in the MSP of rice, the chief kharif crop which the farmers expected would bring relief to their deteriorating economic condition. Farmer suicides have not decreased, but worse, they are dying of heart attacks now, watching their crops perish. The amount to be spent on irrigation has also been cut down. Important posts in agricultural research institutes are lying vacant. The promised increase in employment through the Make in India initiative has yielded nothing and the Jan Dhan Yojna has only added to the coffers of the Central government.
The government has not only contradicted its promises of economic policies but also the social ones. The Prime Minister had promised that no religion would be discriminated against once the BJP comes to power. However, within days of BJP assuming power, the VHP launched its aggressive “ghar wapsi” campaign, castigating religious minorities across the country. The vandalisation of churches and the gruesome physical violence inflicted on the clergy threatens the secular fabric of the country. There have been instances of violence against minorities. It’s in this vitiated atmosphere that the Janata Parivar would play an indispensible role in democratising and secularising Indian body politic.