BJP marks 6 yrs in power, highlights CAA, Art 370
POLITICAL TUSSLE Congress says party’s video is insensitive during pandemic
nNEWDELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday released a video celebrating its six “incomparable” years in power and to highlight achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since 2014. Modi is due to complete the first year of his second term on May 30 and officials said any celebration will be subdued and limited to the virtual world in view of the pandemic.
The Congress hit out at the BJP over the nine-minute video, which makes no mention of the pandemic. “It is not surprising that the BJP is celebrating, or that they have absolutely no sympathy for millions of people, who have been left to the mercies of God on the streets of India. If they had an iota of sensitivity, they would have observed a minute’s silence to mark the people’s difficulties in reaching their homes without any assistance from the government,” said Congress leader Manish Tewari, referring to migrant workers.
The nationwide lockdown enforced on March 25 to contain Covid-19 left migrant workers jobless and forced many of them to walk and cycle to their homes. In late April, some states started transporting the workers, and on May 1, the Centre started running special trains for them.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya could not be reached for comment.
BJP MP Rakesh Sinha hit back at the Congress . “This is not a celebration but an expression of performance, which has been backed by the mandate of the Indian people. Moreover, report cards can be produced only by those who have the potential to transform the country and not by those who were non-performers in their 10-year UPA rule. Therefore, Congress party fails to understand the empirical evidence of the Modi government and its argument is ridiculous,” said Sinha.
As the party’s supporters shared the video on social media, many reacted by posting pictures of migrant workers making arduous journeys on foot while questioning whether it was the right time to celebrate.
In the video, the BJP has lauded the government’s initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. The nullification of Article 370 to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special status and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act last year to fast-track the citizenship process for non-muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, were also mentioned. The criminalisation of the practice of instant divorce among a section of Muslims and the Supreme Court awarding the contested religious site in Ayodhya to Hindus were lauded.
“The BJP government is now working expeditiously to construct a Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” the voice-over in the video says.
The officials cited above said there would not be any major celebrations of Modi’s first year in office and that there have been suggestions including one on holding virtual exhibitions on the fight against Covid-19. “The information and broadcasting ministry is also planning to seek details from other ministries on the important decisions taken during this year especially on reviving the key sectors hit by Covid-19.,” said one official.
A second official said social distancing will play a major role “...it is yet to be decided what course of action is to be adopted for the anniversary,” he said.