I wouldn't really bother with defending the Congress considering I don't support them or think much of them either (in the modern avatar). And know they have many ghosts in their closet as well. Going into 3 decade back issues is pointless given I can only speak of the political climate I've witnessed in this country myself. For every murderous Congress goon there will be a rapist BJP one like we've recently seen (who the party entertained despite the accusations), and I'm sure me compiling a 200 word fact sheet of BJPs failings (see the corruption cases that saw them kicked out pre UPA) would be fine and dandy but wouldn't hit at the point I'm getting at.
I mentioned others because i dont see any distinction between present government and previous state and central governments. Only change now is that there is a strong lobby which used to be sycophants of the ruling government has now been banished, and there is a strong reaction from that group. Not saying their reporting is incorrect but just heavily biased with a dose of selective amnesia towards other government deeds.
Which is clear is that over the last 30 years, I've not seen a central government /leadership that is as fascist, authoritarian, bigoted etc as this one. I mean, you're pretty much trotting out the BJP party line - elite media bad, foreign media biased etc.
This is your opinion. I don't agree at all with this, I have seen much worse and sinister government than the present one.
- Look at the state of the media. There's a reason why the phrase Godi media exists. Most of them merely exist to serve the centre and puppet their agenda into the minds of the public every night. I've not witnessed this level of control over the media.
Lutyen's Media term also exist in the same country and was coined by Tavleen Singh who is quite reputed journalist. The overall state of media is quite disappointing to be honest with you but it has been quite bad for decades now. This isn't something that changed overnight.
- What is that agenda? Hindu Muslim. Ram Ayodhya. India Pakistan. Incredible Modi. It's like Mutv for the BJP, really. Again, I've not seen this before. We had rubbish TV before and the odd case I'm sure of biased TV. But a collective loss of their balls? Nope.
Ram Mandir issue may not be an issue for you or me but it is an issue for millions of Indians who have waited 100 years to get the right to pray on their holy land. You just cant dismiss it as a non issue just because it doesn't matter to you. If Congress really wanted to solve it, they could have but they let BJP hijack and BJP did what it needed to win elections. People have always voted on religious and caste lines. Even before BJP inception. Quality of debate was always going to go down as more and more channel came into the picture. If the debate is controversial then TRP is higher. I am not sure how BJP is to blame for this. For your information, it was Rajiv Gandhi who actually opened the gates and allowed pooja inside the temple to pacify Hindus after his pandering act towards Muslim. It was a collective failure by political class, BJP just benefited the most from it.
- And forget TV, there's been a rampant increase in hatred towards minorities. It's on WhatsApp, it's in the fake news game, it's now in our living rooms. I'm grateful that while growing up I didn't have to witness relatives damning "those Muslims...". But now I have to and I'm most definitely not grateful for it. Nor am I grateful I have to listen to another relative call them "dirty uneducated people who keep having children and nothing else". This is a societal change and it's clear to anyone who is watching.
Animosity between communities have always been there. Its just more apparent now as people have access to Whatsapp and facebook. And its not one sided, let me assure you of that. Demographic change is real, it may not impact you in your bubble but it has for millions out there. That issue is nothing new, it just more visible now as people have access to social media much more. Its not an exclusive issue to one community.
- Then there's the Hindu fear mongering which is pretty incredible. Again not seen it before. The majority made to feel like they've been wronged by India for 70 years.
- Puppeteering of other institutions. May have happened in the 80s/early 90s. Don't know. Haven't seen it as much as this since I have been following.
If you think present government has sabotaged democratic institution more than its your opinion and you are entitled have one.Congress under UPA had worse record of sabotaging but again its a subjective argument and to be honest both don't fair well in this department.
- Hindu Rashtra. Hindutva. Politics and the agenda of one religion (and especially it's fanatical side) intertwined with the state. Again, if you feel this is par for course then that's your perogative. I don't. And I think any intelligent and mature nation shouldn't. We are clearly not there yet.
I have no idea how you thought I am for Hindu Rashtra. I don't want my country to be Hindu Pakistan.
- And I haven't even gone into CAA/NRC, the Ram Mandir issue, Electoral Bonds, and their butchering of the Indian economy.
I know there is a lot of emotion about CAA, but CAA in isolation should not be an issue at all. It was something India should have done post partition and i am glad it is done. Millions of people who have fled and are living like cockroaches in our country can finally live with some dignity. You want to deny them that because according to you semantics of the bill does not go well with "secularism" (ironically which was added to Preamble during emergency) then you are entitled to your opinion. We can have the discussion on it if you want to but i believe it was correct and humane thing to do. Its not for current Indian citizen so i don't know why its an issue to begin with. Also we have created laws for specific group like the SC/ST act before, so exclusion of one category ( by the way not even Indians) is perfectly legal and allowed under Constitution. I think just recently even Kapil Sibal admitted the same in the Rajya Sabha. There is no change to original act, this was just an amendment and original process of giving citizenship is still there.
As far as NRC is concerned, there is hardly any information other than fear mongering that it will exclude Indian Muslims of India. There is no document pertaining to NRC, not even a draft. Assam NRC is a completely different process and i don't think that will be applicable to whole India.
Election bonds are rubbish and should go. Arun Jaitley was probably one of the finest leaders we had, but i have no idea why he created this corruption and lobbying monster.
Economy was struggling last few quarter but that has happened under previous government too. UPA 2 in 2012 had 3% growth with 6 % inflation and an all time low fiscal deficit even when China was growing at 7%. Even the famous dollar exchange argument completely miss the rate of growth was higher under UPA 2 than NDA. Is economy struggling? Of course, but it is not an exclusive to this government. I think someone who is more knowledgeable on economy can comment on what is wrong but most estimates i read had us recovering next year before coronavirus happened.
At the end of the day we clearly disagree. I see the BJP in its modern Shah-Modi format as a threat to India's ideals. Do I believe that Congress, on the other hand, would take us on the path to glory of course not? While I think Congress without the Gandhi's (what is that even given they have it by the neck) could be a less dangerous alternative, I'd prefer something more robust, more modern and more morally tuned in. But I don't see that happening anytime soon and this is sadly what we are stuck with.
To be honest, apart from CAA, i don't think we disagree on lot of topics. Bigotry and communal hatred has definitely reached alarming level. But where we differ is that you believe all of it is down to few political leader, which i don't agree with. It was always present and due to social media, its just more apparent now. Has BJP played it to their advantage? Yes they did but so has other political party in the past. You cant just brush it away saying it happened in the past so it doesn't matter.
