It’s time for plain speak. Another day of yet another peak of Covid-positive cases, another spate of reports about the plight of migrant workers on the roads and inside trucks, another day in office for imperious Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman bulldozing her way through hard questions about the economy that can no longer be set aside. Two months into this unprecedented health and economic crisis, it is time to assess the Narendra Modi government’s response to this disaster.
Let us not be unfair to the government. I have supported Prime Minister Modi when he first announced the lockdown, while noting that its preparation, timing and communication left much to be desired. The PM was decisive when a hard call had to be taken. Indecision or further delay could have landed us in a worse state than we are. In retrospect, we now know that our response was already delayed, but it would be unfair to indict the government on that basis. Global knowledge and awareness at that time did not warrant such a response. On balance, we reacted faster than most other countries.
It would also be unfair to blame the Modi government for all the mess that we face today. A largely unanticipated pandemic is bound to create havoc, even in the best of places. It is bound to be worse in a country like India, given the weak public health fundamentals and fragile response systems. An indictment of the Modi government must be careful about limiting itself to what could have been anticipated, what could have been achieved in our conditions. And it must leave room for genuine mistakes. Faced with a crisis of this kind, the best of leaders with the purest intentions will make erroneous calls. They must be criticised, but not indicted for bona fide errors of judgement.
Sadly, even after making all these allowances, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Narendra Modi government has failed India in its hour of need. The government has been clueless about controlling the health crisis, incompetent in handling its economic consequence and insensitive in dealing with the humanitarian crisis.
Also read: The surveys can’t be true: Modi’s popularity has taken a beating with migrant crisis
A failing health model
Let us begin with the health crisis. We must not blame PM Modi for his early decisions in pandemic management. We cannot indict him for erring on the side of caution because he heard (as all global leaders did) conflicting forecasts about the progress of the pandemic. But we must ask some questions nevertheless: why did the government not listen to alternative voices about more testing at an early stage? Why did the PM not try to learn from and replicate the Kerala model? Did he allow political envy to trump national interest? Why did he not come down heavily against his supporters trying to communalise the pandemic? Once it became clear that the lockdown was not ‘breaking the chain’ or flattening the curve, why did he persist with the lockdown as the sole remedy? Did he allow his ego and self-image to trump rational course correction? And finally, why is no senior functionary (not even a minister, let alone the head of the government, as is the norm in many countries) responding to the media’s questions on the pandemic? What is the future strategy? Is there something that the government wishes to hide?
All these questions do not admit of easy answers and leave the country with the impression of a government that is lost but does not know how to admit it or ask for help.
Also read: White-collar, blue-collar, no-collar: Discovery of a working class Modi’s India forgot
Misplaced economic priorities
On the economic front, let us allow for the fiscal constraints that the government faces at this moment, even though it is largely responsible for this situation due to untimely waiver to corporates and inflation of revenue projections. Still, we must ask why has the Modi government not done anything to stimulate demand (despite pleas from every economist who matters)? Why the continuous pumping of liquidity despite the fact that banks have failed to use the extra liquidity made available in March? Why has the government not addressed what the industrialists, businessmen, farmers and labourers were actually asking for? Why has the government made no attempt to raise additional revenue (despite many sensible suggestions) to meet this crisis? Why use this crisis to push through a number of policy changes on labour law, agriculture, environment and investment that have nothing to do with the cause or solution to the current crisis? And, why not share the real economic situation with the country? Why dress up the “packages”, that too in such amateurish ways, so as to somehow match the magical 20-lakh crore figure?
These questions lead us to a sad answer: the economic response of the fifth-largest economy facing its worst recession and joblessness is being shaped by a bunch of too-clever-by-half economists and packaged by an ignorant and arrogant political leadership. More than saving the economy, the leaders are focused on saving themselves and their wealthy friends.
Also read: Direct cash transfer best way to help poor in Covid crisis. If Modi govt can’t do it, let us
Humanitarian crisis
Finally, let’s turn to the Modi government’s handling of the humanitarian crisis made visible by the migrant workers who have taken to the streets. Again, let us grant that given our size and deep inequalities, some degree of distress was inevitable. But we must ask: Did the government even try to anticipate this distress and plan to alleviate it when announcing the lockdown? Why was the government surprised by the scale of the problem of the migrants (eight crore, as Sitharaman admitted in her press conference)?
Why were there no special arrangements for food and income of the stranded workers for the first 50 days of the lockdown? What else did the government expect jobless, food-less and hopeless workers to do, except walk back? Why do we not get a report of this kind from any other country in the world, even African countries much poorer than us? And once the government discovered, within the first week of the lockdown, the plight of the migrant workers, what did it do to address the crisis, except law and order advisories?
Why was the decision to start Shramik trains delayed so much and taken when it was actually riskier? Why the insistence on the fares for distress evacuation? Why did it take the Ministry of Home Affairs six weeks to issue a simple advisory about humanitarian support to the migrants on the road?
Insensitive would be too mild a word to characterise this shameful handling of the worst national-level humanitarian crisis. To call the Modi government heartless displays credulity. As India goes for a free fall, the top political functionaries are focused on political intrigue, blame-game and public relations. India’s worst health, economic and humanitarian crisis is being handled by undoubtedly the most callous and perhaps the most incompetent government.
The author is the national president of Swaraj India. Views are personal.
Hopeless
This government has no educated ministers, from PM to CM everyone is ill fated with their idiotic thoughts making communal statements & spoiling brotherhood. We must come together & raise our voices & dissolve this fake ill fated government.
I urge people to raise voice to dissolve this government.
What good he has done to India rather than splitting people on religious grounds, supporting his own state only for investments, so many people belonging to his own community looted banks fled towards safe heaven. When he speaks it sounds like the worst idiot on screen, one of the lowest low level of PM elected by people in the name of religion. He came from RSS cadre, he’s screwing up all the institutions by introducing his like minded communal racist folks. Glad people are realizing his true colors and potential now, hopefully this would force people not to elect him and his party any more to save this great nation. To save the country, he should resign and should handover the country so someone from within his own party until next elections and that fatty should also be removed from home ministry job, also other racist heads should be removed whoever are elected as CM, judges etc…
We don’t need any government to rule us… law is enough to question… please leave us..we dnt need anybody to decide our life..local bodies are easy to approach than to go behind Central for small silly problems…becos of the govt political games nd game playing many lost the life. jobs education family disputes are raising in past we were ignorant.now all our Indian are clever dey cnt b misguided or brainwashed by false promises…now plss leave us..I love my India and Indian culture and People..day to day I cnt see people suffering..gandhi gave freedom to nation from British rule..but who wil give freedom from dis bad cruel government… our India must not suffer anymore by bad government.. please leave us for God sake..wat govt get by killing innocent people without even knowing who r dey why dey r suffering.,save our India India culture our heritage and our mother land by bad government and bad political people..so we the democratic by the people for the people to the people..if we mind we make government nil as we vote and give power..power must not b misused for nepotism and influential people.. even common man poorest of poorest problms must b addressed..
PM modi is making the condition of india and their people worst. I am suffering because him.
Government has failed people. They did not have a proper health care system. In this time of need they cannot provide proper hospitalisation. Should have at least done one thing right. Labours were left stranded, middle class is still looted, only intenetion is to fill their coffers with taxes , fuel prices, pm fund , CM fund. They do jot want to be accountable. Some body tell me what did this government do????
They cannot block my twitter or facebook coz I don’t use either
I am not hesitate to speak that Modi is liar and Govt is a worst in the world. In my life I never seen such a weak govt. It looks like a British rule , everyday poor people dying for food. Nation is crying and Modi bhakts are celebrating.
I am not hesitate to speak that Modi is liar and Govt is a worst in the world. In my life I never seen such a weak govt. It looks like a British rule , everyday poor people dying for food. Nation is crying and Modi bhakts are celebrating.
WHO has made all of us a big fool.they played with our fear and ruined us.
Nothing wrong with policy next layer of implementation consist of FILE warriors who do not move beyond files.. send this high BMI over weight Baboo to villages and force them to stay once a week in the company of mosquitoes
This pandemic is a gift to Modi to cover all his past, present and future mistakes about the economy and administration.
Yadav is a jholachhap leftist or so called socialist, whose intent is to criticize PM Modi but can’t give any solution to any problem.
He is an escapist thrown out of AAP. His reasonings are irrelevant. He is simply bookish
Mr. Shekhar Gupta is also adverse to Modi govt so he engaged such Rubbish & irrelevant psuedo intellectual.
To summarize all the comments, we’re doomed. Either the hate will end us, or the bad politics and apathy. In any case, doom is impending. I’ve been optimistic before, I can’t anymore, there is no hope unless something cataclysmic hits india and resets everything. It’s over for now, and for the foreseeable future.
I agree. MMS built a platform for India, but India blew its chances by electing such a duffer.
I have just read these opinion and only say these that most people do not realise or comprehand weather its the west or east but in actual reality to maintain order is very difficult when you have 1.3 billion people of diverse ethnicity with various religious beliefs opposition parties throwing spanners in the works, for example look at united kingdom population 70 million with a robust health system has failed in many areas so has majority of countries around the world! all i say is that looking at all scenarios I would rather be in Indaa then anywhere else. The migrant crisis was created by people who did not follow what the goverment was saying. It was everyones duty employers of migrant workers should have assisted them but as usual financial gains, losses and personal status and ambitions was more important then country and human lives. India is currently not only fighting covid19 but terrorist, land disputes with Pakistan, China, Nepal etc . The west and China does not want India to succeed and we have people in our country who are brainwashed by western propaganda. We have come a long way since independence in 1947 and have followed our achievements and failures but over the last few years our reputation and standing in the world has increased under Modij. In this difficult times we should all unite by putting our political and personal issues aside. Jai hind a long standing patriot and son of Bharat mata.
Mr Modiji has handled the situation very well, no body would have done better. When whole world appreciates Modiji on basis of falttening the curve which is the best strategy so far, unfortunate that people waste time in bad comments retrospectively. We are fortunate that such people dont have opportunity as advisor to the Government
I don’t see any flattening of curve. Even at cost of lives of many migrants i see no sign of flattening. Government has no pkans about handling the pandemic. Its only Bhagwan Bharose.
I think you need rest. Get well soon
When one gvot. babu was when would India reach the peak, he said it will never reach a peak – he thought it was a bad thing ! So if it does not reach a peak, it will keep going up. At the start, instead of planning to tackle Covid, they (barring Kerala) took it as an opportunity for Muslim bashing. Muslims were selectively locked in their mohallas and Hindus were uncurbed. So it ended up spreading eventually with more Hindus. A low mentality can only bring such an unintended result. It is like when they did the NRC in Assam to catch Muslims, more Hindus were caught than Muslims. To solve that, they brought CAA. They stumble from one stupidity to another.
Mr Modiji has handled the situation very well, no body would have done better. When whole world appreciates Modiji on basis of falttening the curve which is the best strategy so far, unfortunate that people waste time in bad comments retrospectively. We are fortunate that such people dont have opportunity as advisor to the Government. Whatever happens, it happens for best.
LOL.
Your hatred for PM Narendra Modi is so intense that you see only negative aspects in whatever he does. This is precisely why people do not take you seriously. From day one, Modi has been asking people to stay where they are and trains could not be started too early for fear of uncontrollable infection. I am wasting my time trying to explain to you as you are not even remotely connected with logic.
If is that so, why trains are being started now, has the virus gone away? or 300 is a greater no than 1 lac.
2024 me dakh Lena
Mr yy we have seen how you got along with kejari val and saved Delhi I can only simpatise with you
Mr YY. Instead if criticizing what govt or Mr Modi is trying to do. Why don’t You give solutions. Do u have a better strategy then share it widely instead of this stupidity…
Who is this Yogendra Yadav ? Such biased political insinuations is a staple from people and organisations, that cannot digest good work that is being done inspite of the extreme circumstances. Maybe they are so fearful of being rendered irrelevant. That is why the hollow shrieks. The print has an existential problem.
True to his nature, Mr Yadav has been very balanced in his opinion. I fully agree that the Modi cannot be faulted on the implementation in MArch 2020 but he could have been a little more empathetic to the migrants issue as well as in the release of direct transfer to the needy. But the migrants issue is not the problem of Modi Govt alone. It is the collective problem of the sates Govt as well as the private sector who employs these labourers and then abandons them when they are not required. In a pandemic crisis, where no one had a clear idea (and they still dont do,) of how the disease will pan out, why is there no collective responsibility to solve this issue. Why is Mr Yadav also Modi bashing when he should actually contribute and collaborate with everyone at this need of the hour?
That YY wants PM to copy Kerala model of covid fighting shows his intellect is poor and his intent is to malign Modi… Each and every parameter pertaining to Kerala is different when compared to other states… For that matter each state is unique by itself…. Secondly Health is a state subject… Hope he has considered that… Next is the migrant issue… Why haven’t the states, the political parties, the stinking Rich industrialists, builders etc etc not cared for these workers… If only the cared with two months salaries, the crisis could have been averted… As far as economy is considered, the Covid crisis has only snowballed into the existing problems… So the blame goes to the govt…
Frankly speaking, more than the government it is we the people who are responsible for this situation. The government did what it could. You think governing a country of 1.3 billion people is a joke?
Just one question…what if corona has arrived in india and Manmohan singh were the president…what will be the condition of india…
I am not supporter of any political party but i must say Dr Manmohan Singh would definitely handled the economic situation in better way as compared to present government.
Open up your eyes and look on india’s total debt in 2019 ( 83 lakh crore approx.) Which was 53 lakh crore in 2014
Increased by 49 % in 57 months .
We are progressing with huge loan only ..
Far better
ye sab good governance ka kamal hai
Asking people to ring bells at 5pm and to switch off lights from 9pm for 9 minutes — these two instructions seem to indicate the hidden agenda of trying to control the behaviour of the masses. Certain publicity images have been taken out of the Orwell novel 1984. This government has played with the trust of millions of people like us.
At last a sensible comment. Be prepared for lynching. I am off to a neighbouring country.
Y Y has written absolute trash. Plz continue writing similar pieces and make sure you are irrelevant in Indian politics.
Firstly Government is busy in Delhi elections, riots in Delhi, namaste trump, horse trading in Madhya Pradesh. People bring corona through airlines. Airlines are not thoroughly checked. Then un planned lock down, now lifting of lockdown when cases increased to 1 lacs. I never understand why lockdown for even 500 cases and now lifted when cases are above 1 lacs. Migrant on roads. Buses are there. Petrol price slashed. Even then migrant workers works thousands KM. I don’t know why.
No credibility, no one accountable, if questions raised then answers are congress is corrupt, Rahul is pappu, Sonia is Italian. Priyanka is pappi.
Nation admit Congress is corrupt, Rahul is pappu. And other stuff regarding Congress.
But show your progress report of 6 years. We voted this Government because congress is inefficient.
What you have done must be your answer. Don’t hid behind inefficiency of congress.
You are talking like an anti national.
He’s talking sense.. You’re talking nonsense..
He said that sarcastically.
Yes , Modi Govt failed badly , indecent unplanned & unstrategical lockdown & mishandling of the situations arising out there due to their negligence & incapabilities made it worst.
Actually the Print media consists of many former NDTV reporters who,as the country knows are excellent opposers of the NDA Government and hence they are promoting this type of articles and speechs.Modiji is working very hard for the citizens of India and is doing his level best.
Wow , I am impressed you used your brains while writing .Mr our economy was falling for the last 5 years and no one was there to question the government or Modi .Now luckily Mr Modi got an invisible reason to put all blames on .My goodness still people are following him blindly .May god save this country .
Yogendra Yadav , can you look beyond Modi? Can you look beyond Kerala Model? Do you know apart from Kerala which other state has done excellent containment measures with brilliant administrative measures? Do you know which CM has given appointment of around 1600 medical doctors in one day to fight COVID 19 ?
Clean you glass which is fully covered with dirt. Then you can see clearer picture around you.
Try to come out of of Cat Syndrome. There are also wiser people than your wisdom. People around you also can also judge you on your work of foggy journalism.
Neither you could do justice to your noble profession nor to your first political affiliation AAP not to the society. Try to do some good work before the young generation will forget you. Last but not the least- Dont forget the great Darwin’s theory.