The Narendra Modi government announces a grand stimulus ‘package’ that it claims is worth Rs 20 lakh crore or ‘10 per cent’ of India’s GDP. But barely a fraction of it is new money being pumped into the economy. What is made to look like a stimulus is mostly a grand loan mela.
The Modi government is making hungry migrant labourers pay train fare. When this became a political hot potato, it said it was paying 85 per cent per cent of the fare and the state governments were paying the rest 15 per cent. Truth was that that 85 per cent was notional subsidy — in effect, the migrants were being charged the usual fare, and in some places, even more.
If no one else, at least the endless sea of migrant labourers would be able to see through the ‘85 per cent’ lie. It is curious that the Modi government openly lies — lies that are obvious and blatant. Just a few examples:
Narendra Modi said on the top of his voice that there had been no talk of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in his government, when in fact both the President of India and the Home Minister had said it in Parliament.
Narendra Modi said the purpose of demonetisation was to destroy black money but when that didn’t work, his government kept changing goal-posts. Many lies to hide one truth: that demonetisation had failed.
Electoral bonds make political donations opaque, but the Modi government says they bring transparency. The full list of the Modi government’s lies could fill a library.
Also read: Indians are fighting against coronavirus and BJP IT cell is fighting against Indians
Doublethink
The Modi government has made lying an art form. This non-stop obvious lying was described by George Orwell as doublethink: “Every message from the extremely repressive leadership reverses the truth. Officials repeat ‘war is peace’ and ‘freedom is slavery,’ for example. The Ministry of Truth spreads lies. The Ministry of Love tortures lovers.”
People are thus expected to believe as true what is clearly false, and also take at face value mutually contradictory statements. The Modi government talked about NRC, but it also did not talk about it. The Modi government is making migrants pay for train fares, but at the same time, it is not charging them. Doublethink also applies other Orwellian principles — Newspeak, Doublespeak, Thoughtcrime, etc.
But why do people accept it all so willingly? Why do the people who are lied to every day go and vote for the same BJP?
There are many obvious answers to this question: weak opposition, mouthpiece media, social media manipulation, and Modi’s personality cult that makes his voters repose great faith in him.
But the lies are so obvious, you wonder why anyone would lie so obviously. Surely, when someone is caught lying they can’t be considered credible anymore?
What’s happening here is the plain assertion of power. Our politics has become a contest of who gets to lie and get away with it and who will have to go on a back-foot when their lies are caught.
When the Modi government lies so blatantly, it is basically saying: ‘Yes we will lie to make a mockery of your questions. Do what you can.’
Also read: WhatsApp warriors during Covid-19 crisis — first line of defence for PM Modi
Fire-hosing of falsehood
In 2016, Christopher Paul and Miriam Matthews wrote a paper for RAND Corporation, an American think-tank, in which they analysed propaganda techniques used by the Vladimir Putin government in Russia. They called it the “Firehose of Falsehood” (read it here). The Russian model is not to simply make you believe a lie — the lie is often so obviously a lie, you’d be a fool to believe it. The idea is to “entertain, confuse and overwhelm” the audience.
They identified four distinct features of the Putin propaganda model, all of which are true for the Modi propaganda machinery as well, as they are for Donald Trump’s.
1) High volume and multi-channel: The Modi propaganda machine will bombard people with a message through multiple channels. By “multiple” we really mean multiple — you will even see Twitter handles claiming to be Indian Muslims saying the same things as the far-Right Hindutva handles. Of course, some of the Muslim handles are fake. But when you see everyone from Akshay Kumar to Tabassum Begum support an idea, you’re inclined to doubt yourself. If everyone from Rubika Liyaquat to your WhatsApp-fed uncle is saying the same thing, it must be right. If so many people are saying the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will grant citizenship and not take it away, they must be right.
2) Rapid, continuous and repetitive: The hashtags, memes and emotionally charged videos will be ready before any announcement is made. The moment the announcement is made, both social and mainstream media will start bombarding you with messages in support of it. The volume and speed of the propaganda will barely leave you with the mind space to judge for yourself.
While the government will be careful to avoid saying it is not charging migrants, its deniable propaganda proxies will go around suggesting exactly that until the voice of the doubters has been drowned out. (A liberal journalist I know actually thought the migrants were not having to pay train fares anymore.)
3) Lacks commitment to objective reality: In other words, fake news. We know why fake news works: confirmation bias, information overload, emotional manipulation, the willingness to believe a message when it is shared by a trusted friend, and so on. There’s no dearth of this in the Modi propaganda ecosystem. There are countless fake news factories like OpIndia and Postcard News. Moreover, the mainstream media itself has been co-opted to manufacture fake news at scale, as the absolutely fictional charges of JNU students wanting India to be split into pieces (“Tukde tukde gang”) shows.
PM Modi himself is happy to lie for political posturing: from attributing a fake quote to Omar Abdullah, to saying there are no detention centres in the country, to exaggerating all kinds of data.
4) Lacks commitment to consistency: This is the bit where the fake news and claims are exposed, and yet they don’t hurt the leader. One day the Modi government says demonetisation is for destroying black money and next day it says it was to push cashless transactions, and third day it says the idea was to widen the tax base.
Ordinarily, such contradictions should hurt the credibility of Modi and his government. But, coupled with the three points above, the RAND researchers suggest, “fire hosing” manages to sell the changed narrative as new information, a change of opinion, or just new, advanced or supplementary facts presented by different actors.
Also read: Nearly 18,000 Twitter accounts spread ‘fake news’ for BJP, 147 do it for Congress: Study
How to fight the fire-hosing of falsehood
The RAND corporation researchers also suggest five ways for the United States to counter the Russian “fire-hosing of falsehood”. These are applicable to any actor who undertakes this propaganda model, including Modi and Trump.
1. First Information Report: Try to be the first in presenting information on a particular issue. In shaping public opinion, the first impression can be the last impression. (With our lazy opposition, this ain’t happening, but the Congress party’s announcement of paying train fares for migrant labourers was one example of creating the first impression of an issue.)
2. Highlight the lying, not just the lies: The world needs fact-checkers, but they’re not going to be able to stop the fire-hosing of falsehood. That’s like taking paracetamol for Covid-19. You may need it for the fever, but it won’t kill the virus.What might treat the virus of fire-hosing, however, according to the RAND researchers, is to chip away at the credibility of the liar by simply pointing out that he’s a serial liar. M.K. Gandhi’s assertion of truth as the core of his politics, for example, served the purpose of painting the British colonial rule as being based on falsehoods.
3. Identify and attack the goal of the propaganda: Instead of simply fact-checking the propaganda, the political opponents need to understand the objective of the lies and attack those. So, if the objective of lying about migrants having to pay for train fares is to not let them travel for free, the opposition should spend great time and energy addressing migrant labourers about how the government is being insensitive to their plight. This will take a lot more work on the ground, and simply tweeting facts won’t be enough.
4. Compete: Across the world, fire-hosing of falsehood is becoming a powerful propaganda tool. Those who want to defeat such propaganda may have to do their own fire-hosing of falsehood. As the Hindi saying goes, iron cuts iron. When public opinion is being manipulated with fake news and lies, the opposition cannot win the game with mere fact-checking. It may have to do its own rapid and continuous misinformation with little regard for the truth. The RAND researchers suggest this is what the US should do against Russia.
5. Turn off the tap: Lastly, attack the opponent’s supply chain of lies. If opposition-ruled states are not cracking down on fake news and communal hate-mongers in their states, for example, they’re making a huge mistake.
The author is contributing editor to ThePrint. Views are personal.
Well written. While; fighting falsehood with falsehood is definitely not a solution, this must be fought nonetheless.
It is a known fact that BJP and especially Modi an his team get away by lying. They have only one agenda which is to change secular India to a Hindu nation. Even during this pandemic time all announcements are pro corporations . They are blind towards the struggling migrant workers within India and outside India. Kuwait wanted to send back the indian workers in their flights without any cost. India govt didn’t respond. But allows NMC CFO to go to Indua violating all norms of repatriation flights. Becoz NMC was instrumental in Modi event in Gulf
hey low iq moron .. NMC CFO HAS GONE WITH UAE GOVT PERMISSION ….. MODI EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY INDIAN GOVT N INDIANS MASSIVELY SUPPORTED IT …
The moment the PM and HM took over the BJP , the whole Party’s agenda has turned into lies , both have managed to turn the party into one big lie , and it’s been so smoothly done that they have managed to turn the most of BJP members to be great believers of lists , those who opposed have been retired ( kicked ) from the party , they have mastered the art of lying so much so that now Trump and Putin take lessons from their lying , not only that they have made Corores of people true believers of their lies , and of all the lies , they know for sure one thing with the Hindu people of India , is that the Hindus can be easily agitated just by having them opposite Muslims , helped by the fact that muslims play right into their hands , cause literacy and sensible muslims are very few , also muslims are religious fanatics which does not help their cause , the Hindus hate muslims , because the Muslims have been privileged in getting benefits for 60 years from the Congress compared to the Hindus , and this is the main factor PM and HM recognise and take full advantage of , which is why the Hindus blindly believe the lies of BJP leadership .
This Government only spread hatredness. Not even one brick is placed by this Government. The Government put economy on ventilator even before corona pandemic. Good work of Dr Manmohan Singh vanished in 6 years. Small business man and middle class suffered a lot.
How nicely detailed. Eye-opening.
We must not forget one thing – that the battle is not between lies and more lies – it is between lies and the truth. Truth is unique, even if interpretations may be multiple – we need to re-learn to recognise reality and truth. So Bhakts and paid trolls ranting here, rant if you like and love Modi if you must, but don’t forget how to tell LIES from TRUTH.
Can’t understand what you mean by ’85 percent is notional subsidy’.I it’s a lie then you need to explain it rather than a blatent statement like that
he is congrress piad presstitute like the liar shekar coupta being paid by congress to spread fake news abyt gen v k singh sending troops
This article depicts the art of spreading misinformation using half the truth and conveniently hiding some important facts and mixing apple and oranges to confuse the matter further. It’s called as manipulation of data and facts to further one’s agenda.
Yeah the govt lies on many things but this article is an exaggeration beyond limits.
Looks like shekhar gupta is back to licking congress boots and dynastic slavery after gaining some viewership by being neutral for little time.
I was considering of making financial contribution to the print but looks this they are getting enough money from the dynasty party. This article depicts the art of spreading misinformation using half the truth and conveniently hiding some important facts and mixing apple and oranges to confuse the matter further. It’s called as manipulation of data and facts to further one’s agenda.
Yeah the govt lies on many things but this article is an exaggeration beyond limits.
Looks like shekhar gupta is back to licking congress boots and dynastic slavery after gaining some viewership by being neutral for little time.
I was considering of making financial contribution to the print but looks this they are getting enough money from the dynasty party. This article depicts the art of spreading misinformation using half the truth and conveniently hiding some important facts and mixing apple and oranges to confuse the matter further. It’s called as manipulation of data and facts to further one’s agenda.
Yeah the govt lies on many things but this article is an exaggeration beyond limits.
Looks like shekhar gupta is back to licking congress boots and dynastic slavery after gaining some viewership by being neutral for little time.
I was considering of making financial contribution to the print but looks this they are getting enough money from the dynastic party.
The print is becoming just another ndtv with one and only agenda of modi bashing.
I think you copy pasted the forwarded message more than once. Also there are no datapoints here insteaf of a simple rant.
This article depicts the art of spreading misinformation using half the truth and conveniently hiding some important facts and mixing apple and oranges to confuse the matter further. It’s called as manipulation of data and facts to further one’s agenda.
Yeah the govt lies on many things but this article is an exaggeration beyond limits.
Looks like shekhar gupta is back to licking congress boots and dynastic slavery after gaining some viewership by being neutral for little time.
I was considering of making financial contribution to the print but looks this they are getting enough money from the dynasty party.
If one were the accept the central thesis of the author’s argument for a moment, that the Indian voter can be swayed by falsehoods, then Shivam through this article comes across as being condescending towards Indian electorate. He thinks so less of us all, that he thinks he knows whats best for us more than us ourselves.What a snobbish rant.
I am not surprised though since this attitude is common amongst Lutyen fake intellectuals. People like me will keep voting for BJP just so that we can cock a snoot at guys like you.
So keep writing such bull and we’ll enjoy knowing that guys like you are in misery.
Bingo!
Infact migrant crises has more to do with ‘CON’-gress than Bjp which has lied people for 6 decades in name of ‘Garibi Hatao’ which has done more damage to India than
Modi communalism
Mr Pavan Noolvi: Did the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri by your BJP & RSS friends also have to do with
“‘CON’-gress than Bjp which has lied people for 6 decades in name of ‘Garibi Hatao’ which has done more damage to India than” ?
And finally, if the BJP is clean and the Congress is corrupt, why does the BJP warmly encourage some of the worst Congress thugs to defect to the BJP?
Infact the migrant crisis as little to do with BJP and more to do with ‘CON’-gress which has fooled people for almost 6 decades in slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ it has done more damage to India then Modi’s Communalism
Shri Vij is the only intelligent person in Bharat. He does not get hoodwinked by the Modi Govt. He is the only one who knows the truth. He is correct in believing that Modi won two conclusive and decisive victories because the people of Bharat are stupid.
1. Will you also write on the lies of the communist party of China in the starting days of the infection?
2. Or on the first batch of the india cluster – Tabligh jamat?
Imagine if those two were BJP or some Satsang ….ThePrint will write only of those two.
A very good article. I have also read the comments. It has become a trend to tag someone anti-national if he/she criticizes the govt policies. Please question the govt servants, it is your right. They are making policies for us, the common people, so it is very natural that one ask whether any rule or law is how good or bad.
The write up is a bold attempt to discredit the government with a series of assertions claimed to be contrary to the truth. But sad to note that not a single piece of empirical evidence has been included in support of the assertion to lend credibility to the contents. In the age of RTI the author had all the time to get some replies from the authorities respecting the real facts. The same would have sustained the allegations/charges framed by the author. I wish the author had observed the minimum courtesy of sharing incontrovertible facts in support of his claims.
This fellow never writes articles. He writes his thoughts. He’d make wild claim without any substantiation. He produces excrement and flatulence.
This article is a piece of trash.. don’t even bother reading!!
Loved the reference of 1984.. right now it’s not completely like that but I don’t think it won’t be if Modi ever came in power again.. keep doing the great work of bringing out the truth and standing up against these so called patriots.. we as people of this country have right to criticize our government and you are doing right and great thing by debunking their side of truth
Wow. “Opposition needs to do its own rapid and continuous misinformation with little regard for the truth. ”
Yeah we know you’ve been doing that.
Thank you for confirmation.
Now go bow in subservience to your ‘SG boss’.
Writer forgot to write one statement that he has been paid by Congress Chief and courtesy Sonia Gandhi
You have the proof I hope. Why don’t you bring it in public?
Who pays you Mr Arvind Singh? The BJP IT cell? Bajrang Dal ? Adityanath’s Hindu Yuva Vahini? RSS? VHP? Ram Sene?
Print can do only Modi-bashing for all incorrect reason… Indians know what kind of brazier lies this print Gupta can give to Indians … So just chuk this wanker
Print can do only Modi-bashing for all incorrect reason… Indians know what kind of brazier lies this print Gupta can give to Indians … So just chuk this wanker
RAHI: Incidentally, are you capable of anything but extolling Modi’s supposed and utterly imaginary accomplishments?
One question to this print idiot whoever published it, if Congress govt was so good then why people removed it ? Congress criticizing stimulus package what they did during famine days in India, what they did in Rae Bareli and Amethi, it is their seat for last few decades why people are still poor over there why zero development, every govt lies but atleast there are no scamsters in cabinet minister at this moment
The point is congress ma not be good . But This gover is no less either and no better either .
Wonderful article ,we live in a world where lie is become a part of life, everyone knows why modi was bought to power but no one accepts, everyone is damaged by unnecessarily govt acts be it demonetizing, gst, petrol diesel price,current scenario of 20lkh cr but still we are ok with it because we still believe in lie of Modi and govt. It will be very late by the time we will realise what mess we have created for future generations.
Today majority of people vote on Hindu Muslim agenda. So the issue of fact, lies does not matter to them. It is similar to the situation twk decades back when people in Hindi heartland were voting on caste agenda which gave leaders like Lalu, Mulayam, Mayawati etc. Over a period of time they realised the voting on caste line is of no use. The same realisation will come to people over a periof of time , may be by anothe 5 to 10 years. After that we may move to issue based politics. Till then it will continue.
Why do people vote for BJP? How much did the opposition pay you to write this? Rahul Gandhi is a loser and will remain one. He does not have the courage nor the confidence to run a country.
Is this a Pakistanis article .Print u have Hindufobia
Becoz of lousy reporting the truth people are carried a with lies. Eg. Printway
Dont fool people with bad articles. I dont want money to be print . Loans with concessions encourages citizens to work hard.
Every single adult on planet earth should read this. Beautifully said, Mr. Vij. I always wondered why they don’t even bother to pretend – now I know. A must read for opposition leaders and civil society dissenters. We must not forget one thing – that the battle is not between lies and more lies – it is between lies and the truth. Truth is unique, even if interpretations may be multiple – we need to re-learn to recognise reality and truth.
Beautifully written? Either you are way too ignorant or downright an imbecile. Either ways pity your lack of intelligence!
Very well said @anamika.
An article full of shit and lies. An anti modi channel this so called journalist stay silent on the attacks on Arnab Goswami and Sudhir Chaudhary but jump up their seats if a terrorist is called. THE PRINT IS THE PART OF SOFT JIHAD
RAHI: Incidentally, are you capable of anything but extolling Modi’s supposed and utterly imaginary accomplishments?
Ms Anamika: As always, I completely agree with your insightful comment. For the vast majority of middle-class Indians, Messiah Modi is the infallible Tarzan who not only never makes mistakes but also must never be criticised. If the Messiah says 2+2=5, the middle-class Indian will accept that as the Gospel truth and even go around thrashing people who say that 2+2 =4. Truth is of no use in cults where you outsource your thinking to the cult leader.
Sad, but true.
ROFLMAO…..that’s sarcasm right?
superbly moronic … this presstitute wants opposition to create fake news to counter fake news ? hahaha no doubt you scumbags get the whooping on electronic media everynow n then … what a abunch of losers…
The print is a shit newsmaker. The scores and the managemwnt shows tje success of the govt in handling the pandemic. You are paid by deshdrohi left ans socialist who want to desteoy India and its harmony. You see Modi is a tough leader with veru good team around him. You can not say all the 70% population backing to him is a fool. Modi will take up India again finamcially to the top of the world. If you have to tell people the teuth then tell about how Nehru purposely help in making Indias base brittle. Tell about how Pakistan is cultivating terrorism. Tell about how 5 lacs Hindus repelled out of Kashmir in their own country when congress was ruling.. You useless print guys…
Lol
Pathetic, I seem to have made a mistake by financially contributing to The Print.
You sir are a disgrace to humanity.
You realised now?
You realised now?
How much the opposition paid you/your company to write the article.
Modi government is doing reforms with good intent while past congress governments were all about corruption. Its a fact
The biggest liar is you
Heard of the Rafale scam Mr Dixit ?
They’re using the exact plan that they’ve stated. Lie. Tell indian muslims constitution is in danger. Every bloody person will keep crying constitution is in danger. 48+% of them are notbeven leggible to read the constitution let alone be understand and saving it. The left is crooked. You’ll see this in the next 4 years. Things are gonna get worse. Worst? they’ll make raga a competent candidate. And badaamtass. We’re back at being slaves of the nehru kings.
Total garbage
This entire article is nothing but lies. Very clear about their anti Modi and anti national rhetoric. Shame on the print.
Tu aurr modi bada sachcha hai be bhakt
No one would dare to comment on above points or put a like symbol as again my comments might be treated as a militants view or an anti nationals with due respect to our democratic society those are elected ones to rule with all their lies till they are exausted Jai Hind
don’t be mean
@ Shivam,
Kudos for presenting a good framework for fighting ‘fake news’ (irrespective of its origins/intent)
# 3 in response (to fight falsehood): keyword is groundwork organization. Most have zero presence on the ground. Unless that changes, the response will always be passive. Eg: Palghar Lynching (which was criminal and not communal and the act was itself based on fake news).
# 5 in response (to fight falsehood): it can be started immediately at the state-level. Hope powers-that-be can read your article and study hat RAND Corp. paper.
Infact migrant crises has more to do with ‘CON’-gress than Bjp which has lied people for 6 decades in name of ‘Garibi Hatao’ which has done more damage to India than
Modi communalism
No one would dare to comment on above points or put a like symbol… as again my comments might be treated as a militants view or an anti-nationals..with due respect to our democratic society….those are elected ones to rule with all their lies till they are exausted …Jai Hind
What the hell is this article,have some standard…
This is the worst news obtaining source.
All u guys do is just condemn modi and bjp,u guys got no better job. Get a life and put some constructive articles and not these poisonous articles which is just based on some stupid opinions and not facts. U guys think u got intp brain,what a group of fools.
Stop embarrassing urself and put some informative articles.
The quality of the articles u guys put is shit and put hatred in others head…U guys must be brought to court for putting hate in everyone’s head.
Criticism is good if it got some base and validity.
U guys are so busy in criticizing modi, u have forgotten about journalism.
Instead of being abusive explain exactly why the points raised are not the truth, point by point. That is what journalists do.
That’s what he has done. What is your point?
Fake ID spotted.
I congratulate The Print for their guts to call a liar – a Liar , no matter how charismatic one is . Truth must be brought out again & again as we’re experiencing hate speeches , false promises , false packages , lies , deceit again & again .
The poor starving destitute migrants still as yet have not received foodgrains or a little cash even after 50 days . This is absolutely inhuman , heartless & definitely anti people .
Who’s responsible – definitely the ruling government & they should be accountable .
High time the judiciary should have the courage to order an enquiry & punish those responsible for the deaths of citizens who voted this crooked , crafty government to power .
The people will never forgive or forget that this government left them to starve on the roads especially during this Deadly Coronavirus pandemic . Many have lost their family members despite repeated lies of supplying foodgrains & cash . The government has received thousands of crores as donations but these heartless crooked politicians don’t want to give cash to the destitute & dying except for lies & false hopes & big talk of packages .
Mr Shivam Vij, , if you think that People can be fooled by lies/fake video Post, you are a biggest fool/idiot Journalist to assume such Perception. Congress fooled people for decades & decades, now People won’t believe Congress even they tell truth hundred time. Look at Ra Ga & his sold out chronies /Journalists shouted over a lakh time day & night,24×7, 365 days that “Chowkidar Chor hai” in Rafale case. What happened? Modi got more Votes & more seats in 2019 Election. Your advise to spread more fake news/fake media will make Modi to get over 400 seats in 2024 Elections & send all Opposition parties into dark age period. Ask Congress to throw out sycophant old coterie who are useless ( they can not win their own MP seat) & encourage honest,hard working younger leaders to lead from front. Change structure of Congress from Dynasty Rule to a true Democratic Party. Let Congress work hard & don’t go for short cut methods like spreading lies or posting fake video as suggested by immature Journalist Shivam.
Are we not playing with fire by asking opposition to use lies?
he is asking the opposition to use TRUTH. he is asking people to learn to tell the difference between TRUE and FALSE. A LIE and the TRUTH. ok? it is not lie v/s lie – try to be honest at lest with yourself!
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BTW why don’t you remove some of the false sponsored Ads below this comment section? How can you mislead people?
BTW why don’t you remove some of the false Ads below this comment section?
To be or not to be… Everyone knows that everything what Modi Government say is not right and nor does the opposition? It’s very hard now a days to tell which news agency is transparent and if they are talking on behalf of people or some political party, media needs to reinstate trust else people will keep selecting wrong candidates and you will continue writing such articles forever.
The print always come out with articles which has very little sense. I have strong feeling print is funded by Chinese / Pak media as only Modi is able to give strong reply to these india betters. If the funding is not from these, then print should introspect and stop weakening India.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU SIR JI
Why no comments on how you are “sikular” and “libtard” yet ? It cell is busy I guess.
If every word or act of this central government would have been a lie, then how come such a government be elected twice.
Why people have faith in PM modi even if his government has poor home work.
Are really all Indians who elected the government are fools.
I opinion about this article is just to give a bad image of a government. Or it should be an article of perfect opposition party.
One thing I can proudly say, “A man with sprint Eye is better than the blind”.
If our 50 year + ruled government would have been right now – guess what would be the package.
Money in every hand of labourer(may be 5000 or 6000) per family.
Some more small incentives to the very poor.
And what about the middle class, upper middle class families. And the big one.
50 years +ruled government is ruled by a family with selfish needs.
How come one blame blindly, what ever modi government does or act is a Jumla.
Now people are no more illeterate.
They may be poor educated, but can smell the greedy minds of opposition.
Mr Bhuvan Kumar: Adolf Hitler too was elected to power democratically. Indeed, even until the very end of the Third Reich, people trusted and were willing to give their lives for that Nazi führer. Playing on the German “Aryan” identity against the Jewish one was a great mobiliser in Germanyway back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Likewise, many poor whites who knew they would suffer if Trump got elected, voted for Trump. He played on the white fear of becoming a minority in the US, blacks, gays, Jews and so on and won. Indeed, in one BBC interview, a sick coal miner and his wife who were utterly dependent on Obama care to the tune of $ 6000/month voted for Trump who promised to remove Obama care !!
Democracy requires a certain degree of awareness and holding politicians accountable for what they promise and what they deliver. But votes in India are often bought for grinders, flatscreen TVs, cash and so on. And identity politics matters more than basic needs for many voters, especially when politicians couch the message cleverly. “You are hungry because Muslims steal from you” gets you votes in India. “People in Bombay suffer because the kaala madraasi steals jobs from the “marathi manoos” and disr-respect him” fetched Bal Thackeray votes.
Votes matter in a democracy and voter decisions must be respected. But voter decisions may not always be respectable.
I request Govt.please do not discourage the poor migrant labourers ? stop lies , we have been hearing only lies for last 6 years from Modi Govt. During this danger time Govt. making fool to poor and playing political game with us.
This is danger for Indian democracy for which only opposition or its opposition citizens to be blamed.
Second very dangerous trend is BJP can do anything until it followers are happy that the Muslims are insulted on every nook and corner of Indian Soil.
Third very very dangerous is there is no democracy within the BJP party that there are no personalities who can question the policy of its own government.
I still feel India is a free country where one can express freely his or her ópinion and correct the Democratic process of governance.
All American so called Think Tanks never want to engage in realism of other countries.They always want to nock it down.Trump keeps making q=weird decision even when his own chosen people give him good advise?Americans will try to make divisions with other countries. Why do you not mention stimulus American package?You have your own agenda?There is No opposition in India just DOGS Barking from Congress who do not bring anything construtive to table for real discussion.Congress wants to steal all the gold from Hindu Mandirs to pay for stimulus?How about Churches,Mosques and others?I think you are being handsomely paid by Congress and its Master Shekar Gupta?