India’s current government is led by the Bharatiya Janta Party or the BJP. It is also the country’s largest national party. It was formed in 1980, though its origins lie in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was founded in 1951. The Jana Sangh was closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization that continues to play a significant role in shaping the BJP’s ideology.
The party first came to power at the center in 1996, but its government lasted only 13 days. It returned to power in 1998, forming a coalition under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister. His tenure saw India conducting nuclear tests in 1998, economic reforms, and a focus on infrastructure development. However, the BJP lost power in 2004 to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
The BJP made a historic comeback in 2014 by securing 282 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, with Narendra Modi as India’s prime minister. Major policy changes include the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 that criminalized triple talaq in India.
The government’s handling of several protests and crises has faced widespread scrutiny. The 2020–2021 farmer protests, which were sparked by the controversial farm laws that were later repealed, drew significant public attention, with criticism directed at the use of force and the management of the situation. Similarly, the government’s response to the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests raised concerns over its handling of dissent, particularly the use of force. The BJP’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic also attracted criticism, especially regarding the lack of transparency around the death toll, shortages of medical resources like oxygen cylinders, and inadequate preparedness during the second wave.
Additionally, the ongoing inter-tribe conflict in Manipur, which erupted in 2023, has faced criticism for the government’s perceived failure to take adequate action, with accusations of poor crisis management and insufficient intervention in addressing the escalating violence.
Someone above commented that Modi cannot be blamed for international oil proce. He himself blamed Manmohan Singh precisely that during 2014 election. Beyond internal politics, India should not Cow down to US pressure tactics when it comes to Iranian oil. Strategically and economically, it doesn’t make sense. We will suck in oil from an already crowded market and international prices as a result can go only one way. Unfortunately, the current regime is incompetent to understand the nuances. Education does matter while running a country
The tide is ebbing and showing us how fully clothed – in Buffettspeak – we have been in the last few years, praising our macroeconomic management, fastest growing economy, etc etc. Whoever forms the government in 2019 should have a first rate economic team and a well thought out plan for economic revival and growth.
What are you saying ?
Are oil prices are under Modi control? If not then your whole essay is a bunch of nonesense.
You are such an oversensitive IT cell coolie. Relax, nobody is criticising your precious employers.