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 The 2020–2021 farmer protests, which were sparked by the controversial farm laws that were later repealed, drew significant public attention, with criticism directed at the use of force and the management of the situation.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.
Prof PK Sharma, Freelance Journalist,Barnala(Punjab)
The powerful duo of “NaMo- Amit Shah”seems to be very panicky and jolted !
Where is the implementation of the ploy “Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas ” ?
Ironically, how many meetings of CMs were convened during all these more than four years to hold parleys with them to strategize
the development,progress, prosperity, employment generation for the demographic dividend of the nation, how to credit Rs. 15 lakh
in every citizen’s bank account as per his promise, bringing back of black money stashed in foreign banks, whether to go in for demonetisation or not, offering petrol- diesel at cheap rates to public in wake of crude oil prices stooping very low in international market during more than four years, how to address farmers’ suicides issue,insurgency-trans border terrorism in Jammu Kashmir, how to alleviate poverty,how to impart quality education at an affordable price and how to offer affordable health care system in the nation ?
Were all these burning and sensitive issues and problems ever discussed in the BJP Margdarshak Mandal ? How many times the
Margdarshak Mandal met during these more than four years of “Modi-Amit Shah rule”?
The duo infact has offered the nation” a new model of democracy ” ! Should not the nation honour the duo for this in ensuing republic day of the nation next year ?
Now for garnering votes, CMs have been summoned to deliberate strategies ! Is not it too late ?
Will not masses ask these Chief Ministers in which bank have their Rs. 15 lakh been credited ?
Who will bring to book the guilty responsible for the deaths of one hundred fifty innocent persons standing in queues in front of banks
to get their own cash money in the country ?
Why did NaMo go to Lahore on an unscheduled visit to felicitate then Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif family and enjoying dishes with his family ? Very strange, dishes Modi enjoyed but CMs and BJP leadership will have to encounter sharp questions during the polls campaign !
Will NaMo not pay very dearly for his megalomania and authoritarianism , only the electorate of this nation will answer ?
Time to ponder over all this and introspect deeply !
Prof PK Sharma, Freelance Journalist
Pom Anm Nest,Barnala(Punjab)