Sardar Modi & Patel’s legacy!
By Pamarty Venkataramana
It is a popular belief nurtured by decades of ‘congi-tamasha’ that any ‘karyakarta’ of a political party would be a slogan-shouting or lobbying-broker out to peddle favour with his or her political master.
But, that wasn’t the case with a singularly hard-working ‘son-of-India’ who as a Karyakarta of the BJP, had been fired with a passion to rewrite the murky history of desi politics. A case in instance was when he visited Brisbane in Australia and spent six months alone to study the functioning of local government bodies. No research student yet one who is still an eager-beaver for developing strategies to beat corruption, poverty, hunger,
Yes, Prime Minister Modi would board a bus by himself, in his simple attire and jholi and wherever he noticed a government building of interest, he would enter and identify himself as a karyakarta of BJP and spend time understanding their bureaucratic procedures, systems, policies,
Yes, Modiji is a man of immense passion, vision and immaculate thoughts.
He is no accidental prime minister like the father of modern India, P.V.Narasimha Rao.
But one who designed his career-path as well as political-career in footsteps of the iron-man of India,Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
Like the Sardar, Modiji too loves the motherland and does not let personal affections affect the effective implementation of State policies. Be it to tame wayward colleagues in the Cabinet or train honourable members of Parliament; be it to address a conclave of captains of industry or farmers, students and other sections of the society; within India or the diaspora abroad and be it to rub shoulders with the most daunting leaders of world at Summits, Modiji has exhibited the valour and impromptu connectivity with the people of the nation.
Now arises the question-‘ what makes Modiji a Sardar ?’
It is not as if he were a mass neta like the founders of his party in Parliament nor were he a Gandhiji doing a dandi-March !
The planned entry of this people’s’ PM into national politics and the ease with which he has knit the nation into one concerned and throbbing country, has traces of the iron will and determination with which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has tamed the wily Nizam and the murmuring hordes of ‘dissident’ princes into seceding to the Sovereign Republic of India.
As anyone who has witnessed the changing face and styles of governance since the Indian economy opened its doors to the world would vouchsafe, the prestige of the country has been enhanced in the world stage because Modiji, like Sardar Patel, is an out and out patriot having only the good of his country in mind and heart.
Whereas few have vehemently criticised the demonetisation of 2016, the back of some of the most corrupt politicians as well as their outfits has been broken. In a bid to harmonise the manufacturing sector and cost of production of goods sold in the country, the GST was introduced. Universal healthcare is another much acclaimed and welcome move in the social sector reformation programme of Modiji. The laudable habits of giving up subsidies to enable less capable ones is also as commendable as the cleanliness is godliness drive. Special enactments to address changing patterns of societal behaviour are highlights in the process of transformation of India.
Sardar Modi is definitely up-keeping Sardar Patel’s legacy of knitting India as one unified wholesome nation.
Having said this,Modiji in order to really achieve the uphill task he had set out to do (long before he was even inducted into mainstream politics of Gujarat State or Indian nation), ought to set his sights on taming the monsters of religious bigotry, communal hatred and casteist politics by their twisted horns. He has an absolute majority Parliament to back him up. As well as Judiciary which is progressive and has begun to view erstwhile taboo-subjects as ‘same gender wedlocks’, ‘live-in marriages’ and ‘adultery’ as being matters of personal law or nature (So, the State need not expend it’s monies and energies on such private affairs!). The Executive, however, remains the Achilles’ heel of even the most popular Prime Ministers .
Several measures need to be taken starting from piloting of a Bill to introduce Uniform Civil Code, Women’s Reservation Bill, Removal of personal taxation and introduction of a transaction- tax Bill, Prevention of issue of post dated cheques as a commercial practice, Disenfranchisement of proven traitors indulging or being engaged in acts detrimental to public peace or sovereignty of India, etc. In fact, a body such as Reserve Bank of India may be advised to issue a circular that hereafter only an amount lesser than rupees three lakhs can be issued by way of a cheque and all other payments above this sum should be transacted by digital methods. Or else, a much touted ‘digital era’ remains a farcical slogan.
Sardar Modi ought to tap the existing and abundantly available natural resources of the country like shale gas and biomass to generate oil supplies and cut the draining away of almost forty percent of bills being paid in U.S.dollars to other countries – be it Saudi Arabia,USA or Iran. Similarly, the golden rule of -‘Be Indian, Buy Indian’ can be spread far and wide to generate avenues of employment as well as create a passion for things Indian. It is not a matter of pride that best of artisans and weavers have shifted to China or elsewhere depriving India of its inherent talent houses. Payments can be made through Indian rupees instead of succumbing to pressure of Uncle Sam and a healthy functioning of BRICS Bank is a must in this direction. That would also reunite good old ( lost ) ‘cousin-lands’ to do barter trade with India. The Indian Rupee requires urgent dosage of policy measures in foreign trade and domestic consumption. Law and order in a land of unequals can only be maintained by forcing ‘good’ laws on all countrymen, without malice aforethought or by allowing the ghosts of history to haunt or plague the present generation as well as successive generations of India.
Sardar Modi must begin to stand firm as well as strong and towering as the tall statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel from Gujarat or the immortal freedom fighter, Sardar Paparayudu of Andhra Pradesh. Besides the countless millions who had sacrificed their lives and wealth for the good of all India- to be freed from the yoke of the foreign colonisers. Unless this agenda of nation-building is permitted to be fulfilled by re-electing this Prime Son of the Soil,India is but bound to lose all the advantages gained over the last four plus years.
Legacy of Sardar Patel is being carried on by a most praiseworthy Narendra Damodardas Modi.
Long live India! May more such Sardars proliferate to help turn BHARATVARSH into a ‘Vishvaguru’ !
Jai Hind!!
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