SR Darapuri I.P.S. (Retd) Organiser, Jan Manch
BJP’s
chain of defeat which started with Gorakhpur and Phoolpur in Uttar Pradesh bye
elections has extended to defeat in Kairana and Noorpur. It has broken the
invincibility myth of Modi and Amit Shah.
If the opposition parties succeed in joining hands to get rid of
unprecedented danger to basic democratic values, institutions, society, culture
and civilization created during four years Modi rule, it will definitely be
good for the country and democracy. But will it bring ‘Good Days’ for the
public?
These parties and the ensuing alliance does not have any
solution for the problems of starving farmers and the agriculture crisis, what
are policies for giving employment to jobless youth, betterment of exploited
classes: Dalits, Backwards, Adivasis and the women ? The picture on this front
is very hopeless.
During ten years of UPA rule under the leadership of Congress
anti-people policies were forced on the country. Modi government which came
into power by benefitting from the public anger against these policies is
speedily pushing forward the same economic and industrial policies. The crisis
in public life is deepening and the deceptive Modi image created by media is
fast getting shattered on the ground. The divisive tactics adopted by Modi-RSS
combine to send the basic questions concerning various classes of society to
the background are failing to create popular public opinion.
It is obvious that the crisis is structural and neo-liberal new
economic–industrial policies have aggravated it further. Congress has not given
indication to withdraw from these anti-people policies and all of us have seen
how much humanitarian was Manmohan Singh’s liberalisation with a ‘Humane
Face’.
The other regional parties which have been part of UPA are also
followers of the same policies. Ajit Singh himself has been in the Cabinet. It
appears to be an Uttar Pradesh centred phenomenon only . SP and BSP have been supporting
UPA-2 from outside. Their state governments did not remain behind in supporting
the new economic-industrial policies. Now if they succeed in 2019, the
situation will not even be like UPA-1 where New Economic Policies were slowed
down under the influence of Left parties, some welfare schemes had to be
launched and the public got some respite. It will be an extension of UPA-2.
There will be no check on anti-people policies and not much relief can be
expected for the public.
At the national level the situation is similar to UPA-1. CPM has
refused to have any political alliance with Congress. The so called “BJP Harao
Gathbandhan” (Defeat BJP Alliance) is dependent on Uttar Pradesh only where
Samajvadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Smaj Party (BSP) have been supporting UPA
government from outside. But now are moving forward towards an alliance for Lok
Sabha election in spite of being staunch opponents in state politics. The
alliance of these parties to defeat BJP is without any political-ideological
commitment and it appears to be more an effort to save their own existence
From the defeat of BJP in bye elections it has become clear that
formation of SP-BSP alliance in UP based on big social base is proving to be
heavy for BJP’s election power base and BJP is not in a position to counter it
immediately. But SP-BSP alliance’s biggest weakness is its silence on public
issues and absence of announcement of any pro-people agenda.
The people will not usher in “Good Days” simply by removing Modi from
power. With an aim to defeat BJP the Powers of Movements and People’s Democratic
forces along with Congress, SP and BSP alliance should raise public issues and
should put forward a strong demand for withdrawal of anti people neo-liberal
economic and industrial policies.
