PM Modi should introspect on his role

Stop Think and Vote. This is what Narendra Modi said today in Madhya Pradesh. They are real golden words. Its time for all voters to stop thinking about political affiliations, think about who has worked for the country or their state or constituency and then exercise their franchise.

Similarly, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should Stop, Think and then Speak. During his election speech in Chhattisgarh, Modi said that Chief Minister Raman Singh faced lot of challenges from the then Congress government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a 'remote-control' government which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," he exclaimed.

Agreed that the Congress government did not do much for the backward state. Let us also agree with Modi for argument’s sake that four generations of a family ruled the country and they only thought about welfare of one family but never gave a thought about the welfare of people and hence how can we trust them that they will fulfil aspirations of people now, Well this is something which needs to be pondered over.

But the Prime Minister should also put his hand on his heart and introspect as to what has the BJP government which has absolute majority do for the welfare of the states. Can we trust the BJP which had failed to fulfil the aspirations of people in the country?

In 2014 it was “Ab ki baar Modi Sarkar.” Later Modi said “Sub ka Saath Sub ka Vikas.” In 2019 people are caught between the devil and deep sea. Modi Sir, it’s easy to deliver dialogues which are full of punches but then it’s time to look back and indulge in some self-assessment. People are no longer getting attracted or mesmerised by dialogues. Even the Telangana Chief Minister who is known for his fiery speeches has toned down his vitriolic and is talking about what his government had done.

Chhattisgarh was among those states which was divided in a smooth manner unlike the division of Andhra Pradesh. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee's signature in politics was achieving pragmatic consensus and this was manifested when under his government, three new states of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were formed in 2000 peacefully. These states are prospering...the Congress divided Andhra Pradesh and they saved the child and killed the mother, Modi continues to say." All these words are music to ears. But then, Mr Prime Minister, in what way is the NDA government led by BJP different from the so-called remote-controlled Congress government?

Did the NDA government fulfil its promise of bringing in true federalism? Did it not trouble the residual state of Andhra Pradesh during the last four- and- a- half years. Did it not fail to implement the provisions of A P State Re-Organisation Act 2014 thereby denying help to the new State of Telangana? Is it not a fact that TS has been complaining of poor inflow of funds?

While the Prime Minister charged the Congress of not helping Chhattisgarh, he should also take stock of what his government has done for the two states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Modiji, it is your favourite dialogue, “Congress has saved the child and killed mother.” What did the foster father do to nurse the new born child? Addressing a rally on the last day of campaign for the second and final phase of polling for Chhattisgarh Assembly election, Modi said four generations of a family ruled the country and "benefited from being in power", but the country did not benefit from their rule. What about last four and half years? Did the country benefit though there was a Prime Minister who had no opposition?

Did the quality of life of the common man improve? Did it succeed in curbing black money? Did it strengthen various institutions? Have the prices come down? Did industrialisation grow by leaps and bounds? Could the BJP government at least bring in political reforms? Hopefully the results to the election being held in the five states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana will give the answers to these questions.