Political rivalry is good and it is necessary for a healthy democracy. However, cheap allegations and personal attacks on each other not only tarnish the image of India but also weaken Indian democracy. The ongoing Lok Sabha elections are perhaps worst elections so far, which is marked by bitterness and acrimony.
In our country, people always see political leaders fighting like cats and dogs. It is not so that leaders have not to respect and appreciations for each other. However, they always fear that opponents might take political mileage from their words or statement. Therefore, they never appreciate each other publically. Indian political leaders of various parties appear divided drastically. But many times they have exhibited unprecedented unity. In 1991, Parliament Members of all parties passed a bill for their pension without any discussion just before the mid-term poll. This shows that they may be extremely divided on issues of national interest but they are one on issues of their own salary increment, perk, and pension. Earlier all political parties of India speak with one voice on every matter of foreign policy. They have also similar views on issues related to Kashmir, army, etc.
Now it is not so. Our leaders differ extremely on every topic. They have nurtured animosity among them and have gone far on this track. It seems that they cannot come back. But people are always surprised by party hoppers. These leaders change their ideology and party overnight for cheap monetary and political gains.
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attacks his political rivals as if they were Pakistani. He has shown more softness to former-Pak Premier Nawaz Sharif that the Congress President Rahul Gandhi and many more. The Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar was so against Modi’s policies that he parted his way from NDA and broke the alliance. In 2017, suddenly he deserted Lalu Prasad Yadav and formed the government with the support of BJP.
Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) was the partner of NDA. However, now TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is the greatest critic of the Modi-led NDA government. She leaves no chance to attack PM Modi. Bitterness between Mamata and Modi has crossed its limit. Mamata denied taking calls from PM during the cyclone Fani recently. This acrimony does not stop here. Mamata Banerjee had said in a rally that she does not accept Narendra Modi as the prime minister of the country describing him as the Expiry PM. She said that she will talk to the new Prime Minister after the election results.
Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi is complaining publically that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not ready to accept him as the Prime Minister of the country and it is an insult of the Constitution. This may be a checkmate game but it sounds rude and impolite. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accused the Congress of hurling abuses at him. He said that the party did not even spare his mother.
Though Modi has shared the dais with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, he is also one of the opposition leaders who attack Modi most. Sharad Pawar accused PM Modi that he attacks opposition leaders personally. He said that PM goes to this extent only because he is unable to talk about his contribution in the past five years of his government.
It is not a story of two-three political leaders. This list is long. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Farookh Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Chandra Babu Naidu, Asaduddin Owaisi, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Sharad Pawar, Navin Patnayak, Prakash Ambedkar and many more leaders are strong critics of PM Modi.
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