[dropcap]B[/dropcap]JP’s Azadi event could not gather much attention for the party in Uttar Pradesh. BJP president Amit Shah’s visit was part of a nationwide event by the party called “Azadi 70 – Yaad Karo Kurbani”, a predecessor to the party’s much hyped “Tiranga Yatra” that will begin from August 16. Party lawmakers and workers will take a bike rally in their constituencies with Tricolour flag. It’s the BJP’s big independence push across the country, but in UP, the state that will witness assembly polls early next year, there is more to it. At a public meeting after the event, Amit Shah began his speech by saying he “would not talk on politics”, but the temptation, perhaps, was too hard to resist. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “No development was done in the country since Independence as the government was run by one family for 60 years. Without development of UP, country’s development is not possible.”
However, Shah repeated the same line during Bihar elections’ campaign; instead of UP he had said Bihar. Nevertheless, they failed miserably in Bihar and Delhi. BJP was very vocal this year in Tamil Nadu but could not even make a mark there. The party and its leaders should understand that rhetoric and blame game will not garner votes to win elections. Deliverance of promises made during Lok Sabha elections matters most to get a foot hold in any state, such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat or elsewhere. Modi government should speed up deliverance of election promises. It’s been more than two years and still Congress bashing as an electoral strategy is being adopted by the BJP. After trying to divide the citizens on every possible line, Shah still has the audacity to say that his party believes in ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikaas’.
No government has ever been rebuked by the highest court of the land as this present government has been. The CAG has already given adverse comments on government claims on savings achieved through LPG subsidy scheme. Still, Mr. Shah exhorts people of UP to elect the BJP for all-round progress. All this makes me dumb-founded. The Centre has provoked the students, the Dalits, the minorities, and the judiciary, encouraged vigilantism of various hues by keeping studied silence, exhibited intolerance on various issues, curbed federalism (especially in Delhi), engineered defections and toppled elected governments, is unable to control the Kashmir unrest, has missed on priorities, and committed many other instances of misgovernance. UP is not India, is to be understood correctly. BJP is probably confused and not knowing what to talk, as Amit Shah does not seem to know anything about India. UP is one of India’s most backward states with low Human Development Index (HDI). UP was not at all ruled by Congress for 26 years now, who have been decimated from the state for which period various local parties, including BJP (as coalition) have been in the saddle. Why is he talking about the “dead snake” Congress, cannot be explained. Suddenly, BJP seems to have lost on even ideas – within just two years after making big noise and taking centre stage. The people are watching and hearing them, they should be more careful of what they are saying. This time people are not in a mood to buy jumlas, they want government to function and bring promised golden days for them.
Now, people are getting bored and yawning while listening to BJP leaders’ speeches. If nothing was done in last 60 years, then from where these heavy industries, power plants, India’s space and nuclear program, higher educational institutes, IT sector, banking, Biotechnology & Pharma, Green revolution, DRDO, defence establishments and many other things, come from? One can understand that UP and Bihar have problems but entire people are not fools and goons there. Better to talk sense rather than crying over what happened in 60 years.
BJP failed to fulfil its election promises of 100 days; is unable to progress forward. In the last two decades, Congress has ruled for 10 years while BJP ruled the nation for more than 8 years. Report cards for both the group – UPA and NDA—are negative and both are blaming each other instead of doing work for the prosperity of the nation. The problem with UP is that, less educated people reside in the state and those who are educated don’t bother to vote and are away from the state. Many are either working in Mumbai, south India or residing abroad.
If BJP or any other party is serious about winning the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the party needs to understand that this time they have to work, gain people’s confidence by doing work and not mere delivering election promises. Else these fancy patriotic shows will remain as an entertainment programme, but will not fetch them votes.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
