NDA govt at 3: no major gains

As the NDA government completes three years in office today, it is politically stronger than it ever
was, and the BJP, the main ruling party, is the most dominant party in the country. After the setback it received in Bihar two years ago, it won Uttar Pradesh this year and is planning to consolidate its position and expand into more states. But the government’s strong position in Parliament and outside and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high status have not resulted in major gains or achievements in most areas of governance. In important areas, there is a negative impact, and the national mood is not the best, with social relations stressed and extremist elements in the ruling establishment trying to impose a majoritarian agenda. Minorities and Dalits have come under frequent attacks and the society is more divided than it was three years ago. There is a pervading atmosphere of intolerance. That does not bode well for the country.

The government came to power with promises of minimum government and maximum governance, and speedy economic development. But the government’s power and reach have actually expanded. Many of its programmes like Make in India and Swachh Bharat have yet to show results. A fairly high economic growth has been recorded but it is a jobless growth. The best achievement of the government is the imminent introduction of the Goods and Services Tax regime. Its worst decision was the demonetisation of high value currency which disrupted the economy and the lives of people, without any seeming benefit. The much trumpeted fight against black money has not yielded results. There is more rural distress now. The security situation has deteriorated badly with the situation in Kashmir going almost beyond control and Maoist violence rising in the central parts of the country. The militaristic and strong-arm methods and policies pursued by the government have worsened the situation.

The external environment has also deteriorated badly as relations with key neighbours Pakistan and China have suffered serious setbacks. The initial promise of improving relations with Pakistan has failed and there is an increasingly dangerous situation on the border. The nation had expected much more in every field from a government which was assured in its strength and had promised better days for the people. The prime minister has talked of his vision for a better India which remains in rhetoric and gets expressed in abbreviated alphabets and rhymed phrases. With the greater part of its term behind it, the government has to think and act differently and work harder to fulfil its promises. But it seems to be more concerned about 2019 than about the years before it.