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I was one of those naive guys who got taken in by Modi's slogans of 2013-14. Shd have known better - but fell for them hook, line & sinker.
The anti-UPA mood was SO strong at the time. UPA was being bashed day in, day out. By not just BJP, but cleverly by media & industry too.
The IAC movement played its part in undermining UPA's credibility. Minor detail: Many, like Kiran Bedi, Kher & Ramdev, aligned w/ BJP later.
Oh, I was SO naive then. I genuinely thought Arnab was the voice of the people, taking the establishment representatives to the cleaners.
I believed in Modi's "Sabka Saath,Sabka Vikaas", "Minimum Govt,Maximum Governance" "Bahut hua Naari par Vaar, Abki Baar Modi sarkaar" et al.
I believed in Vinod Rai and his 2G scam figure of 1,76,000cr. I believed in every scam reported. They were flying in thick and fast.
Remember a letter from the "captains of industry" to Govt, expressing their concern abt the state of affairs. Nicely fed the then-narrative.
I totally believed everything abt the Gujarat model. Have never been to Gujarat in my life - everything just seemed perfect about it.
I used to watch TV in those days - I don't anymore. The daily coverage of scams just made me very anti-UPA. Couldn't wait for it to go.
It was as if UPA could do NOTHING right at that time. Was being bashed for EVERYTHING. Now I realise, much of it was probably orchestrated.
The night before results, it was clear UPA was out. I tweeted "jab raat hai aisi matwaali, phir subah ka aalam kya hoga". I was thrilled.
Today, looking back, I'm ashamed of my naiveté. Shd have known better. Not that I've rediscovered love for UPA. But I fell for dirty tricks.
The sole aim of a political party like BJP is to gain power. So it does whatever it takes to achieve this end. I shd have been smarter.
It's a BIG lesson for me. Not to take anything at face value. Not to trust easily. I blindly trusted Vinod Rai, Arnab, Kiran Bedi et al.
Reason I'm discussing all this here is, I'm well into my 50s, educated, seen many elections. And STILL I got conned by all the propaganda!
I think there must be millions of people around the country like me. Must have fallen for all those slogans. The smooth talk, the charm.
When you're made to want a result SO badly (I wanted nothing but to see UPA out!), yr mind believes things it wants to. Slogans et al.
I was even warned by a friend that if BJP won, it would give anti-social elements a free hand to engage in violence. I didn't believe him!
Was SO focussed on "UPA must go!". Thought, if Modi says "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas" he'll ensure Rama Sene-likes are in check. Yeah, right!
First shock I got was when that Muslim techie was beaten to death in Pune, soon after Modi became PM. No immediate condemnation. Silence.
From there on, one after another. Dadri, another shocker. Again silence. Many more. Everytime silence. This, from an o/wise very vocal PM!
Then, all the Delhi politics with AAP. From ACB to frivolous charges on MLAs. I refuse to believe they were purely the LG's doing.
PM Modi has tremendous power that goes beyond his PM position. That he'd allow hate to spread in India the way it has, is deeply disturbing.
There have been Modi-baiters from day one, picking on anything to bash him with. I've cared abt just two things - Social Fabric & Economy.
Which is why I didn't bother about his education degree. Or his pinstripe suit. Or his many foreign trips. I cared about other things.
I cared abt his silence on violence. I cared abt the economy, growth slump, lack of private investment, jobs concerns, NPA situation.
Not that these are all his govt's fault but he came to power on promise of Vikaas, jobs et al. One thing is ENTIRELY his baby: DeMon.
DeMon. Come on! The pain it has caused so many, esp in the informal sector, cannot be brushed away lightly. Many are still recovering.
And now GST rollout pain. I read horror stories that are sought to be conveniently passed off as "teething problems". Spin - as usual!
Interestingly, I don't see "captains of industry" writing a letter to the Govt, expressing concerns over the state of affairs. Why not?
It's a measure of the changed dynamics of the govt - citizen/business relationship that pain is now often suffered but not expressed.
Expressing pain could be seen as an indictment of govt and only likely to result in even more of pain being inflicted on you. Chup raho!
Am just sad at this state of affairs. I didn't want UPA out so desperately, to get THIS in the bargain. Surely we deserve better, don't we?
Quite likely I'll be attacked for this thread. Really don't care. Am beyond all that now. This is more of a mea culpa than anything else.
Still 20 months to go for LS2019. A lot can happen in this time. I'll be observing developments very closely. And hoping for the best.
One thing's for sure. I'll never ever, ever, EVER, get conned again the way I was in 2014. That's a lesson for life. Good night!
