Bharat, that is India, stands on the brink of yet another pivotal electoral moment. However, challenges laid by the anti-India forces loom large. In recent years, the country has seen storms of protests and unrest aimed to undermine the very fabric of our society. The elements behind the unrest paddled the narrative to paint India as a nation that is packed with intolerance, discrimination and injustice.
From farmer protests to the Delhi Riots of 2020, from attacks on Hindus during festivals to a spike in cases of love jihad, and from demographic change to international meddling in India’s affairs, the attempts to set a divisive narrative continued without a break. As we prepare for the 2024 elections, we must reject these divisive narratives and unite as a nation. It is necessary to unite and uphold the values that Bharat is known for.
When the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came back to power for its second consecutive tenure at the Centre, it was expected that the government would face relentless attacks aimed at tarnishing its image on the international stage.
There were accusations that the Government of India under PM Modi was anti-Muslim and discriminated against minorities, poor and marginalized. Interestingly, the narrative was hurled across platforms in India and on the international stage at an alarming frequency. India was called a “failed democracy”, and the target was set to project the country as opposed to press freedom. It was claimed that India performed poorly on the hunger index and religious freedom. Every matter was blown out of proportion to use against the government.
In those attempts, sadly, the opposition leaders, left-liberals and so-called intellectuals, including some anti-BJP journalists, spewed venom against the country. They forgot that there was a line, that too, not a fine one, between criticizing the government and making the country look bad on the international platform. Portals like The Wire came out with fake stories like “Tek Fog” and “Meta Saga”, which used fake narratives to project as if the central government was using technology against the opposition leaders and dissent. The stories fell flat, but the portal continued to spew venom. The same goes for similar portals, including Newslaundry, Scroll, and others.
Yet, amidst the mountain of criticism, the truth remained clear. The BJP-led central government came with a commitment to the welfare and progress of all Indians. The ruling party delivered on the promise. Better roads, better infrastructure, and better transport have become synonyms for good governance. The central government schemes were pushed to achieve milestones at a never-before rate. Everything was planned and executed in the best possible manner.
Everything fell in line, from electricity to the last mile, affordable gas connections, housing, and cheap internet, because of the responsible leadership. All this, even though India and the world faced a COVID-19 pandemic that largely shook the core of the economy.
Despite the attempts to portray the BJP-led government as communal and divisive, it must be noted that the government pursued policies and initiatives that benefited all segments of society. Welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, PM-KISAN, Make-in-India, Sagarmala project, Awas Yojna, Har Ghar Jal, Ujjwala Yojna, and other schemes showed how the government has worked tirelessly to uplift the lives of millions of Indians irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
However, the task ahead is not limited to just governance. In the coming years, the government and the people of India must fight the battle for the soul of our nation. The forces seeking to sow seeds of discord and disunity will continue and pace up their efforts to polarize and divide the country. They will exploit grievances, real or fake, to further their agendas. As seen in the past, they do not care if their actions damage the country’s social fabric or image on international platforms.
We, as Indians, stand at a crucial crossroads. We must reaffirm our commitment towards the essence of Bharat, that is, the commitment to the principles of unity, peace and harmony. It is every citizen of this great nation’s duty to reject the politics of fear and embrace the politics of hope. It is essential to recognize our strengths and show resilience towards the divisive forces. As we cast our votes in the upcoming elections, let us vote not as members of divided communities or factions but proud Indians. Let us unite for the shared vision of a prosperous and harmonious India.
In the aftermath of the elections, the real work will begin. We must come together and fight against divisive politics. It is upon us to fight the anti-India forces in and out of India to ensure there is peace in the country. The opposition has faith that it will remain in the opposition for the 18th Lok Sabha. The so-called intellectuals, left-liberals, and anti-India narrators will put more effort into putting India in a bad light with new plans. It is high time that we become vigilant against the anti-India forces before they hit again, attempting to tear us apart.
The road ahead is full of challenges, but we must unite as one nation. We must stand united and build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.
