Demonetisation, Opposition and Bandh

Demonetisation, Opposition and Bandh

Major General Mrinal Suman

Life is full of surprises, nay shocks. When Manmohan Singh slammed demonetisation as ‘organised loot and legalised plunder’, one did not know how to react. The man who facilitated generation of maximum black money was accusing Modi government of ‘monumental mismanagement’ – some brazenness!

Manmohan Singh virtually pawned national assets to the coalition partners in exchange for the prime ministerial chair. He allowed and abetted open loot of the treasury.  Ministries like coal, telecommunication, aviation, railway and sports had become dens of corruption. He expressed his helplessness, taking shelter under the unscrupulous plea of coalition compulsions. In a way, it was an open admission by him that he would lose his chair if he took action against his corrupt colleagues. Therefore, it was most incongruous for him to talk of loot and plunder.

One does not know why the Congress party fielded him. Did it really think he was their trump card, being a renowned economist and an ex Prime Minister, or was it done in jest to embarrass him? More surprising is the fact that he agreed to speak on the subject. He made a laughing stock of himself with his homilies, inviting sniggers from viewers. His track record both as the head of the government and pragmatic economist is appalling.

Congress party appears to be at its wits’ end. It does not know how to respond to Modi’s initiatives. The party joined the whole country in lauding surgical strikes across LoC. When it realised that Modi was gaining popularity, it started questioning its occurrence. Most ridiculously, it demanded that proof be made public. When scoffed at by the whole country, it started claiming that it had also allowed similar strikes when in power.

Demonetisation evoked similar response. Initial reaction was muted. However, with Modi acquiring iconic status as a crusader against black money, Congress quickly changed tracks. Having failed to find a convincing economic argument against demonetisation, it has started resorting to the dishonourable tactic of disrupting parliamentary proceedings.

Most laughingly, Congress has declined to debate the issue without the presence of the Prime Minister. Yes, it is not satisfied with just a statement from him but wants his presence throughout the debate – an unprecedented and irrational demand.  A new low has been reached in India’s abysmal parliamentary conduct – issues are not important, individuals are. It shows total bankruptcy of ideas and logical thinking.

Taking a cue from the Congress party, other opposition parties have also joined the bandwagon of protests and bandhs. They are expressing their Aakrosh (anger), ostensibly for the discomfort being caused to the common man. Can there be a more ridiculous excuse? Actually, it is the political leadership that is getting discomfited. 

Common man is supporting the decision and is willingly enduring the temporary hardship for the long-term good of the nation. People standing in long queues for hours showed no anger at all. Even leading questions of some infamously shameless media men have failed to evoke negative responses.

Responses sought by Modi on his app showed overwhelming support for the step. True to its wont, opposition dismissed it as a contrived poll.  

A survey was carried out by C-Voter (an international polling agency) across different age and income groups on 21 November. It covered nearly half the country’s parliamentary constituencies. Almost 87 percent of respondents supported the move against black money while 85 percent opined that the inconvenience being faced by them was worth the effort. Therefore, which common man’s discomfort is bothering the opposition parties?

Even if the above survey is dismissed as non-representative, how do the opposition parties explain sweeping victories scored by the ruling party in the recent civic elections in Maharashtra and Gujarat? These were held after demonetisation and people had already endured cash difficulties.

The truth is obvious to all. Elections are an expensive business. Political parties had hoarded huge stocks of ill-gotten cash to fight elections and bribe voters. They are feeling ‘cheated’ and their anger is explicable. How will they arrange liquor and other freebies to influence voters? How will they gather supporters for their rallies? Who will pay for the fleets of buses for transporting them, arrange their meals and cash rewards? Hiring of helicopter fleets and cavalcades of vehicles for flitting across various constituencies will become difficult.

Many political parties used to collect huge funds by auctioning party tickets for elections to the highest bidders. Needless to say, such donations were always in cash. Demonetisation has dealt a fatal blow to this trafficking of electoral rectitude. As there is no cash, there are no takers. Any wonder then that many political leaders are shrieking and behaving in such a despicable manner. Their treasure chests have been demolished.  

In addition to the politicians; some builders, traders, smugglers, hawala operators, presstitutes, lawyers, doctors, private hospitable, schools/colleges and such other segments of the society have also been thriving on black money. Therefore, their opposition to demonetisation is understandable.

However, what is not acceptable is their incendiary and inciting agenda. Old pictures of long queues (including those outside cinema halls) are being circulated as of cash starved restless crowds. Every unfortunate death anywhere in the vicinity of a bank/ATM is being attributed to demonetisation. A heart patient died at home while getting dressed for going to the bank. The headline read, “Man dies of fear of long wait at the bank”. Absurdity has no limits.

According to jurisprudence, all decisions taken in good faith must be accepted accordingly. Everyone knows that demonetisation is a colossal step towards ridding India of the menace of black money. The whole country is supporting the government. Exceptions are only two – those who thrived on black money and those who are inimical to Indian interests. As regards the latter, they are incorrigible. Anti-nationalism is a part of their DNA. Every progressive step towards a better India has to be opposed by them; and that is India’s misfortune.*****