Hard of the matter

 At his sixth Independence Day speech from the rampart of Red Fort Delhi, prime minister Narendra Modi unveiled significant policies which his government will be implementing. In his independence day speech, Modi has unveiled a slew of decisions such as investment of Rs.100 lakh crores for roads and highways; creating the post of chief of Defence staff; water conservation; plastic-free India and most importantly, re-emphasising on Family Planning. India’s population has shot up to 1.26 billion and expected to surpass China by 2028. Population control will be a big challenge and India urgently needs to address this issue. Fresh from having passed major legislations such as the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A for Jammu and Kashmir besides the highly contentious Triple Talaq Bill among several others within the first 100 days in office, Modi is ready for more. It is not to say that all the bills are going to transform India but the most important aspect is that Modi is not afraid to take decisions, even if some may not be popular with all sections of society. The very fact that Modi is a decisive and dynamic leader has been lauded even by his critics. It is a welcome change from the indecisive and passive nature of past ad-hoc prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Of course on the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal, Dr. Singh placed his neck on the guillotine amidst the Left abandoning the UPA. Eventually, Dr Singh’s government survived when parliament okayed the deal. Modi is different and has his own mind and ideas on what to do and how to achieve it. Some have likened the style of functioning of both the Modi-1 and Modi-2 governments of being driven by a majoritarian agenda. Perhaps the majority community electorate have found a government capable of taking ‘hard’ decisions even if several poll promises haven’t actually been delivered. The majority community are nonetheless happy to have rediscovered their ‘masculinity and showing to the Muslims what to expect. It may be pertinent to note that the ability to take ‘hard’ decision is not a moral virtue as the inability to do so. If decisions are weighed heavily on ideological reasons then it does not augur well for a diverse, multi-cultural and multi -religious mosaic that India is. The happenings in Jammu and Kashmir is not about only terrorism but about the how consensus has been replaced by unilateralism. J&K is under total shutdown and all political leaders under house arrest. J&K has been reduced to a union territory and stripped off all privileges because it is believed that article 370 and 35A were the hindrances towards law and order and development. Today, ordinary Muslims in India are living under fear and it is undeniable. The contestable news in the media including propaganda has painted a dim picture of Kashmiris. The fact is that not every Kashmiri is a terrorist even as not every Hindu is a militant gaurakshak. There is no stopping the Modi government from trying to evolve a politically mature and spiritually regenerated collective thinking ; clearly and critically, and with wisdom. It also calls upon the opposition to engage in a positive discussions with the government and seek a common ground for the problems faced by the nation.