27 September 2018

Social Upheaval in Modi's India


India is experiencing a strange dynamic. The Modi government is involved in a clampdown against dissidents and the RSS paramilitaries are harassing Christians and others who are deemed less than Indian.


Remember Modi's BJP identifies Indian-ness with Hinduism and thus it is a viable threat to people of other religions and social persuasions. The government can retain plausible deniability because it has its paramilitaries that can do all the dirty work.
The BBC article (linked below) discusses the arrest of Maoist activists which are prominent in certain parts of the country. Many believe that free speech and expression are being curtailed. In other words for many Indians the Modi government (even while promoting pro-market policies) is spreading fear and the threat of authoritarianism.
At the same time Modi has just launched a massive programme of universal health care. The timing is interesting as elections are coming up in the spring of 2019. Of course if the rollout doesn't go well, it could become an election issue and a thorn in the side of the BJP. One would think they would have waited a few months. I'm sure this question will also be discussed ad nauseam.
Some are critical of the move, arguing that it's tantamount to scam, a means to funnel money into privatised insurers. Other cynics will argue that it's a means to divide the poor and bring large sectors of them over into the BJP column.
Whatever is the case, India continues to fascinate and while as a Christian I look askance at Narendra Modi, his rise and administration continue to generate interest.

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