Chidambaram warned of centralism danger under NDA rule & alleged that bulldozer justice has replaced natural justice

Institutions, that are the independent pillars of a democracy, have been weakened or subordinated to serve the ends of the central government

It appears that China has not yielded an inch in the numerous rounds of talks at different levels

The thoughtless — some would even say foolish —?introduction of the Rs 2000 note (which the people shunned) and the mortifying spectacle of withdrawing the note have cast doubt on the integrity and stability of India’s currency

The growing inequality between the super-rich and the poor has exposed the skewed economic policies of the NDA government

Social strife, communal conflict, intolerance, hate, fear and deep divisions among the people mar our lives every day

Sanjay Jog

A veteran Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Monday led a blistering attack against the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warned of ‘’centralism’’ danger and the end of federalism in India especially in the wake of absence of Constitutional Governance. He was speaking here on the completion of NDA government’s nine years in power. ‘’While there is an appearance of a democracy,?the tree of democracy has been hollowed out.?The aim of these excesses is to bring the states and 140 crore people under one omnipotent and omnipresent central government.?The danger ahead is ‘centralism’ as we have in some countries.?Let me caution the people: if that day dawns, it will be the end of federalism,’’he claimed.?

‘’Governance and policies in a secular, democratic country must give rise to a tide that will lift all boats.?In that view, the NDA government has totally failed in the last nine years.?What is worse is that the government does not even make an effort to correct its mistakes and govern for all the people,’’ he alleged.?

‘’There is rising concern whether the country is being governed according to the Constitution.?The Modi government has spread its assumed legislative footprint into subjects that are the legitimate concerns of state governments.?It has curtailed the legislative and executive powers of the state governments. Governors of non-BJP ruled states are acting like Viceroys. Parliamentary rules and conventions are violated. Debate in Parliament is becoming rare and even calls for vote by division on important Bills have been brushed aside.?Legislation are pushed through without discussion and by-passing scrutiny by Parliamentary Standing Committees.?The central government’s agencies have been deployed to destabilize state governments through false cases, threats of investigations and arrests. There is scant respect for the verdicts of Courts, including the Supreme Court. Institutions, that are the independent pillars of a democracy, have been weakened or subordinated to serve the ends of the central government,’’ he alleged.

On defence and security, Chidambaram claimed that there is abundant evidence that Chinese troops have encroached into Indian-held territory and occupy it even today while contradicting the PM’s statement made on June 19, 2020.??‘’The Chinese are furiously building defence infrastructure (roads, outposts) as well as new settlements along the border.?More Chinese troops have been positioned on the India-China border.?The reach of Indian patrols has been curtailed since the clashes in the Galwan valley in June 2020.?It appears that China has not yielded an inch in the numerous rounds of talks at different levels.?The initial demand of the Government of India to restore the ‘status quo ante’ as on May 5, 2020 has been cast aside and forgotten.?Besides, the China-Pakistan axis has become stronger and the security threat has spread to every part of our border in the west, north and east. Our relations with Pakistan are more fraught than ever before.?Parliament is in the dark about the actual situation and has not been allowed to debate the security threats to the country,’’ he said.

On the present state of economy, Chidambaram noted that the economy is growing modestly at a much-reduced pace.?‘’We are compelled to raise very serious questions about raging unemployment, persistent inflation, widening inequalities and stumbling welfare programmes.?The All-India unemployment rate is, currently, 7.45 per cent and the Labour Force Participation Rate is about 48 per cent. Prices are elevated and people are consuming less.?The thoughtless — some would even say foolish —?introduction of the Rs 2000 note (which the people shunned) and the mortifying spectacle of withdrawing the note have cast doubt on the integrity and stability of India’s currency.?Key economic indicators are pointing downward and there is low confidence that the economy will reach the high-growth path.?The first three quarters of 2022-23 recorded growth rates of 13.2, 6.3 and 4.4 per cent, a declining trend.?The present situation is a far cry from the average of 9 per cent growth rate that marked the boom years between 2004 and 2009,’’he observed.

On Social conflict and divisions,??Chidambaram alleged that bulldozer justice has replaced natural justice, adding that Social strife, communal conflict, intolerance, hate, fear and deep divisions among the people mar our lives every day. ‘’Freedom of speech and expression of citizens has been severely curbed?through intimidation and slapping false cases.?The alarming situation in Manipur, the over 75 deaths and the continued silence of the prime minister illustrate my statement,’’ he said.

On Inflation, Unemployment, Inequality and Poverty, the former FM said the growing inequality between the super-rich and the poor has exposed the skewed economic policies of the NDA government. There are 169 dollar-billionaires in India today even as 22.4 crore people (16 per cent of the population) are poor according to the Global Multi-dimensional Poverty Index.?‘’Knock on the door of any average family.?They will tell you how their lives have been blighted by persistent inflation and acute scarcity of jobs.?And how they watch while the wealth of a few thousand people grew by leaps and bounds even during the Covid- affected period, and thereafter.??And how there are large and visible pockets of poverty and deprivation all over the country,’’ he opined.

According to Chidambaram, the outcome of the Karnataka elections demonstrated how wrong the Prime Minister, his government and his party were in their assessment of the political and social situation of the state.