The
specter of the country’s descent into fascism stares at us. The long
reign of the UPA has not halted or arrested the march of the communal
fascist forces; indeed there
seems today to be a greater acceptance of ideas that we would call
fascist. The strident demands for death penalty – whether for alleged
rapists or terrorists – the impatience with rule of law; the
acceptability among the young urban people of a man as a potential Prime
Minister, who is totally autocratic, this desire for a strong
authoritarian leader, all again point to the circulation and reception
of fascist ideas.
Communal
Governments in various states Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh are preparing
themselves for a long innings. In Karnataka, the internal squabbling and
fracturing of the communal forces in the state have led to their ouster
from the government, however the intimidation of minorities has become
routine – pointing to the deep roots of communalization of society,
which may not necessarily change with a change of regime.
There
have been several low intensity riots at least since last year across
the country: Gopalgarh (Rajasthan); Faizabad and Kosi (UP), Dhule
(Maharashtra), which really points to the potential return of
communalism to the centre-stage of Indian politics. It also indicates
the fragility of communal peace and the continuing communalisation of
the police force at the local thana level, which openly target the
minority community in times of violence, as the video of the Dhule
violence graphically illustrated. On the one hand, one sees local-level
riots engineering machinery gearing up, and on the other the cleansing
and anointing of Modi as the development man.
The
rise in the power of the middle class via a corporate media, which
aggressively pushes the agenda of ‘corruption-free efficiency’ at the
cost of issues of social justice, secularism and democracy movements, is
further pushing the Indian polity towards the Right. A symptom of this
can be seen from the rising clout of Godmen is a sign of the alienated
middle class seeking short cuts for maintaining status quo.
In
fact, the possibility of Modi’s candidature has pushed our politics
much farther to the Right, as various political formations compete with
each to seduce the same social base and the same corporate media. The
jingoism around terrorism is an example of this alarming trend. Gujarat
model of Development is being sold as ‘THE’ model of development to the
gullible middle class.
Like
all fascists Modi presents a model of efficiency and effective rule to a
beleaguered nation and like most fascists this model of efficiency and
growth is based on lies, half-truths and a million dollar PR industry.
But
such a moment when a fascist alternative is being sold to civil
society, is also the moment which can produce a creative challenge.
Today’s seminar will offer such a challenge by putting every creation of
the Modi PR machinery under the scanner. A vast range of data on the
Gujarat model of development will be presented today and expose his
lies. These lie along several dimensions – his destruction of democratic institutions in Gujarat, scams of enormous proportions.
FACT SHEET
· In 10 years 60,000 small scale industries have been closed down.
(source: Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Gujarat.2011-12 )
· Gujarat ranks 5TH in F.D.I.
(source:
Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of
Gujarat. & Report by reserve bank of India.2011-12 )
· The state’s total debt was less than Rs 10,000 crore when the BJP first
came to power in Gujarat in 1995. Gujarat’s actual debt has mounted
from Rs 45,301 crore in 2001-02 when Modi took over to Rs 1,38,978
crore on December 30, 2012. The debt would mount to Rs 2,07,695 crore
as per the state government’s budget estimates by 2015-16.
(source: Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Gujarat. & Gujarat assembly question hours2011-12 )
· Gujarat is at 8th position
in agricultural growth. Gujarat is never achieved 10% growth in
Agriculture sector. As per Government of Gujarat’s own statistics from
year 2005-2006 to 2010-2011, growth in GSDP in Agriculture and Allied
sector is 3.44% only-not double digit or 10%.
· In Gujarat VAT on fertilizer is 5% it is highest in India
(Source:Ministry of agriculture, Gujarat,2010-11)
· In Gujarat 26 districts have 225 blocks in which 57 are dark zone blocks. (Source:Ministry of agriculture, Gujarat And annual report Narmada nigam, 2011-12)
· 455885 Applications are pending for agricultural power connection as on March, 2011
(Source:Ministry of agriculture, Gujarat,2011-12 )
· Close
to half of the states children under the age of 5 (44.6 %) are known to
be suffering from malnutrition. 70 per cent are said to be anemic while
40 per cent are underweight. (Source:planning commission
report-2012-13)
In 8 districts and 3 Talukas of Gujarat, 2494 teachers posts are vacant.
In 4 dist of Gujarat, approximately 978 schools are running with only 1 or 2 teachers.
(Source: RTI filed by Vinod Pandya GOG reply to RTI, 2011-12)
(Source: A report by NGO Ahmedabad Womens Assosiation Gujarat-AWAG-(TIMES NEWS NETWORK, 25 th Jan 2013 )
· The
Deputy Speaker’s post is left vacant by the Gujarat Government for a
decade. (As per article 178 of Indian constitution, it is compulsory)
· Assembly runs on an average for 30-32 days a year.
· No Lokayukta appointed since last 10 years.
· Gujarat
has organized 3716 Employment festival” as per Government of Gujarat
own record 10 lacks educated youth are unemployed and a total of 30 lakh
people are unemployed. (Source: NASSO report,GOI,2011-12)
· NSSO data show that in Gujarat , growth in employment has dropped to almost zero in the past 12 years
A
recent CAG review on accounts of the States is an eye-opener when it
comes to Gujarat, the latter’s high claims notwithstanding. Allegedly
there are Rs 16,706.99 crore worth of financial and land allotment
irregularities with resultant negative impact on delivery on economic
and development fronts (Source: CAG report 2011-12)