BJP's Promises and Betrayals
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DURING the 2014 and 2019 parliament elections, Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party made promises to Indian voters on some important key issues. These promises were not just made verbally but were included in their election manifestos. However, during the election campaign, Narendra Modi and others went even further by making bigger assurances and creating hype. It is the responsibility of any political party to fulfill the promises they made in their election manifestos once they come to power. Therefore, it is the people's right to question the party about the implementation of these promises. In light of this, let us now examine the issues of price rise and employment, which have become key concerns in the upcoming 2024 parliament elections.
In the BJP 2014 election manifesto, addressing price rise and employment was a priority. It criticised the Congress-led UPA for failing to curb food inflation, emphasizing the threat to food security. The manifesto highlighted the BJP-led NDA's commitment to controlling prices through measures like combating hoarding and establishing a Price Stabilisation Fund. It pledged to address inflation and high interest rates by implementing stringent measures, including setting up special courts to tackle black marketing.
It is crucial to note that the issue of price rise was not mentioned in the BJP's 2019 election manifesto. Let us now analyse the experiences of the past ten years. According to the recent report titled "Income and Wealth Inequality in India 1922-2023," the inflation rate in 2014 was 139.9 and increased to 205.3 in 2022 (with the latest data not yet available).The table below provides the prices of certain food items and the LPG cylinder, with a 65.4 per cent increase observed over the past nine years.
t is evident from the table provided and the information in the Income and Wealth Inequality in India 1922-2023 report that inflation has not decreased or stabilised, but has instead sharply increased, leading to skyrocketing prices. The current ruling administration has completely failed to fulfill the promises outlined in their manifesto, deceiving the people of India.
Several recent surveys have been conducted by various institutions in Delhi. The survey results were reported in the daily newspaper, The Hindu. According to one survey, 85 per cent of the participants expressed their struggle to manage due to the exorbitant cost of living.
Another survey was conducted across different communities and locations. People have expressed their concerns about the price rise, stating that prices have increased, and they are finding it difficult to manage. Similarly, people have reported that finding a job has become challenging. Regarding "Ache Din" (better days), people have expressed disappointment, indicating that better days have not arrived.
The Godi media (lap dog media) and the Hindu fundamentalists are spreading the message that people are highly content with the policies of the Modi-led government. However, the survey report has debunked this propaganda and revealed the truth. This demonstrates that a significant number of people, regardless of their caste, community, or location, are experiencing a great deal of hardship.
In addition to the increase in prices and unemployment, the cost of medicines, healthcare, education, house rents, electricity bills, transport charges, and so on, have also skyrocketed. Unfortunately, earnings have not increased proportionately and have even declined in some cases.
In its 2014 election manifesto, the BJP prioritised job creation and entrepreneurship, criticising the Congress-led UPA for a decade of 'jobless growth'. It said that focus will be on strategic development in labour-intensive manufacturing and tourism, strengthen traditional sectors like agriculture and retail, harness infrastructure upgrades for job creation, promote youth self-employment through entrepreneurship support and credit facilitation, address employability with a mission-focused multi-skills development programme, and transform employment exchanges into career centers for transparent job matchmaking and training.
WHAT IS THE REALITY?
Unemployment in India has reached its highest levels ever. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute for Human Development recently released a report titled "India Employment Report 2024". According to the report, in 2022, the youth unemployment rate in India was 23.22 per cent, which is higher than its neighbouring countries such as Pakistan (11.3 per cent), Bangladesh (12.9 per cent), and Bhutan (14.4 per cent), as shown by data from the World Bank. The report also highlights the unemployment rates in other countries: China (13.2 per cent), Syria (22.1 per cent), Indonesia (13 per cent), Malaysia (11.7 per cent), Vietnam (7.4 per cent), South Korea (6.9 per cent), and Singapore (6.1 per cent). This data has been sourced from the International Labour Organisation. The term "youth unemployment rate" refers to individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 who are actively seeking employment but are currently jobless. The Hindu survey report also confirms the worsening situation.
A young man named Ankit Kumar completed his graduation in Nalanda district of Bihar. In 2009, he moved to Delhi with his family of five in search of employment. At that time, his mother, father, and himself all worked in different small factories, earning a total of Rs 5,800 per month. With this income, they were able to support their family. However, the factories have since closed, and now Kumar is the sole earner, making Rs 10,000 per month. He finds it extremely challenging to sustain the family with this amount.
Another example is Seema, a widow from Azamgadh district of Uttar Pradesh. She has four family members and came to Delhi to work as a maid. She shares that ten years ago, her monthly ration bill was Rs 1,500. However, now it has increased to Rs 3,500, while her earnings have fallen significantly short. Countless families in the country are facing similar hardships.
The 18th parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in various states over seven phases, starting from April 19, 2024, and ending on June 1, 2024. This provides an opportunity to remove the BJP, which has deceived and burdened the people of India during its ten-year misrule.
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