Ex AAP leader Ashish Khetan has now left some people frowning. In one of his latest tweets, to everyone’s surprise, he praised the newly launched Ayushman Bharat Scheme under PM Modi.
PM Modi's Ayushman Bharat, if implemented well, will transform the healthcare sector in India. Millions of lives will be saved & poor will be protected from economic ruin. https://t.co/8Mv7IzXsOb
— Prof. Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) September 23, 2018
According to this tweet, he was vocally appreciative of the NDA’s current healthcare scheme, which aims to provide efficient health services to every Indian possible. In his words, if implemented in true letter and spirit, this scheme can work wonders for the nation, especially the economically poor, who are touted to be the immediate beneficiaries of this scheme.
This one tweet sent many people on the liberal front frowning, with immediate tweets coming in the following fashion:
Have you joined BJP? We all know about these bombastic schemes which after great publicity and PR of Modi fizzle out. You are helping in this propaganda. Elections are near and many such schemes will be announced.#Mera_PM_Chor_Hai#Mera_PM_Dalaal_Hai
— AAP Works (@punj_aap) September 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/sourabh_13/status/1043802785660121088
https://twitter.com/drarshad4/status/1043817895795412992
However, the one article that aroused the most attention was Shekhar Gupta’s criticism of Ashish Khetan’s stance, it also questioned his motives of whether he wishes to join BJP.
Not only is this criticism unreasonable, it also reflects of the extreme intolerance this liberal cabal for any alternative view, even if it comes from their own. Ironically, The Print is lambasting Ashish Khetan, who is a known Modi critic. Ashish Khetan is well notorious for using some of the most undignified language for the current PM, on the lines of recent critic turned supporter Ram Subramanian, ad filmmaker who tweets from the handle of Voice of Ram. Following are some specimens of his criticism of PM Modi:
https://twitter.com/aashishkhetan/status/964102884228042753
As such, even though Ashish Khetan’s new found love for PM Modi’s schemes would be taken by some with a pinch of salt, he did post an effective and rational reply to Shekhar Gupta’s unreasonable criticism.
Ashish Khetan is not the first such person who has switched his gears and preferences. Be it Kapil Mishra or the famous scriptwriter cum actor Piyush Mishra, many are recognizing the efforts of the current government where it’s due.
Even Ram Subramanian, famous both as Gurmehar Kaur’s tutor and a sworn critic of PM Modi, has surprised everyone with his sudden appreciation of PM Modi. Even though he posted a long thread justifying his current stance, not many people, especially the liberal brigade, are ready to buy that.
With Ashish Khetan now praising PM Modi for his genuine efforts towards people’s welfare, we now see a volatile but strong base of support for PM Modi and the NDA government in the runup to the general elections of 2019. The way Ashish took Shekhar Gupta to the cleaners for his unreasonable criticism is something that is not only praiseworthy, but also indicative of the declining support that the left liberal ecosystem is currently witnessing.
With even ex ABP journalist Punya Prasoon Bajpai now switching sides and refusing to extend support to his earlier claims of the BJP led NDA government turning dictatorial, it is only a matter of a simple question: Is 2019 going to be an open contest or just a confirmation of BJP’s supremacy?