There are two clear cut political and governance models before the Indian voters. The One line of political thinking is spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the other is steered by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Both have completely opposite styles and functioning of government. India being a democratic setup has given ample scope for endless debate between the two diametrically opposite ideologies. But the debacle of the Sri Lankan economy has exposed the lacunae of freebie politics, it’s devastating and far reaching consequences on the country. This forces us to introspect and weigh the risks, benefits of this “Rewari Culture”.
PM Modi launches scatching attack on “Rewari Culture”
PM Narendra Modi, a politician/statesman, has a strong connection with the emotions of the voters. His sense of timing and long term messaging has no rival in contemporary politics. Though he refrains from commenting on fast developing situations, when he does, he doesn’t mince his words. Evidently while inaugurating the 296-km long Bundelkhand Expressway, a symbol of progress and development, he went ballistic against the freebie culture. He coined a term for it, “Rewari culture”.
Read More: Nirmala Sitharaman strikes a blow on the freebie politics
Just for the sake of clarity, Rewari is a delicious sweet but it is also used as an idiom/slang. Just like the English proverb penny wise pound foolish, freebies (free Rewari) may look lucrative in the short-run but it eats up the share of tax payers’ money meant for Infrastructural development.
PM Narendra Modi heavily criticised this freebie (“Rewari”) Culture prevalent in some opposition ruled states like Delhi and Punjab. He termed it dangerous to the present as well as future young generations. He stressed that these governments indulging in doling out “Rewaries” will not build new Expressways, airports and other big developmental projects.
The choice between development and freebies is obvious.
As PM @narendramodi said today, ‘Rewari culture is a threat to development.’#BundelkhandExpressway pic.twitter.com/Dkh3c6P33O— Kanchan Gupta (Hindu Bengali Refugee)🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) July 16, 2022
He said, “This Rewari culture is very dangerous for the development of the country. Those with Rewari culture will never build new expressways, new airports or defence corridors for you. Together we have to defeat this thinking, remove Rewari culture from the politics of the country”
आजकल हमारे देश में मुफ्त की रेवड़ी बांटकर वोट बटोरने का कल्चर लाने की भरसक कोशिश हो रही है।
ये 'रेवड़ी कल्चर' देश के विकास के लिए बहुत घातक है: आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी pic.twitter.com/39s0l9xC1G
— Yogi Adityanath (मोदी का परिवार) (@myogiadityanath) July 16, 2022
He cautioned the voters to not fall in the trap of this Rewari culture. He went to say that India has to get rid of this and defeat this thinking.
He said, “People of Rewari culture feel that by distributing free Rewaris to people, they can buy them. Together we need to defeat this thinking. Rewari culture needs to be removed from the country’s politics.”
Though it is said that politics is an art of subtle messaging, everybody knew whom PM Modi was targeting with this jibe of freebies and “Rewari culture”. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took it on himself and came out justifying his freebie politics but had nothing to show on infrastructure and developmental plank other than his usual rhetoric of free education and health.
Read More: Kejriwal’s freebie bomb is set to explode in his face as subsidies in Delhi are going to be optional
AAP, the party that came to change the way of doing politics, indeed changed it making it worse than it already was. In lieu of winning votes it compromised with the budgetary provisions of the state and stressed the state economy to dole out indiscriminate and fiscally imprudent schemes.
Contrast between Pro-poor and Populist politics
The thrust of the Modi government has been on development through strong and resilient Infrastructure. Since 2014, PM Narendra Modi has been working steadfastly on several flagship development programmes. His government has been scripting brand new world records in building Expressways and Highways.
Multi prong efforts of the Modi government have been on improving Ease of doing business. It is driving a cycle of investment to herald the Indian economy to new highs. Some of the ongoing developmental projects of the Modi government include – Logistical parks, freight corridors, inland waterways, Bharat Mala, Sagar Mala and rapid transport system.
The benefits of these capital expenditures and Infrastructure push are long term. It has a multiplier effect on the economy. These are the foundation stones to make India a giant manufacturing hub and topple Chinese from the world market.
Contrary to that, the AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal focus on a short term gain. His politics heavily rely on revenue expenditure in forms of doling out exchequer money on freebies. While whatever may be the claim, the burden of freebies leaves minimal or no scope for new requisite infrastructure for basic needs like Health and Education. His tall claims of Mohalla Clinic were badly exposed and soiled during the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally the over-hype of the education system is just an advertising gimmick which is evident from the fact that teaching staff have to protest on a regular basis to get their dues cleared from the Delhi government.
It is high time that we rise above petty politics and learn hard lessons from the failures of the Sri Lankan economy. Success has no shortcuts and for development infrastructure and Capital expenditure are the only solutions. To gain power parties should not throw state economy under the bus. It is need of the hour that the real intention of PM Modi is understood even by his opponents and they change their policies in the long term interest of the nation.
Read More: Kejriwal’s freebies mutate into giant potholes and mini rivers on Delhi roads
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