The trajectory embarked upon in 2014 and 2019, marked by grand promises and national optimism reflected by slogans like "ACCHE DIN," "SABKA SAATH SAB KA VISHWAS," " AMRIT KAAL " " VIKSIT BHARAT " "NAA KHAYUNGA NAA KHAANEY DUNGA"and aspirations of development, smart cities, a cleaner nation through SWACCH BHARAT, and self-reliance with "AATMNIRBHAR BHARAT", now seems to have veered off course, obscured by the dust of unfulfilled pledges.
Ten years on, the dream of "ACCHE DIN" has faded, smart cities remain elusive, and thousands of constructed toilets lay dormant, indicator of widespread mismanagement and corruption. Reports of toilet scams across states reveal staggering discrepancies between funds expended and actual implementation, begging the question of who benefited from these contracts—a matter that hardly requires astuteness to discern.
Despite substantial investments, the concept of a "SMART CITY" eludes concrete realization, leaving residents uncertain about their urban designation. Trust, once a cornerstone, erodes amidst communal tensions and incidents of violence, rekindling separatist sentiments like those for Khalistan.
How did we regress to this point in a mere ten years?
Have our hospitals, schools, police, and essential services shown improvement, or do we still prefer private alternatives? The quality of life indicators—air, water, traffic, and women's safety—remain unresolved, alongside endemic corruption in bureaucratic and Political channels.
The elected MLAs of a state are herded and taken to a resort in a different state and an elected State Govt is toppled, and astonishingly many of us celebrate, little realising that thousands of crores of black money must have changed hands.
Companies have been coerced to purchase ELECTORAL BONDS and rewarded but strangely we are justifying the act.
Out of 25 tainted opposition leaders who crossed over to BJP, 23 have been given reprieve ; cases have either been closed or shelved and we are gleefully celebrating the victory.
And when some of us are unable to extend any logic behind all this , they come out with strange justification ; CONGRESS BHI TO KARTI THI. Little realising that one elects a Govt to improve upon things rather than to continue the same old evil practicies for which the previous Govt was shunted out.
Ironically, amidst these pressing concerns,the discussions often are digressed towards religious ideologies and percieved historical grievances, sidelining urgent imperatives like scientific advancement, education reforms, healthcare enhancement, law and order reforms and urban development.
The shift from progressive agendas to archaic religious debates raises questions—Is it inadvertent or deliberate?
While the government bears responsibility for these developments, citizens must reflect :
Can a nation progress when its politics pivots around religious rhetoric and vendettas?
Time dwindles, and the repercussions of inaction loom ominously. It's imperative to act swiftly, as once matters spiral beyond control, reclaiming stability becomes arduous, if not impossible.