The BJP led NDA government was elected with high hopes by the people of India in the scorching summer heat of summer 2014. People have high hopes from the Narendra Modi led BJP government that they will deliver them good governance with a much needed relief from the falling prices of essential commodities, a corruption free government and a general ‘genuine feel good factor’, that will improve the lives of millions of Indians still living below the poverty line. While some of the promises like delivering a corruption free efficient government have been fulfilled, at least till this extent, however little time has elapsed till the government at Delhi can be judged on such aspects. But the point I have to make in this write up is that that patience of the unforgiving Indian people is wearing thin. There is no perceived relief from the price rise and while the government can give statistics proving otherwise, the story on the ground is that everything has become so expensive.

Second most important thing is the creation of jobs and giving a decent livelihood to a huge chunk of Indian population who are not decently employed. The government is also slacking on this front and it seems that no steps are being taken to alleviate the condition of people suffering from the scourges of unemployment and poverty. While it is too early to judge the present government on such parameters, it is still a fact that the NDA government has failed to generate or at least take steps to generate large scale employment, especially for the youth of India. While the Prime Minister may be busy in securing diplomatic brownie points by inviting the American President to the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi this time around, and this embodying the true spirit of a Globe-trotting Gujarati by touring countries ranging from Japan to Fuji, not forgetting US and Australia, this has only enshrined the fact that somewhere, the priorities of the present Government have been lost.

The rich are only getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. The government should confront this stark reality. The soaring share prices and the bullish stock market are no indicators through which the welfare of the people can be measured, for such indices are only meant for the rich and the already wealthy. The government should take steps to immediately announce measures to curb the large scale unemployment and take into account the large scale aspirations of the people of the Indian Republic, especially the youth, who are still reeling under exploitation due to poor working conditions and general apathy of the government towards them. The NDA government should take immediate steps to announce a roadmap for generating large scale employment for the youth, or the youth will take to the streets, something they did when the reservation stir fuelled by the Mandal Commission was at its full swing. But the government has to remember that the times at that point of time were quite different, and now the times have totally changed. The youth today are more aspirational, open and raring to go, given the kind of exposure that they have, and if the government fails to answer to give a vent to their high aspirations, they will not hesitate to show the present government the doors towards oblivion.

This government should remember that government of India is not run by one persona, nor the governance should feature or focus on only one personality, but instead it should encompass all and work as a one cohesive unit where every voice is given equal representation and the face that the government projects should be of unity and resolve, rather than that of promoting some personality cult or persona. This government should remember that in a great democracy like India, nobody is above the people of India and it is in fact the people of India this government is bound to serve. Hence, instead of wasting precious time on symbolisms, like building statues or visiting foreign countries, it would do the country good if the Prime Minister focuses more on strengthening the internal force of India that can catapult it to the highest orbit of growth and prosperity.

Last but not the least, this government should never forget that while the impression has been conveyed that corruption has been rooted out from the highest echelons of the government machinery, i.e. the Union Cabinet of Ministers, there is still lots of work to be done in removing the scourge of corruption from the lower levels of the government machinery and demonstrate firmly to such corrupt people that corruption is to be avoided like a plague and nothing can deter the government of India from eliminating it from the Indian society. Such a kind of momentum is absent in the current direction and working of the Government at Delhi and this is undesirable.

At the end, I would like to remind the central government that the hopes of people are high and they have counted the present government as their partners in the growth and prosperity of India, and have given them full mandate and support. But if still like Ravana, the chief villain of Ramayana, people are individually and collectively asking the question, ‘When will I be happy?’, then the government should understand that its work is cut out and an enormous challenge is looming on their shoulders. If the aspirations, hopes and expectations of people are not met, then the society may give birth to countless Ravanas, who can make life hell for themselves and for the society as a whole. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the government should act in full swing to combat the ills mentioned above and amend its so far lackluster performance.