It's happened. Counting Day has come and gone, leaving the saffron brigade jubilant. The TV showed scenes of dancing and cheering in constituencies all over the country while even in Times Square, Abki Baar revolutionaries gathered to celebrate the landslide, historic win that they largely funded, and were offered brotherly support, as well as, for some reason, samosas in celebration. The revelry in the Stock market and on trading floors was also clear, with the Sensex passing 25,000 points. The Congress was wiped the floor with. AAP fared no better. Regional parties did reasonably well in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. But the big ones- the B and U of the BIAMRU States- were swept by the Hindu Right. It's tragic that every single time, these states have the most decisive impact on the electoral outcome. The most illiterate people who are the least likely to have the knowledge to be able to make informed decisions; why do these decide who our rulers are?
So, what now? Love it or hate it, what's next for India? That's the big question.
Will the BJP act tough on nations like Pakistan- will machismo and militarism define our foreign policy from now on?
Will 'development' take place at all? Is it only the Adanis and Ambanis who will have any reason to cheer in the next few years?
Will education and health show the much needed inmprovements in order to increase employment, employability of the population, consistent economic growth, reduction in poverty and societal stability?
Will minorities feel secure and not be targeted by a newly buoyant RSS, who will now be confident of minimal retribution for any actions from the overloads who have historically shown a tendency to instigate communal hatred by their speeches and actions and absolutely no inclination to seriously prosecute communal rioters?
I don't know any of the answers, nor am I overtly optimistic about any.
All I can do is pray.
God save India ...from her own destructive children.
