The silent Class War between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots in India began a couple of years ago! Surprised? Read on.
The world thinks of Class wars as violent, destructive times in the life of nations. But Indians are an innately peaceful race. Our ancient DNA has taught us that the silent war of passive resistence can bring down the worst marauderers of the past. That’s why democracy fourishes in India. Its in our DNA.
But make no mistake, our democratic nature is no less potent. It may not make world wide headlines like some of the many other wars going on around the world, within countries. I’m not going to take your time to elaborate, as anyone following the news will already know.
By the way, I am not referring to the Manipur tribal clashes alone, although that too is very much a Class War going on. It is less communal than it is a Class War between two tribes – one being the haves and the other feeling cheated out, the have nots.
This war is being fought politically!
It all started with Aravind Kejriwal’s free/subsidised public utilities – Free 200 units of electricity, Free bus rides for women & children, Free medicines in Mohall Clinics, etc etc… I need not say more. They’re all well known. AK spotted the Class War long before any other politician could. Now every politician worth his salt shamelessly follows with their own “Guarantees” 😆 or he’ll not survive in the field.
They’re so potent as vote catchers of the poor that even the mighty Modi ♕ cried hoarse 😭 calling them “Rewdi” (hindi for freebies) and asked the Supreme Court 🙄 and the Election Commission 🗳️ to intervene!
But soon it became apparent that Modi himself was doing the same thing, only in a mega scale!🤣 Free vaccines (world leaders were horrified). Free food grains (but only to his Hindi belt vote banks). Subsidised medicines through Jan Aushadhi, again mostly in the Hindi belt. Etc Etc…. so much so that for the coming MP Elections, the BJP has already started to match others’ rewdis and even exceed them!
But politics between parties is not the thrust of my argument.
How is this a Class War you may ask. Just see how ALL political parties bow down to the demands of the poor.
They’re saying, “You want my vote? Then tell me what you’ll give me in return! What are your guarantees?”
Suddenly, given the way Government Scvhools were being shut down in cahoots with the Education mafia, politicians are competing to revive and modernise their schools! All the cash politicians may eaar cannot offset losing their thrones! And the cash to give all these so called freebies comes from the exchequer! That is nothing but taxes paid by the rich!
Call it the Robinhood strategy or Rewdis, but the fact remains that the fat 👨👩👧👦 middle class and the really rich are paying into the pockets of the poor with the blessings of Governments! Also very efficiently, by using the UPI and DBT.
Where this ‘reward’ for the poor isn’t sufficient, parties have suffered electoral defeats. Karnataka is a striking example. All of Modi’s might💪🏼 only prevented a total rout of the BJP. A party out of power is just another NGO🙄 calling bunds, dharnas and wasting public money and time.
The Class War began with Kejriwal’s recognition of this rising divide between the poor and the rich. The poor have what the politicians want! Huge numbers. And the pathetic neglect of the fat middle class when it came to engaging in political activity. Not electoral, but not even willing to discuss it and forming pressure groups! Like it or lump it, they *will* pay either way.
The Hindutva gambit has run its course. The poor have always realised that a full stomach is far more important for self and family than any ideology or even religion! Bar the undereducated, underperforming Hindi belt, there are few takers for the Hindutva pill. As the yank say, “Its the economy, baby!”
The Class War, Indian style, began years ago. Q.E.D
@jsvasan
PS: I’m uploading some “data” below for the nitpickers who can’tr see the big picture. They can go figure the implications of the *data*.
Source: https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/india-s-super-rich-households-will-rise-by-5-times-to-9-1-million-by-2030-123070600278_1.html