TWO days prior to the declaration of the recent Assembly election results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a video interaction with labharthis—the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes. As part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra—launched to reach out to the last-mile beneficiaries—the address was loaded with references to the schemes launched by the central government. Incidentally, it was these beneficiaries who were credited with the BJP getting an overwhelming majority in the 2019 General Elections. The government has tried to woo them in the subsequent elections.
This brings up the question—are these labharthis ‘beneficiaries’ or the ‘rightful claimants’ of government schemes? Since independence, welfare benefits have mostly been perceived as ‘rights’ of the citizens. However, from the 1980s, the discourse started changing. Earlier, what used to be the Left’s domain has now been appropriated by the far-right parties. This change of narrative is seen not just in India, but also across the world.
In Denmark, for instance, in the 1990s, far-right parties like the Danish People’s Party managed to garner overwhelming support through their well-crafted image as the “true defenders of the Danish welfare state”. This narrative was propagated in different countries across Europe, but it gradually changed. Prior to the 2015 elections, Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the far-right political party, asked people to choose between ‘mass immigration and welfare’.
Denne historien er fra December 21, 2023-utgaven av Outlook.
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Denne historien er fra December 21, 2023-utgaven av Outlook.
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The 'Invisible' Dalits
The debate over sub-categorisation of castes is likely to shape the political discourse in the upcoming state elections
Caste Census: To Conquer Or Conserve?
The caste census is generating heated debate, but even its most ardent proponents are not able to articulate a plan about how to use the resulting data
THE FATEFUL COMEDY
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Mad Hatter
When a leader takes off his topi and holds it in his hands while appealing for votes, it signals something extraordinary
Circle Within Circles
The caste question in Muslims.
Backward March
The Maratha reservation question may continue to mire the next government in the state
The 69% Exception
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United Indifference
The perils of tweaking tribal identities
Two Nations, Two Destinies
The widely differing balance of power between the military and civilian leadership in India and Pakistan has significantly impacted democracy in the two countries
Crème de la Crème
The mainstream society thinks reservations are against right to equality. It’s high time they are seen in the context of right to justice.