No Truth, No Consistency, No Credibility
Yuval Noah Harari says, "Power is not Truth." Power may inspire awe, but it does not win respect. Truth does. Our RSS-BJP-led regime may control the media, but cannot control thought. They do not win credibility by spending a major portion of the national income on their 'digital warriors' to build the image of their leaders.

Even under the rigid Soviet regime, no one took seriously the Government propaganda; the truth was shared in whispers. Conversational jokes became weapons undermining the authority of the regime. Ultimately, it collapsed. Moral authority was missing all along. There was no consistency between words and deeds, between one statement and another.

Malegaon Blast
Amit Shah says a Hindu can't be a terrorist. Let us look at the statement a little closer. Was Nathuram Godse a Hindu? Didn't he have his early training under RSS, the chief guardians of Hindu heritage and value systems? How is that, though the RSS itself is not violent, those whom they train take to violence easily? For instance, in Manipur? How is it that Pragya Thakur could feel proud about Godse's terrorist action of killing the Father of the Nation?

Amit Shah's statement seems to have been a preparation for the acquittal of the Malegaon blast accused, Pragya Thakur and others. Pragya claimed that the acquittal is "a slap on the face of those who speak of Saffron terror." Others feel it is a slap on the face of the justice system of the nation. The Malegaon blast in 2008 killed 6 and injured 95. For Shahji, that is not terrorism. Pragya could proudly assert, "Malegaon case verdict is a victory of Hindutva." She became a much-acclaimed Hindutva icon, elected MP from Bhopal! Things like this are happening every day: police standing by and overseeing crime, not registering evidence; the Judiciary dismissing the case for lack of evidence.

Acquittal was long overdue. In 2015, the special public prosecutor, Rohini Salian, had quit because she was told by senior officials to "go soft" on the accused. Is it true that a Hindu crime is not a crime in Hindu Rashtra? Hindu terrorism, not terrorism? What about cow vigilantes bashing up people and killing? Bajrang Dal has been repeatedly praised for such 'heroic deeds' by the RSS. What about that godman in UP who asked for the head of Udhayanidhi Stalin? And who shouted, "Goli maro saalon ko" in Northeast Delhi? Wasn't it Amit Shah?

Are the 48 killed in Gaza while waiting for food any different from those killed in Delhi, UP or MP? History will put them all in the right place. Presently, Hindu Rashtra reigns!

Modi's Hug-lomacy Yields No Fruits
Hugging and begging don't combine. Modi's hug-diplomacy and 'Namaste Trump' road shows have not helped Indo-US tariff relations. Trump bent to Xi's sturdy stand on rare earth acquisition, but not to Indian leaders' incoherent statements. Modi's claim to stand for Indian farmers sounds hollow as he had been insensitive to them all through their protests, calling them andolanjeevis, Khalistanis and Naxalites. Trump directly saw how unpopular he was during his Gujarat visit: Delhi in turmoil, an unsteady economy in the hands of a few. An American economist describes the Indian economy as run by 15 oligarchs.

When Modi was swaggering about with Xi at Wuhan, Hubei and Mahabalipuram, China's PLA was taking possession of large spaces in Galwan Valley. Rahul may be right or wrong in asking questions, but the loss of territory is a national loss. Soon, the Chinese will be constructing a railway line between Xinjiang and Tibet, close to the LAC. Take care! UN maps already show Jammu-Kashmir and Arunachal not as parts of India, but as disputed territories. Where are our leaders taking the nation?

Colonial Exploitation Continues
Indeed, Modiji looked great when he recently appeared in a South Indian Dhoti at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. He lavishly praised Rajendra Chola. Evidently, he was trying to build bridges to the South. He wants to break Tamil resolve by all means. Among other things, he emphasised the need for 'unity and preserving values,' the very areas he fails most. His exclusivist ideology divides society, the superiority position of Hindi areas he sustains and the Hindutva leaders he upholds, alienating periphery regions like the Southern states, Manipur-Nagaland and humbler communities. Stalin could only plead for the release of funds that were being withheld.

Hindutva leaders never tire of blaming the Mughals and British for their exploitation. What is not said is that Brahmins were the chief helpers of Muslim and British rulers, that Hindu princes fully collaborated with the oppressors, that Vaishya accountants master-minded the exploitation of the weaker sections, that these continue to do so even under the RSS-BJP regime! For the Hindutva think-tank, freedom means freedom for the upper layer to plunder and exploit the weaker sections.

Indian Economy Dipping
While India ranks as the fourth-largest economy in the world, there is still an alarmingly high absolute poverty in the country, with poor individuals having less than $2.00 per day. National wealth is in the hands of a handful. The other day, a tribal activist, Narangi Dei Majhi, was arrested in Odisha for protesting against mining. Vedanta has Sijimali bauxite mines in Rayagada, Adani Kutrumali mines in Rayagada and Kalahandi, and another at Koraput. Tribals are being displaced in a big way. What they have gained from the BJP rule is saffron colour! Buses have been repainted saffron, school identity cards saffron; the state-run bus service has been given a saffron name.

Modi asks Indians to work together to make India the third-largest economy. For whose benefit? The three richest in India have wealth exceeding the GDP of Pakistan! Is it a consolation to India's poor? Mehbooba Mufti of Kashmir laments: money is going for guns, not for food and drink, schools and hospitals. No wonder insurgency rises in Central India, Kashmir, and the Northeast. Dialogue is necessary.

Farooq Abdullah says the insurgency in Kashmir cannot be solved without an understanding with Pakistan. "Look how India is isolated in the global scenario, with no friends," comments Farooq. Modi, on the contrary, is ready to go to Pathal to teach Pakistan a lesson. Indeed, the Indian economy is descending to Pathal, the rupee rate reaching 87.88 for a dollar.

India is still sought after, not because of Modi magic, but because it remains a potential market with a population of 1.46 billion. But her 'purchasing power' has to be raised. Will Modi provide the formula?

A Bundle of Contradictions
We have great leaders, but a bundle of contradictions. Mohan Bhagwat wishes for Sanskrit in every home, not clean water, healthy food or literacy. He wants India to be a Great Power that it may be respected world over, but at the same time, he wants Bharat to be a Viswaguru who excels in Dharma. How does Dharma fit in with Brahmos, bullets, and bullying? How does Modiji harmonise the idea he shared with Putin, "This is not the time for War," with Operation Sindoor and weapons production reaching a new high? Rahul says PM uses the army, not to defend the country, but to protect his image.

Harass critics and dissenters to death; then, you shall reap the fruit thereof. People have confirmed that RSS-trained ABVP youth were responsible for the recent student self-immolations in Odisha. Nationalist Congress Party Jitendra Awhad is extremely blunt: "Sanatana Dharma has ruined India," has "perverted it. It has been "historically oppressive." 'Sanatana terrorists' made young Ambedkar sit outside the classroom and prevented Shudras from drawing water. Does anyone wonder why they exert no 'Moral Authority?'

Sell More Arms and Win Nobel!
India is the land of surprises. We are told that a temple has been erected to Trump in Telangana. A farmer spent two lakhs to make a statue of the Tariff King. We are not surprised. There had been reports of a temple to Modiji. No wonder. Indians worship power and money while singing praises to Dharma. Trump's next ambition is to win the Nobel. Lone nations like Pakistan and Cambodia are ready to back the proposal. That he is the cause of the death of over 60,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children, is no issue!

Trump's insistence that European nations spend more on arms is an invitation to buy American weapons. A European fund has already mobilised 150 billion Euros. Europeans have decided to manufacture arms themselves.

Trump made a tour of the Middle East to promote arms sales. Unbelievably successful. He is not surrounding himself with people who provide him with facts, real data. He is the 'creator' of facts, the master of truth! His critics say he has declared war on facts. Tony Snow says, "Sometimes political campaigns make decent people act and talk like perfect buffoons!"

Animals to Take Over the Country
At Kalyani, a headmaster and a clerk were held for killing a stray dog. The killing of Muslims, Dalits, and tribals is considered less serious than the killing of stray dogs or hurting wandering cattle. A Dalit woman was gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh. In the past three years, 7,418 Dalit and tribal women were raped, and 558 were murdered in MP alone. Perfectly normal! But a cow being knocked down, a stray dog being killed, is listed as an unforgivable crime. Recently, a school building for tribals collapsed in Rajasthan. No protest march in Delhi. So did another tribal school in MP. No complaints.

The Gandhi family has come out in force against the Supreme Court order to clear Delhi of stray dogs. Be kind to animals by all means, but also attend to human needs. Is Congress prioritising dog protection over child protection, for example? Believe me, it is a political game. Unfortunately, all our leaders have gone for Opportunism. Mamata promises ?1.1 lakh for every Durga puja organiser in Bengal ... from the coffers of a 'secular state!' Is it devotion? It is Opportunism Magnified! No wonder Cornwallis once exploded, "Every native of Hindustan, I verily believe, is corrupt" (Arnold Toynbee). "Vote theft" is just part of it. The moral authority of every leader is greatly eroded.

Interpret Things Calmly, Act Judiciously
But there is hope yet. Everyone can change for the better. Leonard Cohen wisely said, "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Modi and Shah can move forward in a calculated manner; compulsions will push Trump to moderation. Mohan Bhagwat needs to translate Dharma into action. The INDIA bloc can go beyond creating parliamentary chaos and prompt intelligent thinking and workable strategies.

It is good that Asim Munir let off his steam, threatening to blow up half the planet to teach India a lesson. The fact that he did so from America also has a message. Don't lean too heavily on anyone. Be self-reliant, be strong, but balanced. VP Malik, the former Chief of the Army Staff, urged composure before provocation.

John Lennon used to say, "Count your age by friends, not years." Yes, foster relationships: within the country among different regions, religions and communities; in the wider world among all nations. Be sturdy, but avoid display.

Do not make people feel that they are being "used" by the RSS-BJP to be dumped… be they Governors, spokespersons, Party Leaders, Satya Pal Malik or Jagdeep Dhankhar. Encourage local loyalties, community pride, and eagerness to express oneself. Prodyot Deb Barma of Tripura suggested, "Manipur crisis should be solved by its own people" ... not according to RSS interests or to promote Hindutva strategy, but for the people's benefit.

Learn from Experience
Don't wait to learn a lesson till after committing a crime. Charles Sweeny, after dropping the bomb at Hiroshima, asked his co-pilot in exasperation, "What have we done?" Was it useful to have repented after a minute? Operation Sindoor has lessons: when anger is roused or pride is provoked, insecurity is created; enemies increase; militancy multiplies; murders proliferate; violence broadens; cruelty becomes normal. Modiji is wise in keeping mum sometimes. Amit Shah may be prudent in being deaf occasionally, but not always. Rahul may need to think twice before taking up certain issues. Learn from experience, add to your moral authority.

It came as a big surprise when the Jharkhand Government changed the name of the Atal Mohalla Clinic to Mother Teresa Advanced Health Clinic. Though criticised by the BJP, Mother's moral authority ultimately won public approval. Similarly, Temjen Imna Along of the BJP, Nagaland, paid glowing tribute to Christian missionaries for Naga education.

Silence the truth, truth will make its voice heard in the heart. Walt Disney used to say, "Let your heart guide you…it whispers, so listen carefully".