Taking a sharp dig at the hype and propaganda of the NDA 2 government, especially over Indians seeking fortune and home overseas, the Congress on Tuesday, January 10, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he would talk about the issues that are forcing such a “high number” of Indians to move out of the country in search of “achche din” happy days). 

Congress party spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said data from the Ministry of External Affairs showed that 1,83,741 people renounced their Indian citizenship in the first 10 months of 2022, which amounts to 604 people leaving the country every day. This figure, he said, is 1.7 times higher than the figure of 2014, when on an average 354 people gave up their Indian citizenship every day.

He mentioned six reasons behind many Indians renouncing their citizenship — the consistent high unemployment rate, low growth opportunities due to demonetisation and flawed implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the country’s poor standings in three global indices related to hunger, gender gap and press freedom, and the country having the maximum number of the poor in the world. He made no reference to the public discourse of hate as also the vendetta-driven regime of the Centre in weaponisation of law enforcement agencies to target voices of dissent and the opposition, however.

Addressing a press conference, Vallabh asserted that the majority of people leaving India are high networth individuals (HNIs) and asked if the prime minister would address the issues compelling them to leave the country in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address.

Elaborating on the issue, he also said that of those who gave up Indian citizenship in 2022, around 7,000 had an annual income of more than Rs 8 crore.

“Why are 600-plus people giving up their Indian citizenship per day and why the number of Indian people leaving the country’s citizenship increased by 1.7 times,” he asked. Vallabh wondered whether this is “real Amrit Kaal” that the prime minister talks about.

Persisting on the issue, the Congress spokesman also posed a set of four questions to the prime minister. Vallabh asked,  “Will he address the issue in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme on Sunday and why are ‘achche din’ not coming to Indians in India.” He also noted that Indians have now started investing abroad instead of domestically, asking why ‘achche din’ are coming for Indians outside India and not within the country. Vallabh also said this was bound to happen as India’s global ranking is falling on various parameters, with a consistent high unemployment ratio.

Quoting from CMIE data, he said that in 2022, unemployment level was more than 7 per cent in nine out of 12 months and the figure was 8.3 per cent in December 2022 and in case of urban unemployment, it was 10.9 per cent. The Congress leader said the economic premise of the country, which used to provide employment, has been demolished and that is why the government felt the need of hand-holding people by giving free ration to 80 crore citizens.

He also said India’s 107th rank in the global hunger index out of a total of 121 countries, 135th rank out of 146 in the global gender gap index and 150th rank out of 180 countries in the global press freedom index are some of the reasons behind people giving up Indian citizenship.

Besides, he said, due to the twin shocks of demonetisation and “flawed” implementation of GST, GDP growth fell from 8.3 per cent in financial year 2017 to 3.7 per cent in financial 2020 and the economy has not been able to recover fully till now. Vallabh also flagged the issue of India having the maximum number of poor in the world as one more factor behind people giving up Indian citizenship.

Relying on a joint research report of UNDP and Oxford University, he said that in 2020, there were 22.89 crore people in India who were below the poverty line, and 79 per cent of the people who became “extremely poor” globally during the pandemic were Indians.

He also alleged that the government has not passed on the benefits of cheap crude oil brought from Russia to consumers. As the global crude oil price has decreased considerably, there is a scope of cutting petrol and diesel prices by Rs 20-25 per litre, he said, adding if the Centre decreases the price, the VAT imposed by state governments will automatically get reduced.

Related:

BJP: Promise of Acche Din, Fake Encounters and Political Alternative

‘Acche Din’ only for Crorepati Candidates – Poll Affidavits show a cumulative asset growth of Rs. 142.5 crore

The post Where are the ‘ache din’ with number of citizens giving up citizenship 1.7 times higher than 2014? Congress appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Anurag Srivastava, the official spokesperson, of India’s Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has shared an official statement issued by the ministry after international cultural, political, and social icons expressed solidarity with the ongoing farmers’ protests. International pop icon Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg shared news reports about the farmers’ protests, and were joined by other celebrities extending  support to the protesting farmers and generating conversations. 

why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S

— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021

We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India.
https://t.co/tqvR0oHgo0

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 2, 2021

Actress and Instagram influencer Amanda Cerny too showed her support:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Amanda ????? (@amandacerny)

Most of them were instantly being trolled by Indian users including local social media influencers, as well as actor Kangana Ranaut, who went as far as to say the protesters “are not farmers but terrorists who are trying to divide India”. She not only repeatedly slut shamed Rihanna in a aseries of tweets, Ranaut also called Thunberg a “dumb and spoilt brat”.

By the afternoon of February 3, as the online conversation, trolling, threatening of the celebrities, and vilification of the farmers continued, an official statement was released by the ministry. The MEA has stated that the “Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming.” It added that it was only a “very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms,” and that the Government still “respected the sentiments of the protestors” and has “initiated a series of talks with their representatives. Union Ministers have been part of the negotiations, and eleven rounds of talks have already been held. The Government has even offered to keep the laws on hold, an offer iterated by no less than the Prime Minister of India.”  

The Ministry has specifically reacted to the international support to the farmers and stated that “it is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them. This was egregiously witnessed on January 26, India’s Republic Day. A cherished national commemoration, the anniversary of the inauguration of the Constitution of India, was besmirched, and violence and vandalism took place in the Indian capital. Some of these vested interest groups have also tried to mobilise international support against India. Instigated by such fringe elements, Mahatma Gandhi statues have been desecrated in parts of the world. This is extremely disturbing for India and for civilised society everywhere.”

The statement goes on to say, “Indian police forces have handled these protests with utmost restraint. It may be noted that hundreds of men and women serving in the police have been physically attacked, and in some cases stabbed and seriously wounded.” It adds, “We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse.”

The statement concludes by saying, “Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible.”

Soon after the MEA statement went viral on social media and was shared by ministers as well. 

Times are changing. Influencers on the digital media platforms have immense power when they talk to their followers. One must be mindful of that power and the responsibility that comes with it.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda #GenerallySaying pic.twitter.com/WCyMDO2vQa

— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) February 3, 2021

Meanwhile, the trolling of all those global personalities who spoke up in support of farmers has continued all day. United Kindom’s Claudia Webbe, a Member of Parliament for Leicester East, has made public that she has been getting “death threats, rape threats, threats of sexual violence, misogyny, anti-black racism, outright lies, gaslighting, false allegations, malicious reporting, smear campaigns, everything really,” she however added that she continued to “stand with farmers”.

I have received trolling, death threats, rape threats, threats of sexual violence, misogyny, anti-black racism, outright lies, gaslighting, false allegations, malicious reporting, smear campaigns, everything really -I stand for human rights #IStandWithFarmers #FarmersProtest

— Claudia Webbe MP (@ClaudiaWebbe) February 1, 2021

American politician Jim Costa stated that the “unfolding events in India are troubling” and were being closely monitored by him as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Costa also serves on the Agriculture, Natural Resources Committees of his government.

The unfolding events in India are troubling. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am closely monitoring the situation. The right to peaceful protest must always be respected. #FarmersProtest

— Rep. Jim Costa (@RepJimCosta) February 2, 2021

While the Indian social media ‘influencers’ meltdown was expected. It is the abuse, threats, vilification that has done even more to embarrass India. 

@OpIndia_com sang @timesofindia pic.twitter.com/MrRtJEAbyL

— Jignesh (@thisisjignesh) February 2, 2021

Related

Gov’t will not compensate families of farmers who died during protests: MHA
Ensure safety of protesting farmers, stop propaganda against Sikhs: Plea in SC
Will Kisan mahapanchayat signal a political movement in UP, Haryana?

The post Rihanna, Greta Thunberg support Indian farmers; MEA cries foul appeared first on SabrangIndia.