The Sabke Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas mantra

Well-known Philipino journalist Celestina Cruz wrote in South China Morning Post in 1996, commenting on the Indian Parliamentary elections held that year: “That a populous country like India can change the leadership of the country without a major political or social upheaval is admirable. India has shown the rest of the world what it means to be truly and intelligently free.” The Indian voters threw out the Government in power, giving Indira Gandhi a landslide victory at the general elections, that year.

The Indian masses once again proved themselves wise, this year, by giving the Narendra Modi-led government, already for five years in power, yet another term to govern the country. Rather than accepting gracefully the people’s verdict, the opposition tried to place the blame for their defeat at the doorsteps of the Election Commissioner and on the faulty EVM machines. But, it had very few takers, as it could not be conclusively proved.

Was it a pro-Modi wave, once again, that brought the ruling alliance to power? In spite of the fact, the five-year term of the previous government was more a term of empty promises, high-sounding slogans rather than good governance, the opposition had nothing better to offer. The Indian voters clearly understood this, and gave Narendra Modi yet another term.

While the ruling alliance had agreed that if voted to power, Narendra Modi will be their Prime Ministerial Candidate, on the other side of the fence, no one could say who will be the Prime Minister, if the Congress-led opposition alliance comes to power: will it be Rahul Gandhi, the Congress President, U.P.’s Mayawati or West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, Delhi’s Kejriwal, or Andhra Pradesh’s Chandra Babu Naidu, Telengana’s Chandra Shekhar Rao, who were all making clever moves targeting the coveted office, or at least to be kingmakers! Thankfully, the Indian voters threw them all out!

Prime Minister Modi has now begun his second term in office giving the country signs of fresh hope with his new Mantra: Sabke Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas! Will this be yet another slogan for large-size hoardings only placed at every nook and corner of the country, or will the Prime Minister really stand by his word and take the country to newer heights? The youth of the nation is waiting in the wings to see the Prime Minister’s new move in that direction!