We shouted our lungs out in 2013 when petrol prices reached above 70 and ridiculed MMS when 65 Indian rupees became equal to a dollar. Fast forward to today, where petrol has surpassed Rs 100 per liter and the dollar stands at Rs 83, yet we find ourselves curiously silent.
Pulses, milk, Atta, vegetables have become so expensive and unaffordable that many amongst us are unable to purchase milk and vegetables. All this would not have mattered if our salaries would have also grown proportionately.
But the die-hard supporters who are paying through their nose still are not crying their lungs out as they were doing 10 years back. Rather they have suddenly become great geo-political experts and economists ; justifying why the petrol prices have gone up and so on.
While past criticisms in 2013 were also directed at scandals(2G, 3G etc), it's now evident that this administration also isn't exempt from its own share of controversies, from questionable allocations in initiatives like Swachh Bharat toilets and smart cities, electoral bonds and to the lack of transparency and accountability. Even after massive expenditures during demonetization, the influx of liquid cash in the market seems disproportionate to the intended outcome.
So the point is why these die hard supporters are silent despite feeling the pinch and knowing that even this Govt is corrupt and has not been able to manage.
One lady summed it all ; petrol chaiye 200 rupey ho jaaye vote mein modiji ko hi dungi.
This implies that ; individuals have become so emotionally invested with Mr Modi that sometimes override practical considerations, and they may continue to support a leader even when faced with challenges or shortcomings.
So the silence from these staunch supporters in the face of mounting challenges and evident governance lapses is the emotional attachment that transcends mere practicality. In their hearts of heart they know that things are not hunky dory and this slogan of Viksit Bharat by 2047 i.e barely in 23 years, is not a possibility.
But, Emotionally there is so much at stake for them that publicly and within the family these die-hard supporters cannot back out now. They are clinging to hope that Mr Modi in his next term will find solutions for our deteriorating education system, poor health care system, shall eradicate corruption in Govt offices, and make India a super power, a Vishw Guru and so on.
Their ego is now a basic hurdle. They are aware of the pain, their kids going abroad for greener pastures; jobs and education but they just cannot back out now.They in order to justify their stand may even NURTURE animosty with the fellow citizens particularly ;Muslims and Christians.
They have gone so far ahead with this PM, emotionally, that their loyalty has evolved into a barrier driven by ego. Despite the hardships faced, they remain steadfast, tethered to a belief that their chosen leader will eventually deliver on promises made.
As a result, to hide their embarrassment, they furnish silly arguments; to kya Rahul Gandhi ko Pradhan Mantri bana dein, as if all these years India had been a Presidential form of Govt.