India is a parliamentary democracy, though those covering the current election campaign may think that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a presidential candidate. Modi has run a somewhat presidential form of government with the symbolic presence of his cabinet colleagues. His office has concentrated all power. And neither his party nor its mentor organisation utters a word even when Modi goes against their principles or policies.
What are Indian voters discussing? A sane or rational public discourse is not possible in an atmosphere surcharged with religious and nationalist fervour and when millions believe that Modi can do no wrong. The ruling party president hears them chanting “Modi! Modi! The song Ghar Ghar Modi (Modi in every Home) was a great hit before the 2014 parliamentary elections. Five years of Modi-centric politics followed. Modi’s physical and virtual presence dominates the poll-campaign again. Modi attracts more online followers than Donald Trump! But for fear of the White Supremacists, the Hollywood Hindus would have invited Modi to be the President of the USA!
Sarab and Sharab
Modi sees India as Vishwa Guru (Teacher of the World) and he became Bharat Guru by launching an acronym that taught Indians two words Sarab and Sharab. SARAB is the acronym Modi made by joining the first letters of the names of three opposition parties. And since the first letter of the Samajwadi Party begins with ‘S’ not ‘Sh’, he turned Sharab (liquor) into Sarab.
