Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space.
Modi lost trust
Modi doesn’t understand whether people should congratulate him or feel sorry for him. Modi’s hateful politics has faced a setback, as evident from the Lok Sabha results where the BJP lost 63 seats compared to last time. Modi’s manifesto slogan was “Ab ki bar 400 k par,” but luck perhaps wasn’t on his side. People did not support him, seeing through his hate politics, anti-Muslim slurs and his tendency to lie and slander. It didn’t work. How many stamps were BJP’s voters supposed to be impressed with?
The BJP should have informed these voters that they aimed for 400 seats, but maybe the voters aren’t to blame. They also witnessed Modi’s enthusiasm and his dirty election campaign. After hearing his hurtful words against Muslims, they must have realized that this time they’ve crossed the line. It’s unfortunate that Modi didn’t achieve the desired numbers despite his nonsense. In this sense, the BJP hasn’t won but lost. If Modi becomes Prime Minister again, it might be his last term, as he risks losing his politics and honor.
Shall we speak the truth about it? The people of India themselves are voicing their concerns and recounting tales of its reality. How long will the reign of the tyrant last? In India, people have likened him to a dictator; he has put two dozen people behind bars. It’s unclear what he understands about himself; he has assumed the status of a deity in India. Modi is the epitome of stupidity in Indian politics, constructing his narrative on provocation, aggression, and hate.
AREEBA ALTAF
Larkana
Pride hath a fall
The Indian electorate has rejected the Hindu nationalist messaging of the BJP in the midst of soaring unemployment. For months the world’s largest democracy has been preparing for and conducting the single largest democratic process in the world. The election campaigning from Mr Modi focused on targeting the country’s Muslim minority, whom he called “Ghuspathiay”.
The present results are a fall from their previous position for BJP and a resurgence of Indian National Congress which has nearly doubled its seats compared to the last election in 2019. Most telling have been the losses in UP, where the BJP has been dominant for decades where Hindu Monk and hardliner Yogi Adityanath has been spreading the BJP’s nationalist views, and Ayodhya, where the Prime Minister inaugurated the Ram Temple on the remnants of the Babri Masjid.
The people of India once again expressed their commitment to democracy based on secularism and discarded the communalist narrative of Narendra Modi and BJP. Now the new government under the leadership of Modi will depend on the crutches of other allied parties. One must remember that as far as election expectations are concerned, media coverage often tilts towards whatever side the middle and upper middle classes take. But on the day of an election, all voices count equally.
Many expected that if Modi swept the election, it would allow the BJP to enact their far reaching constitutional reforms which would further push Muslims and other minorities into a corner.
This is increasingly looking unlikely. With a slim majority and unreliable partners, Mr Modi will have to focus on delivering on the economic front if he is to continue being India’s longest serving prime minister after Nehru.
After all the results are a sigh of relief for Indian Muslims. Setback received in elections would also be a lesson to communistic sections of Indian society.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
How was the BJP cut to size..!
Analysts in India and around the world are trying to solve the puzzle of the BJP’s surprising electoral setbacks in the 2024 general elections. In my opinion, full credit for diminishing the BJP’s dominance goes to the leadership, strategic decisions and resolve of the GoP’s policy makers at the NCA and the Pakistani defence forces.
They first demonstrated their prowess with Operation Swift Retort in February 2019, which instilled a sense of fear in the hearts and minds of the Indian leadership. This fear psychosis subsequently deterred any potential Indian military misadventure aimed at bolstering the BJP in the 2024 elections.
The Pakistani strategy epitomizes the adage that a great statesman/general achieves his objectives not by waging war but by securing his goals without engaging in battle.
SYED NAYYAR UDDIN
Lahore
Box letter
Deforestation in Pakistan
Forests are essential for the Earth, providing crucial habitats for plants and animals. Deforestation, the indiscriminate cutting down of trees and plants, disrupts this delicate balance. It leads to significant environmental changes and destroys habitats for forest-dwelling creatures. The consequences of deforestation extend beyond habitat destruction. It disrupts the water and carbon cycles, altering the climate. One noticeable effect is the reduction in rainfall. Experts suggest that a country should ideally maintain at least 25 percent forest cover, but in Pakistan, only 3 percent of land remains forested. It’s imperative for the govt of Pakistan to prioritize forest conservation. Continuous efforts to cultivate and protect trees are essential. Additionally, measures should be implemented to prevent people from indiscriminately cutting down trees.
DAWOOD SIDDIQUE
Askani