Republic Day 2024: India looks more confident than before, but challenges are on the rise

Republic Day 2024 Live Updates:The venue will accommodate approximately 77,000 people, with 42,000 reserved for the general public.

Republic Day is a time of the year when one looks back at the journey that India has travelled so far. We tend to assess what the future looks like from now on.

Today, as a nation, we are more confident than hitherto about our future. We are also more hopeful that our lives will get better in the years to come. There is a greater sense of trust in our system than before because of the current political leadership of the government and its capabilities to navigate through challenges that are always on the rise.

Undoubtedly, India finds itself at the forefront of global economic resilience, backed by robust government spending with an expected growth rate of 6.9 percent in the current fiscal year – an upgrade from the earlier estimate of 6.7 percent.

Political Stability 

Once the general elections are done, and political stability is assured, things are bound to look up on the economic front.

Unless there is the return of a coalition era, which seems unlikely because of the current mood across the country and inability of the opposition to present a viable alternative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a third term.

On his return, Modi is certain to pursue bolder policies and tweaks to his existing approach in critical sectors. This should see improvements in employment for job growth so that it matches the overall economic growth rate.

A confident Modi hopes that he can effect course corrections so that measures in generating employment and enhancing disposable incomes ensure sustained prosperity.

However, challenges for India come from uncertainties in the agriculture sector and lack of peaceful resolutions in conflict-riven zones, attacks on shipping lines in the Red Sea corridors, worries around food inflation, and sluggishness in the rural output and services sector growth.

China's pursuit of policies aimed at destabilising the region by pushing nations like the Maldives to shun India, threatening Bhutan and causing a rise in tensions with Taiwan should keep us on alert.

There is fear of a fall in the 2023 kharif output due to "below average" rainfall in the four-month (June-September) monsoon season because of El Nino conditions.

Yet, there is a sense of trust in Modi to handle these challenges. Even his political opponents concede in private conversations.

This year, a historic inauguration of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya – three days before Republic Day – has brought a sense of euphoria.

Getting Ram Mandir Message Right

Among many Indians, there is a strong feeling that a long standing issue has been resolved following a verdict handed down by the Supreme Court.  By and large, the Muslim community too has accepted it and would want to move on. However, there are some misgivings over continuous litigation over sites where mosques apparently stand over temples.

Modi's efforts are to go beyond the Ram temple and project his style of governance as the new template for a "Ram Rajya."  Even RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has spoken about why people should stop fighting over petty issues and stay united. “In Ram Rajya, we will have to stop fighting over petty issues. We must move forward with truth, compassion, wisdom, discipline, and charity. Ram Rajya will come by giving up greed and by staying disciplined.”

Modi has given out a new mantra linking the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the prosperity of the nation — “Dev se desh; Ram se Rashtra (from God to country, and from Ram to nation).”  People have cheered this statement though it may sound high on rhetoric. Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi have refused to acknowledge the importance of developments in Ayodhya, dismissing the whole thing as a show of the BJP and RSS.

To which, Modi has said, "The construction of this temple of Ram Lalla is also a symbol of peace, patience, harmony, and coordination in Indian society." The Ram temple, like the removal of Article 370 that gave a special status for Jammu and Kashmir, is seen as fulfilment of a promise made by the BJP.

Modi's critics see the January 22 ceremony as the beginning of the election campaign for Modi and shifting towards a Hindutva rashtra. According to them, the pomp-filled display led by the government shows the extent to which the line between religion and state has eroded under Modi. Perhaps, Modi and BJP may hope that opening of the temple brings better electoral dividend.

Country In Election Mode

But most of us would agree that, even before the Ram temple opening, Modi has enjoyed the status of being the most popular leader who should not have difficulty in getting the mandate for a third term. Therefore, one should not think that it is only the Ram temple that will give support to Modi. Moreover, a theocratic state is certainly not on Modi's agenda.

Modi does not take the Lok Sabha polls, which are to be held in April-May as a foregone conclusion. Rather, he seeks a mandate greater than what he received in 2014 and 2019 to push his ideas further. He wishes to go to the people on the basis of his government's performance and deliverables for the poor in the last decade.

Is there an alternative to Modi and his vision for the country? Since 2014 when Modi came to power, the Opposition parties have failed to show a viable alternative model of governance. Recent events have further proved that these parties do not have anything in common other than opposition to Modi. Their hope that the people will eventually lose confidence in him has been belied.

On the other hand, a larger section of voters would rather stick with the BJP even if they are not fully satisfied with its rule.

The Opposition bloc – INDIA alliance – is itself dismayed by the Congress’s poor performance in the recent polls. The Congress knows it must improve its leadership and create a new poll strategy before the next elections. Opposition parties must unite to prevent the division of non-BJP votes in the next four months. As of now, this is a tall order for the Congress.

Till that happens, the people will see a panacea in Modi's priorities to generate jobs, wealth and growth. Indians are known to be patient for tangible results. But they are also ruthless with politicians who are only out to further their ambition.

Shekhar Iyer was senior associate editor of Hindustan Times and political editor of Deccan Herald. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.